Old timer at the shop told me to stop using diesel fuel for cleaning parts

Back when I started at a fleet in Lubbock, a retired mechanic named Joe told me to switch to a citrus degreaser instead of dunking parts in diesel. I ignored him for two years until I developed a nasty rash on my hands that wouldn't go away. Has anyone else had skin problems from using diesel as a cleaner, or is it just me?

3 comments

3 Comments

kai_brown234d ago

Man you had the same deal with the rash? I got that too after about a year of using diesel on brake parts and bearings. It started as just dry cracked skin on my knuckles then turned into this red itchy mess that got infected twice. My doc told me diesel is basically a solvent that strips all the natural oils right out of your skin plus it absorbs through your pores. I switched to a water based degreaser and it cleared up in like two weeks. Took me way too long to listen to the old guys advice just because I thought diesel was cheaper and faster. Now I keep a box of nitrile gloves in my toolbox too just in case.

anderson.jason3d ago

Ngl it's wild how often we ignore simple warnings just cause we think we know better until our skin literally falls off.

willow_martin3d ago

Switched to barrier cream under gloves after a similar issue and it stopped the cracking completely.