Brake Cleaner and Carburetor Cleaner: What's the Difference?

[@josephremache3721]

Soo my wife picked up carb and choke clean instead of brake cleaner. I'm glad I came across this video. I was about to use carb cleaner on my breaks 😅 Good informative video.

[@frankwang4642]

Excellent video. Many videos introducing these two types of cleaners do not articulate as clearly as this one. This video is worth watching for anyone who wants to DIY clean and maintain their cars and machinery.

[@Tubeytime]

Thanks, I searched for this on google and your video was recommended. Exactly what I was looking for.

[@WesternEquipment]

Awesome! I’m glad I could help.

[@vincentvanpaepeghem4844]

Great video Brent! Lots of great information as always. I didn't realize the difference between the two cleaners! Thanks for sharing! Have a great and awesome day! 🚜

[@WesternEquipment]

Thanks Vincent! Thanks for your continued support sir!

[@landrodaoud1531]

@@WesternEquipment the brake cleaner is more flammable?

[@benmarch1538]

Toluene is not just an aeromatic. I worked with it for years in heavy printing. It's is absolutely a heavy duty thinner, cleaner. It's no joke. And that's smell is hazardous beyond so many PPM.

[@WesternEquipment]

Thank you for the info! The information that I found on it did not mention much except for the fact that it was mainly for the aromatic purpose. Thanks for watching!

[@fattswaller8792]

Damn I love the smell of toulene.

[@treborterb]

is it anything like the fresh smell of napalm in the morning?@@fattswaller8792

[@F0XD1E]

They used to run straight toluene as fuel for high boost race cars back in the day and pretty much all those mechanics died of cancer.

[@vevenaneathna]

technically neither leaves a film but instead the difference is how they allow water in the air to reform the film that they have disturbed. methanol acts to pull water out of the air better and puts stuff back to normal. if you ever do water sensitive chemistry experiments you learn pretty quick taht everything is actually covered in an invisible film of water that needs to be cleaned off first with a blow torch or by putting things in an oven/desiccating. when people use 3m window sealant to remake bushings, the reason it works for some and not others besides surface prep is coz 3m window weld is a 1 part water activated poly urethane and pretreating the surface with brake cleaner allows the methanol to pull water out of the air back onto the surface. it should be the last thing to evaporate from the surface out of the different ingreadents listed because of hydrogen bonding with its OH group. also someone said windshield washing fluid is 20% methanol. thats not true in many parts of the world like the EU where it was banned from windshield washing fluid in 2019. most mfg use a blend of methanol, isopropanol, and ethylene glycol or other mineral spirits. many mfg in the us and other parts of the world use a blend and if it does include methanol it tends to include ethanol (drinking alcohol) because that significantly decreases the toxicity of methanol ingestion. kind of complicated but in the old days the antidote for methanol poisoning was to get someone smashed. this works for ethylene glycol too.

[@WesternEquipment]

Interesting. Thanks for the comment.

[@chrisclutchturner]

Appreciate this Video! I was wondering the same thing for a while. I'm thinking I'd rather use brake cleaner and just cover up the rubber components while I'm spraying. Specifically the rack and pinion area and covering the boots

[@WesternEquipment]

I am glad I could get you the info you were looking for!

[@sixtyfiveford]

Not true at all. You sprayed a rubber mat that the Acetone(carb cleaner). This dissolves rubber and made the carpet powder stick. Brake Clean is primarily Xylene which less likely to dissolve the rubber mat. Carb cleaner does not leave a residue and all the ingredients are used before paint prep. Carb cleaner is a superior degreaser but dries faster than Brake clean.

[@alvaroeloredo]

Extremely educating video. Thank you.

[@markmorgan1116]

Thank You. I ruined a couple carburetors and had to buy rebuild kits. The needle seat gasket is rubber in some carburetors and make them swell and close off the gas to the float chamber. What a pain in the ass, when I put air to it the rubber came out and there was the culprit. LOL

[@WesternEquipment]

Well I am glad I could help and thanks for watching!

[@bosesebi6685]

I used brake cleaner the other day, after smearing some lacquer on cloth furniture, tabure. And it worked. The thing is to use it right after smearing ..

[@WesternEquipment]

Interesting! Thanks for the info.

[@sudinakok9235]

Hi, hi about the different between carb cleaner and engine degreaser?

[@WesternEquipment]

This could be another video. Stay tuned!

[@terryjameslehmanlehman]

Wow nobody could do it you just did amazing

[@bloodyhell6378]

Hi, I'm working on a SU carb and have only brake cleaner (which I abuse for other purposes, mainly cleaning plug holes), since I'm replacing all rubber grommets anyways, can I get away with using brake cleaner *if* I flush it with oil afterwards?

[@WesternEquipment]

Yes, this should be fine. Good question and thanks for watching!

[@teck6492]

Great video, thanks so much. So I’m curious to know which you would recommend for cleaning O2 sensors?

