In a recent email newsletter from Loy's Toys, Loy Spurlock discussed the use of automatic transmission fluid for track cleaning. He reports that it cleans the rails and doesn't leave an oily film and the effect is long lasting. Has anyone tried this? Loy also announced his retirement. It will be sad to lose the high quality Loy's Toys source for DCC products.
Joe
I would really be concerned about using ATF, as it will suck the base oils out of plastc(like your ties). ATF was once popular for striping plastic shells, but they tended to become quite 'brittle' after being striped. Remember, plastic IS a petroleum product...
Jim Bernier
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
jrbernier wrote: I would really be concerned about using ATF, as it will suck the base oils out of plastc(like your ties). ATF was once popular for striping plastic shells, but they tended to become quite 'brittle' after being striped. Remember, plastic IS a petroleum product...Jim Bernier
Jim
I think you may have confused ATF with brake fluid. Brake fluid has alcohol in addition to other components. The alcohol was generally considered the paint-stripping agent, and could "leach" some plasticizers out of the plastic.
Automatic transmission fluid (at least since 1990, and much earlier I believe) is specifically designed to be plastic compatible. Modern transmissions have many plastic internal components, and ATF is designed to lubricate, cool, and serve as a hydraulic fluid to transmit power inside the transmission - all without being renewed or changed for several years.
ATF is very "clingy" and doesn't dry out, which makes it very good for lubricating model locomotives. These very properties argue against it being an effective track cleaner. Although ATF has "detergents" in it that would dissolve the dirt on the rails, its "clinginess" would make the oily film next to impossible to remove (contrary to what the OP stated). Most effective track cleaners have components that evaporate quickly (alcohol, acetone, etc), thus leaving the rail dry after the residue is wiped. I am willing to be shown I am wrong, but ATF would be the last chemical I would consider using to clean my track.
just my thoughts and experiences
Fred W
JoeinPA wrote: In a recent email newsletter from Loy's Toys, Loy Spurlock discussed the use of automatic transmission fluid for track cleaning. He reports that it cleans the rails and doesn't leave an oily film and the effect is long lasting. Has anyone tried this? Loy also announced his retirement. It will be sad to lose the high quality Loy's Toys source for DCC products.Joe
It might have long term effect on traction tires.
Fred,
You are right - I was thinking of 'Brake' fluid. And I still would not apply ATF to the track. I have used lacquer thinner applied with a TTX track cleaner(that meters the fluid out very well). This way there is no excess 'slop' to get on the ties and 'melt' them. And the lacquer thinner leaves no residue!
At a NMRA-TLR open house last week I cleaned all of my trackage with lacquer thinner applied with a Tonys Train Exchange CMX track cleaning car - very effective. I only had to use the 'Brite Boy' on a couple of sections where paint/scenery work was done. I have used the 'chrome polish' method, but it is just too much work! I spent maybe 25-30 minutes total to clean over 450' of track.
If nothing else, it makes a heck of a mixer! A little rum, vodka, ATF...
Is that why my track is crooked?
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
I'VE HEARD Automatic Transmisiion Fluid is a high grade detergent oil with 'additives' to prevent 'foaming'.
I don't question that it can act as a solvent - holding dirt in suspension - like Wahls 'Clipper' oil, but like ANY solvent, it requires mopping up.
ANY oil product leaves a film. Put a couple drops out on the layout (and like your garage floor) - watch where the dirt collects.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Dexron / Mercon III has been recommended as a lubricant for models, but not for track cleaning. We use Dexron at our club to lubricate locomotives and it seems to be doing just fine.
I'm wondering if maybe the use of Dexron for models got twisted around before the news reached Loy?
loathar wrote:I don't think I'd try it. Something about putting any kind of oil on my rail heads just doesn't sit well with me.
I use metal polish myself.
Just pretend an ice storm came through
Ditto on any oil product. At various times I've used them all, Wahl's, Color TV tuner cleaner, eraser products, alcohol. I've gleamed some of my track and that works well, but is time consuming. The other night I cleaned some with 91% alcohol and finished it with 2-26. I noticed this morning this method was tried by someone on another thread. I was surprised how much cleaning I had to do to get all the black off and have the rails wipe clean. So, it might not be that much less work or quicker than gleaming.
I tested the cleaned track with a Toby the Tram Engine, with DCC, sound and lights and Percy. They tend to be very picky about dirty track. Both worked well with out even the faintest flicker of light or hesitation. I then applied the 2-26, let it dry and re-checked. Same good results. I'll be interested to see how long it lasts without cleaning or wiping down.
Tilden
Dave Vollmer wrote:If nothing else, it makes a heck of a mixer! A little rum, vodka, ATF...Is that why my track is crooked?
Is this where the expression "well lubed' comes from?
The concern about traction tires is a valid one. Some of the rubberier types (neoprene?) swell and fall off if they become oil soaked, and it's not going to do anything good for traction overall. Alcohol or glass cleaning products do a very good job of degreasing and cutting through dirt.
Nelson
Ex-Southern 385 Being Hoisted
Tilden wrote: Ditto on any oil product. The other night I cleaned some with 91% alcohol and finished it with 2-26. I noticed this morning this method was tried by someone on another thread. Tilden
Ditto on any oil product. The other night I cleaned some with 91% alcohol and finished it with 2-26. I noticed this morning this method was tried by someone on another thread.
bb4884 wrote: loathar wrote:I don't think I'd try it. Something about putting any kind of oil on my rail heads just doesn't sit well with me. Just pretend an ice storm came through
But then I'd have to install scale size sanding systems in all my locos.
