A chemistry question

This topic has 7 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 8 August 2026 at 09:48 by Mark Rand.

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7 August 2026 at 19:19 #859813
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
a couple of my fellow club members have made a rather splendid track cleaner. It uses a pressure washer pump to blast a mix of water and some kind of solvent at the rails. It works a treat, but it has dire effects on the signalling, which relies on measuring the resistance between the rails. Using plain water isn’t as effective but doesn’t stop the signals working. Most cleaning solutions seems to contain ionic surfactants, and I guess the clue is is the name, ions conduct electricity.

I’ve suggested we paint the rails with Gunk, then blast it off with plain water. To save me going out to buy some anyone know if it will conduct electricity? I’ve attached the data sheet. Or any other ideas?
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7 August 2026 at 19:53 #859817
Fulmen
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@fulmen
That looks like kerosene with a few oil souble additives, so it shouldn’t be conductive.
7 August 2026 at 22:26 #859828
Dick H
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@dickh
Sorry is this the formula for Gunk or what they sprayed on the rails? Nothing in the above formula should cause that sort of chaos. What is in the concoction they use as track cleaner?
7 August 2026 at 23:00 #859830
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
The data sheet is for gunk. I’ll find out what the problem stuff is on Sunday and try and find a data sheet fof it
8 August 2026 at 07:36 #859838
Diogenes
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@diogenes
If it worked, it’s probably ‘alkaline degreaser’ which is much more effective at removing oil and grease residue than Gunk – it’d be a much less damaging product to introduce to the environment than paraffin.

If you could you make a ‘box’ for the P/W lance to concentrate the jet onto the rails you might be able to use plain water..
8 August 2026 at 09:00 #859840
Bo’sun
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@bosun58570
Have you considered a biodegradable citrus cleaner like the ones used for cleaning oily bicycle chains?
8 August 2026 at 09:47 #859849
Michael Gilligan
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@michaelgilligan61133
On 7 August 2026 at 19:19 duncan webster 1 Said:

[…] Most cleaning solutions seems to contain ionic surfactants, and I guess the clue is is the name, ions conduct electricity. […]

You are right, of course, Duncan … although I had never thought much about it !

A quick Google search for “electrical conductivity of cleaning products” will provide many happy hours of reading !

MichaelG.
8 August 2026 at 09:48 #859850
Mark Rand
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@markrand96270
I’d suggest that the detergent is probably helping to retain moisture between the rails and sleepers and allowing current to pass. Might get better in the current heatwaves, then get worse when there’s any precipitation.

Solution could be more thorough rinsing?
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