Parts Washers, anyone?

[JackG]

I'm getting my home shop set up, and I bought a Northern Tools #159468
50 gallon parts washer. I also bought 10 gallons of the PSC-1000
petroleum based solvent from Tractor Supply (they had a better price).

I just put the washer together, and as I was about to fill it, I
noticed a label on the inside lid saying to use only aqueous based
solvents. I found small print in the manual that it would wear out
the pump faster if you used petro based solvents. However, it has a fusible
link on the lid in case of fire... so it was designed for flammable
solvents.

The label on the box and description in the Northern catalog make no
mention of water based only. Their web site groups the washer into
the "solvent" based washers, as apposed to the "aqueous" based
washers.

Bottom line... I'm wondering if it's safe to use petro based solvents
in this washer? I really don't want to use water based, and I'm
betting the warning to use only water based is a "cover their ass" sort of
thing.

Does anyone here have some experience or advice?

Jack