[@WesternEquipment]

Hmmm this is a tough one. What are the O2 sensors going on?

[@glupilazni1399]

I'm also interested in this. I saw bunch of videos where guys keep repeating that it's important for O2 sensor cleaner not to leave any residue but I guess that if it works in such condition as exaust where, oil, fuel and carbon could appear the least worries is about some little residue, at least if you don't use WD40 or something like that. I'm planning to try to clean my with brake cleaner and imediatelly to wash it out with 96% Alcohol just to wash if anything left from brake cleaner.

[@grasshopper3085]

Use MAF sensor cleaner. It's perfect for all sensors because it leaves no residue.

[@xxxqqq]

You can try toilet cleaner, leave the tip it in for a few hours.

[@palikerongrider1056]

Sir is the carb cleaner safe for rubber seal? Can i use it to clean my fork tubes without damaging my fork oil seals?

[@WesternEquipment]

Yes it should be fine for this!

[@palikerongrider1056]

@@WesternEquipment thank you sir

[@hlpang1075]

Thank you! Very good info ❤

[@WesternEquipment]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@Dainejus]

hello, is there any way to remove run down like watermarks after spraying brake cleaner? the metal surface got dry and has a cloudy look, when i wipe it it just returns being cloudy again

[@richardgraham65]

Good video, very interesting, how about a comparison with Contact Cleaner too? Thanks for the upload!

[@WesternEquipment]

Thank you and thanks for the suggestion. I will put that in my notes. Thanks for watching!

[@richardgraham65]

@@WesternEquipment Reason I asked is that so many people and company's claim you cannot interchange, but I have used contact cleaner for years to clean my MAF sensor, no issues, and 25% of the price. Sometimes you feel you are getting shafted.

[@ryelor123]

Ah, you missed the secret ingredient in brake clean: Trichloroethylene. Great stuff.

[@WesternEquipment]

Interesting. I don't remember this one listed on the sheet for the John Deere brake cleaner. is it supposed to be in all or what brand did you see it in?

[@jogz123]

So use both on the throttle body: Brake cleaner then carb cleaner?

[@teck6492]

@westernequipment Hi again, for some reason I can't reply directly to your reply to my previous comment so I guess I'll just do it the roundabout way: "Hmmm this is a tough one. What are the O2 sensors going on?" My reply: It's the O2 sensors on my 97 Lexus LS400.

[@WesternEquipment]

Definitely carb and choke cleaner. I would worry about the harshness of the break cleaner possible damaging the sensing element. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!

[@michaelmixon2479]

Brave man doing the test with your phone right there. What if the spray cap had malfunctioned? Good video.

[@WesternEquipment]

Haha, I didn't even think about that. Thanks for watching!

[@jonathanhantke6314]

1:30 No, the toluene is not put in there to warn people about the stout chemicals being used. It does have an odor, but it is a common cleaner to remove varnish from fuel lines and carburetors and to remove carbon from combustion chambers.

[@jerrywhitfill2236]

Is the chlorinated chemical to phosgene gas issue with brake cleaner only associated with welding or do hot engines and brake rotors have no associated risk?

[@JeffJetton-v5m]

There is chlorinated and non chlorinated brake clean. You can't even get the chlorinated stuff in some states. Chlorinated seems to work better, but you never want to spray that stuff on a hot surface. That's when you get the phosgene gas, which can be deadly. On the other hand the non chlorinated is highly flammable.

[@jameschristian306]

Thanks

[@WesternEquipment]

Thank you for watching!

[@djjoeykmusic]

Great video Thank you 🙏🏾

[@WesternEquipment]

Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@maasman8974]

Hi, yesterday I cleaned my fuel injectors with Liqui Moly carburettor cleaner. It behaves exactly as the carburettor cleaner in your video. I specifically purchased it because I didn't want to destroy the O-rings on my injectors. But the stuff totally destroyed my nitril rubber gloves. I read that the O-rings are usually made from fluoride rubber. I didn't notice anything weird with the O-rings even after a few minutes. Do I need to worry about my O-rings or is it all good? Thanks in advance!

[@abdulrehmanawan4068]

Can we we use on gun to clean then apply oil?

[@WesternEquipment]

I would ask someone that owns a gun shop or someone that specializes in gun cleaning because I am not sure. I know gun metal can be very particular to the chemicals used on them so my suggestion would be to ask an expert first.

[@anthonyhumbert8787]

Carb and choke cleaner it's formulated to break up the varnish that accumulates inside a carburetor

[@WesternEquipment]

Yes, this is true.

[@nickl8830]

Good stuff thx

[@GainingDespair]

Hmm I was kinda under the impression the only difference between carb clearner and brake cleaner was carb clearner is typically non chlorinated.

[@WesternEquipment]

This is why we make these videos. Glad I was able to clear some of that up.

[@heromayola7050]

can i use carb cleaners to clean brakes?

