Brake Cleaner vs. Carb. Cleaner

[RWebb]

I want to clean out a throttle body (VW Vanagon).

Any reason I can't use the rest of a can of Brake Cleaner I already have instead of using Carb. Cleaner ??

[Oh Haha]

It's fine to use it although some brands may leave a slight film on the part. Wipe it off if you feel the need, it won't hurt anything.

[A930Rocket]

I like brake cleaner because it doesn't leave a film like carb cleaner IMHO.

[Oh Haha]

Well, crap.

I had the film thing backwards. Sorry about that.

Brake cleaner- no film.

Carb cleaner-film.

[doug_porsche]

just use it in a WELL ventilated area.

I love the stuff but it is truly deadly in high concentrations.
Spray it on a an ant pile and the ants dont even reclaim the bodies.

[porsche4life]

I prefer Carb cleaner, fumes aren't near as bad.....

Plus it burns nicely...

[masraum]

Isn't the deal with brake cleaner that if it gets hit with heat and vaporized that it can kill you? Are you going to take the throttle body off of the car or leave it on? If you leave it on, then isn't there the chance that you may burn some of the stuff in the engine?

Seems like a potentially bad idea to me.

[porsche4life]

Brake cleaner is chlorine based, when heated it breaks down and gives off chlorine gas.....

[944Larry]

I use ether (starting fluid), it is way cheaper than the other stuff and doesn't leave a film. It is an extreme fire hazard though.

[porsche4life]

Breathe too much ether, and you'll be waking up naseous with a bad ass headache....

[944Larry]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Breathe too much ether, and you'll be waking up naseous with a bad ass headache....

I'm old, I usually wake up like that anyway!

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Brake cleaner is chlorine based, when heated it breaks down and gives off chlorine gas.....

When burned, it gives off phosgene gas. Which will seriously eff up your life.

[andyt11]

I have an article at the shop that I printed out for tehe guys. It's about a poor guy who heated a tiny bit of either brake cleaner or carb cleaner, I can't remember which, but it was the one he doesn't normally use. Caught him out and the fumes did serious and permanent damage. Phosgene gas I believe as previously mentioned. I should try to find that articale and post it on here for info.

[EarlyPorsche]

I use carb cleaner for most things also...never noticed a film. I recently cleaned off an auto trans pan with it and it ended up perfectly clean and seemed film-free.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by andyt11

I have an article at the shop that I printed out for tehe guys. It's about a poor guy who heated a tiny bit of either brake cleaner or carb cleaner, I can't remember which, but it was the one he doesn't normally use. Caught him out and the fumes did serious and permanent damage. Phosgene gas I believe as previously mentioned. I should try to find that articale and post it on here for info.

Brake cleaner.... Carb cleaner is petro based... it just burns to carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen...

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

I use carb cleaner for most things also...never noticed a film. I recently cleaned off an auto trans pan with it and it ended up perfectly clean and seemed film-free.

I've never noticed a film, use carb cleaner on everything...

[rusnak]

Hey RW, maybe you oughta use some diesel instead, just saying...

[DanielDudley]

What's the skinny on MAF sensor cleaner ? I assume it is to get burn off residue from your hot wire. Anybody know what it is ?

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by andyt11

I have an article at the shop that I printed out for tehe guys. It's about a poor guy who heated a tiny bit of either brake cleaner or carb cleaner, I can't remember which, but it was the one he doesn't normally use. Caught him out and the fumes did serious and permanent damage. Phosgene gas I believe as previously mentioned. I should try to find that articale and post it on here for info.

I remember that also. They said it was the heating of tetrachloroethylene in the presence of argon while mig or tig welding. Maybe some chemist could explain that to me? Why the inert gas makes a difference.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by rick-l

I remember that also. They said it was the heating of tetrachloroethylene in the presence of argon while mig or tig welding. Maybe some chemist could explain that to me? Why the inert gas makes a difference.

the gas did not have anything to do with it, it was pure heat combined with that cleaner...
Modern days it should not be an issue, check yer can to be sure.

[svandamme]

this was the original article




It does mention argon and heat, but argon really has nothing to do with it, it's just heat that does the trick with tetrachloroethylene.

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/tetrachloroethylene/working_tetra.html#_1_7