Cleaning composition comprising an alkyl hydroxybutyrate and method of cleaning air intake valve deposits
View Patent ↗A cleaning composition is particularly suited for cleaning dirty intake valves. The cleaning composition includes a high solvency surfactant/solvent which has a Kb greater than 100 or polar Hansen solubility parameter greater than 6. The surfactant/solvent is combined with a carrier such as water or an organic carrier and a surfactant. A wetting agent may also be employed. The cleaning composition is added to the intake air as a mist as the engine is running. Aqueous and non-aqueous versions are disclosed.
1. A method of cleaning an air intake valve of an engine comprising:
introducing a cleaning composition into the air intake of an engine as said engine is running;
said cleaning composition comprising:
a micro-emulsion including an alkyl hydroxybutyrate having a Hansen solubility parameter greater than 6 and a fuel value sufficiently low that it does not combust in a diesel engine and having a solvency effective to dissolve buildup on said valves;
water; and
a surfactant effective to establish a micro emulsion of said alkyl hydroxybutyrate and said water.
2. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is a nonionic surfactant.
3. The method claimed in claim 2 wherein said cleaning composition further includes a wetting agent.
4. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said alkyl hydroxybutyrate has a Kb greater than 100.
5. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said alkyl hydroxybutyrate has a Kb greater than 500.
6. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said alkyl hydroxybutyrate has a Kb greater than 1000.
7. A method of cleaning an air intake valve of an engine comprising:
introducing a cleaning composition into the air intake of an engine as said engine is running;
said cleaning composition comprising:
a micro-emulsion including an alkyl hydroxybutyrate having a Hansen solubility parameter greater than 6 and a fuel value sufficiently low that it does not combust in a diesel engine and having a solvency effective to dissolve buildup on said valves;
water; and
a surfactant effective to establish a micro emulsion of said alkyl hydroxybutyrate and said water,
wherein said alkyl hydroxybutyrate is butyl 3-hydroxybutyrate.
8. The method claimed in claim 7 wherein said surfactant is a nonionic surfactant.
9. The method claimed in claim 8 wherein said cleaning composition further includes a wetting agent.
10. The method claimed in claim 7 wherein said butyl 3-hydroxybutyrate has a Kb greater than 100.
11. The method claimed in claim 7 wherein said butyl 3-hydroxybutyrate has a Kb greater than 500.
12. The method claimed in claim 7 wherein said butyl 3-hydroxybutyrate has a Kb greater than 1000.