Tornador with APC question

[Spec Auto Detailing]

I have been using a Tornador with Meg's APC professionally for the past eight months without any issues at all. Two weeks ago my tornador started to show signs of clogging up. I thought at first that it may simply be due to the cold weather. (It has been below freezing on occasion in my region lately.)

I have used APC almost exclusively, with the exception of one instance where I added about three ounces of denatured alcohol, and another time when I used a vinegar and water solution.

I ordered replacement parts for the tornador, and when I had the machine apart, I noticed some crystallization of what appeared to be Meg's APC stuck in the pickup tube.
Is there a chemist in the house that could enlighten me as to how this occurs?
Has anyone encountered this issue before? If so, is there an easy remedy that you could share?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Tornador with APC question

Unless you're using APC at an extremely heavy dilution ratio we kind of doubt that's what you're seeing. Any chance it's just mineral deposits from hard water accumulating over time? We've seen that plug up all kinds of things in the past.

In another post you mentioned what you called "casting flash" building up in the tip and clogging it. Any of that loose material just gives more area for mineral deposits to cling to.

Sure, it could be that APC is further compounding that issue, but it's very doubtful it's the APC in and of itself that's the issue.

[Murr1525]

Re: Tornador with APC question

My Foaming Head Sprayer with APC clogs every so often, I have soaked it in some vinegar and seems to clear it up for a while.

I think buildup is natural with any pumping or spraying device and something that isnt pure water.

[Spec Auto Detailing]

Re: Tornador with APC question

The reason that I believe it was the APC crystalizing is due to the fact that the build up was a very light green like that of diluted APC. It may very well be that it is a buildup of hard water minerals that have been tinted by the green of the APC.
I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea here. Meguiar's APC has been my goto product for quite some time, and has been fantastic. Combining the versatility of the APC with the tornador has been a wining combination that has saved me countless hours and has helped make my business a raging success. I am simply posting to see if anyone else has had a similar experience, and might have relevant input regarding my situation.
I will soak the old parts in vinegar an see if that does the trick
The "casting flash" that I was referring to in the other post was in regards to a carpet extractor.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Tornador with APC question

I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea here.

No, no - not at all. It's just that hard water can do crazy things (you should have seen our old coffee maker at home!) and, as you mentioned, the green from the APC can tint whatever may be left behind.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Tornador with APC question

I would tend to believe it is a hard water issue, also. It can mess up a lot of things. Even the turbine in the water meters.