Joe,
I was visiting a friend about 2 weeks ago and he was showing me his huge DCC layout. I noticed a lot of the staging tracks were almost impossible to get at, as well as there being a lot of hidden track. Naturally my first question was "how on earth do you clean your track ?". He told me ATF and I just about choked.
He explained that somehow the ATF reacts with the dirt etc. and makes it conductive - I didn't believe a word of it, but since I use ATF at work, I thought I'd give it a go.
My layout in my dirty garage hasn't been used in 2 years and the grime build up was phenomenal. So I break out the ATF, but a blob on a rag and wipe the rails. I also used an abrasive track cleaner on a piece of adjacent track to at least give the locos a known piece of clean track to run on.
The results just blew me away. For the first run over the dirty track, I could hear this incredible noise of something serious going on between the rails and the wheels - but no arcing. The locos made it over, albeit a bit slower than on the clean track.
For the second and subsequent runs, it was like the track was never dirty.
My friend reckoned that for existing clean track, all you need to do is wet a q-tip with ATF, spread it over a couple of inches on the track, and this keeps the entire track work clean for weeks - he's never had a dirty track issue at all.
His layout sees constant use - don't know how mine will fear in another 2 years when I use it next !
Erin.
This was an article in the May 2011 MRR mag. It was well done as a controlled test over a long period. The bottom line to the article was that for mainlines, ATF was the best for keeping trains running. I personally would first use synthetic ATF as it would not leach out the petroleum aspects of plastic. I also use Mobil 1 as a lubricant for the locos, etc. I think 0/20 weight, maybe 0/10. I refill the old needle containers with it Synthetic lubricants are generally less affected by temperature and have a clinging property.
Richard
Erin:
Thanks for the info.
I, too, have a garage layout so dust is on the tracks and the trains can sit for a few weeks between runs. My two Bachmann steamers, DCC Soundtrax decoders, stuttered, lerched and jerked to a halt following a very thorough cleaning of the rails. I read many forum posts, here and elsewhere, about oil on the tracks. Reluctantly I applied a few dabs of Lebelle 108 oil, started the steamers and to my astonishment, they run perfectly! Now, time will tell if I have made a mistake or if I cured a dirty track problem.
Gale
JoeinPA:
I have discussed this on the his very forum several time and it always creates a little storm, but I can tell you I have used if for years, it has not damaged anything that I can see and it truly allow my engines to run exceptionally well. I even use it on my wheels, not a problem as well as clean the tracks. Many clubs use the product and Model Railroader has an article on its use.
So to all, it works and it keeps the trains running. I also use Labelle 101 on my track, it works great as well. Chuck Hitchcock has mentioned it several times in several articles.
Robert Sylvester, WTRR
jwar Tilden wrote: Ditto on any oil product. The other night I cleaned some with 91% alcohol and finished it with 2-26. I noticed this morning this method was tried by someone on another thread. Tilden What is 2-26 and does it work better then Maas polish....John
What is 2-26 and does it work better then Maas polish....John
He is refering to CRC 2-26. It's an electronics cleaner with a conditioner in it. It is very effective, I've been using it for 4 years now. I spray a bit on a rag and wipe the rails, so far I've only had to do it twice a year and all the wheels have stayed clean, including all the plastic freight car wheels. It's available at most hardware stores.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Way back in the mid 1980s our Model Railroad Club never cleaned our track!
When it was time for a show - we cleaned up the tools and debris and fired up the layout dirt and all.
Never wiped the track down or nothing
BUT !
We ran mostly the old Athearn Blue Box engines with the sintered iron wheels.
They would jerk and stall until we placed the Wahl Hair Clipper Oil on the rails - soon everything smoothed out and the trains were running.
It worked every time!
We still never cleaned the track - just used more Clipper oil.
Eventually the cars began derailing on straight track!
WHY ?
We started looking at the cars and found they had no flanges left!
The dirt and oil built up so much that the flanges were buried in dirt.
We could easily cleaned the rings of dirt off and would go through the fleet scraping the wheels.
I had suggested we not use the Clipper oil and just clean the track once in a while but that was TOO MUCH WORK ! The oil was easier!
So it does work - almost too well.
I don't use that stuff anymore as once I Metal Polished the track back in 2003 on my home layout I havn't needed to clean the track and the sound engines always run great.
Although my room environment is very clean and I do no cutting to make dust around the layout - so this has helped!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
stuff works Great
JoeinPA In a recent email newsletter from Loy's Toys, Loy Spurlock discussed the use of automatic transmission fluid for track cleaning. He reports that it cleans the rails and doesn't leave an oily film and the effect is long lasting. Has anyone tried this? Loy also announced his retirement. It will be sad to lose the high quality Loy's Toys source for DCC products. Joe
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This might be WAY too simple a solution (forgive the pun) but has anyone ever tired electrical contact cleaner?I’m referring to CRC® brand QD® (Quick Dry) Electronic Cleaner; available at Walmart and auto parts stores.
As an electrician this has always been in the work box to clean dirty contacts from greasy buildup and restore electrical continuity.
It comes as an aerosol. I spray it on a lint free rag and then wipe down the track, re-wetting the cloth as necessary; as it does dry quickly.
After applying it on a test section of track I wiped my finger across the rails and VIOLA! no black streaks- -Clean rails!
Next step is to clean the wheels of my locos and rolling stock.
Hope this helps!
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Make sure it's plastic compatible. Some aren't.
BTW, I love synthetic ATF as it keeps the track functional. I've used contact cleaner only to have the track get dirty again. I would use the contact cleaner then finish it with synthetic ATF. Maybe do a thorough cleaning every few years. I've been using synthetic ATF for about 2 years now without a major cleaning, just running the wiping cars around.