[@GAROmx]

Negative

[@smsm6255]

Thank you!

[@dawkinss2422]

Good stuff

[@WesternEquipment]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@padraiggluck2980]

I am really leery of acetone but both products contain it.

[@WesternEquipment]

What makes you leery of it?

[@padraiggluck2980]

@@WesternEquipment It dissolves plastics and rubber.

[@kyfisher3662]

is Carburetor Cleaner the same thing as degreaser?

[@jayytee8062]

No

[@kyfisher3662]

@@jayytee8062 tys

[@hankhill3417]

It’s fine to use either on a throttle plate

[@WesternEquipment]

This is probably true. There are many places that you could use either one.

[@glupilazni1399]

Yes, but basically methanol will react with rubber after you soak it for a while, since this brake cleaner will evaporate almost instantly I guess there is no wories at least if you dont threat the rubber too often.

[@WesternEquipment]

Right but in a carburetor the brake cleaner will take longer to dissolve, therefore it could damage the rubber seals. Thanks for watching!

[@treborterb]

did you mean it will take longer to dissolve or evaporate? @@WesternEquipment

[@ireallyreallyreallylikethisimg]

Oh you don't even need to soak it for more than a second. My phone case touched carb cleaner for a second and it started cracking instantly on the outside. Strong stuff

[@kbeimel]

Toluene is a cleaning solvent!

[@alfredocuomo1546]

Great video I just wish you included MAF cleaner in this comparison which is suppose to be just like Break cleaner but less coarse & won't harm Painted or coated surfaces but won't leave a residue like carb cleaners.

[@WesternEquipment]

Interesting, I will look into this. Thanks!

[@tedn3030]

@@WesternEquipment I would not bother, it's just interesting fluff he added. this is your party Sincerely!

[@polocash11]

Lawnmower?? Small ports?? I see many use brake fluid.

[@Clemson-rc2yq]

Why is your website down

[@WesternEquipment]

It is having some work done to it but we are hoping for it to be up very very soon.

[@Clemson-rc2yq]

@@WesternEquipment thanks

[@chang.stanley]

Methanol damages rubber? Windshield washer fluid is like 20% methanol. :O

[@WesternEquipment]

Yes but with windshield washer fluid, it is out and the open and dries very fast. Cleaning a carburetor could be different and not allow it to dry quickly. Thanks for watching!

[@tysonrinker5958]

windshield wipers dry out and start cracking pretty quick and i bet windshield washer could contribute to that a little bit

[@vevenaneathna]

i dont use windshield washer fluid and my wipers last for 5-10years at a time.... would rather rive a little bit with some slightly less clean windows than to have them not work when i need them. what ends up destroying my wipers is the ice in the winter if i forget to put them up off the window. in china and other parts of the world windsheild wipers are made with 2-6 blades which have much more rubber and can be trimmed and sharpened after each year. kind of dumb how we do it in the US, rainx brandname wipers are like 30$ and suck after 1 year.

[@stevenlevernier7357]

If it has no rubber or plastic, hit it with the brake clean you already bought.

[@architude]

I just use paint stripper. It eats everything, and you should of already removed your rubber.

[@WesternEquipment]

Interesting. Thanks for watching!

[@Z-Ack]

But what about methanol injection on cars? They spray that shit right up in..

[@WesternEquipment]

This is a good question. I'm sure there are special components in those cars to help with this wear. But I am no expert there. Good point and thanks for watching!

[@rustypotatos]

Methanol is specifically described and warned as heavily deteriorating on engines and it is very hard on them

[@brutusmaximus5380]

The intake manifold in my Tacoma 2.7 L is made of a dense black plastic. The Gaskets are high temp silicone. Over time methanol could deteriorate the plastic if it stays liquid and pools up at the bottom of the manifold. Methanol injectors are operated when engine is running and warmed up. Therefore the methanol will evaporate quickly nor does it pool up long enough to affect the plastics. You are supposed to use a little water with methanol injectors. So if you are worried about it, use the isopropyl alcohol instead. Plain Ethanol such as everclear should not hurt plastics either. Other brands of drinking alcohol may contain a little bit sugar. So stick with the everclear when switching to ethanol.

[@NicksStuff]

Interesting video but your demonstration showed pretty much the opposite of what you said

[@Xcerptshow]

Just stop watching at 2min. There is no other useful info....

[@WesternEquipment]

Thanks for the feedback and for watching!

[@PaulHayman-tq5kb]

Brake cleaner is not good for plastic to spray into a plastic throttle body

[@WesternEquipment]

Good point. It's not good for rubber or plastic.

[@pksystems4714]

Methanol is less corrosive then Acetone. LOL

[@nikolastijelja9796]

8 min for few words

[@thatgreenguy3969]

Some break cleaners have diesel or kerosene in it. Definitely don't use that around rubber.

[@WesternEquipment]

Definitely want to avoid those.