Brake Cleaner vs Carb Cleaner (What’s the Difference?)
A car is made up of several components and parts. They all get dirty and oily while fulfilling their own purposes. You can’t use the same cleaning agent on every part of your car. Individual parts need to be cleaned differently, especially with different types of cleaning fluids.
For example, you don’t want to clean your brakes with carburetor cleaner, and you don’t want to clean your carburetor with brake cleaner. Each cleaner is specifically formulated for the part of the car it is meant to clean.
Using the wrong cleaner on a particular part can cause serious damage. You will then have to spend money to repair or replace this part. It is quicker and cheaper to use the right cleaner on the right part.
To get a better understanding, let’s look at the difference between brake cleaner and carburetor cleaner:
Brake Cleaner
Brake CleanerHow often do you clean your brake components? If you’re like most people, you probably never do this. It’s a time-consuming and labor-intensive job, so that’s to be expected.
To access the brake system, especially the brake discs and calipers, you have to remove the tires and wheels from the vehicle. When cleaning your brakes, you usually take your car to a repair shop and have a professional do it for you. Of course, that also costs money.
If you want to save money and do the brake cleaning yourself, all you need is a good brake cleaner. It comes in an easy-to-use spray can and you just spray it on the brake components after you remove them from the braking system.
Make sure you use a brake cleaner that is labeled “all-purpose cleaner.” This will ensure that unwanted brake fluid, oil, and grease stains are removed from these parts. You don’t have to wait long for it to dry either.
There are two types of brake cleaners. The first type is chlorine-based brake cleaner, which contains a chemical called tetrachloroethylene. This chemical is dangerous to humans, which is another reason why brake cleaning should be done by a professional.
Alternatively, there is a second type of brake cleaner that is not chlorine-based. This agent is definitely safe for beginners to use, but it does not clean brakes as aggressively as agents containing chlorine.
Carburetor Cleaner
Carburetor Cleaner In older cars, the carburetor is responsible for mixing fuel and air in a combustion engine. For combustion to be successful, the ratio of fuel to air must be precisely balanced.
Once the mixture is ignited, the engine can generate power that ultimately drives the wheels. But what many people don’t know is that carburetors are prone to carbon particles and dirt particles. Over time, these particles must be removed from the components in order for them to continue to function properly. Cleaning your carburetor requires a carburetor cleaner.
This is a powerful blend of strong chemicals designed to remove dirt and other types of grime from the inside and outside of your carburetor. These chemicals include acetone, xylene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, ethylbenzene, 2-butoxyethanol, and propane.
Tips
Overall, brake cleaners do not leave any residue after use. The same can’t be said about carburetor cleaner.
Also, don’t use carburetor cleaner on anything painted, as it will strip the paint. And don’t use brake cleaner on powder-coated surfaces, as the powder will be sticky and damage the surface.