As you can probably guess, the main difference between carburetor cleaner and brake cleaner is that the former is designed to clean carburetors, whereas the latter is used to clean brakes\u2014the other important distinction, however, is that carb cleaner leaves behind an oily residue while brake cleaner leaves no residue whatsoever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the course of owning a vehicle, your brakes and your carburetor\u2014if you have one\u2014will get dirty and accumulate grime. If you intend to clean them yourself, you\u2019ll likely run across two types of cleaners: carb cleaner and brake cleaner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing when to use which cleaner\u2014as well as what sets them apart\u2014will help save you time and money in the long run. That\u2019s why licensed broker<\/a> and car insurance <\/a>super app Jerry <\/a>has put together the following article breaking down the differences between carb cleaner and brake cleaner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from the obvious\u2014that carb cleaner is used for cleaning carburetors and brake cleaner for cleaning brakes\u2014the main difference between the two is their ingredients, or more specifically, their oil content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By definition, brake cleaner cannot include any sort of oil, as it would leave behind residue. In contrast, carb cleaner may contain oil and usually leaves residue behind after it dries. This distinction is important because residue can prevent your brakes from operating properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another difference\u2014albeit much lesser\u2014is the versatility of brake cleaner when compared to carb cleaner. You can use brake cleaner to clean various mechanical parts, but carb cleaner is only suitable for cleaning carburetors and other small engines like lawnmowers and snowblowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carburetor cleaner is a petroleum or oil-based cleaning solution designed to rid your vehicle\u2019s carburetor of sludge, gunk, and varnish without damaging its gaskets or other delicate parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carburetor cleaner is usually sold as a spray-on aerosol containing the following ingredients: acetone, methanol, ethyl benzene, toluene, and carbon dioxide\u2014all of which help break down the varnish deposits that accumulate within the carburetor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, keeping your carburetor clean isn\u2019t something you need to worry about if you own a vehicle built after 1995, as the carburetor itself was phased out during the early 1990s in favor of the fuel-injection system all modern automobiles now use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brake cleaner\u2014sometimes referred to simply as \u201cparts cleaner\u201d\u2014is a powerful cleaning agent used primarily for cleaning the brake discs and other brake system components, but you can also use it to clean various car parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since it is designed specifically for use on brake parts, brake cleaner is oil-free and does not leave behind residue after it dries, which helps prevent your brake pads from sticking or grabbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to note, however, that not all brake cleaners have the same chemical makeup\u2014some brake cleaners contain chlorine while others do not, which changes their qualities in a few notable ways. In any case, you should always wear gloves when using brake cleaner to avoid direct contact with the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the name suggests, chlorinated brake cleaner contains chlorine, or rather, chemicals containing chlorinated atoms that help increase the solvent properties of the cleaner, allowing it to cut through grime, caked-on brake dust, and old brake-fluid build-up with ease. This brake cleaner has been around the longest and is usually the preferred option in machine shops, but it also has a higher toxicity than its non-chlorinated counterpart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chlorinated brake cleaner is popular because its chlorinated solvents\u2014such as methylene chloride or tetrachloroethylene\u2014make this product extraordinarily fast-drying and non-flammable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Non-chlorinated brake cleaner, on the other hand, does not contain chlorinated solvents\u2014instead, hydrocarbon solvents\u2014which means it is flammable and does not<\/em> dry nearly as fast as chlorinated brake cleaner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This absence of chlorine, however, does not drastically impact the ability to cut through dirt and grime, and you can still use non-chlorinated brake cleaner to clean most metallic surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is a common misconception that non-chlorinated brake cleaner is non-toxic or more environmentally-friendly than chlorinated brake cleaner\u2014this isn\u2019t true. Despite nixing the chlorinated solvents, non-chlorinated brake cleaners still contain heavy chemicals like heptane, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and toluene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No, you cannot\u2014carb cleaner should never be used interchangeably with brake cleaner because there is no guarantee that it doesn\u2019t contain oil and won\u2019t leave behind residue. If oily residue gets on your brake pads, it can lead to \u201cbrake grabbing,\u201d. This is when the pads improperly latch onto the brake rotors, impeding your vehicle\u2019s ability to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generally speaking, you should only ever use carb cleaner to clean your carburetor (if your vehicle has one), whereas you can use brake cleaner to clean your brakes and many other mechanical components. Of course, that\u2019s not to say that you couldn\u2019t <\/em>use carb cleaner to clean other parts, but there\u2019s no reason to when brake cleaner and other specialized cleaners exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, there are a few instances where you shouldn\u2019t use brake cleaner as a multi-purpose cleaning agent, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In either of these cases, you\u2019d be better off using a non-toxic or weaker cleaning agent to eliminate any lingering dirt or grime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping your carburetor and brakes clean is one of the easiest ways to ensure your safety while driving. A healthy car is a safer car, which reduces the likelihood of getting into a costly accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to save money on car expenses and keep yourself safe on the road is by reducing your vehicle\u2019s car insurance<\/a> payments with Jerry<\/a>, the nation\u2019s #1 rated car insurance comparison app and broker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All you have to do is download the app, fill out a short questionnaire, and Jerry will start comparing dozens of affordable quotes from 55+ trusted insurance providers to find you the best deals possible. Users that switch with Jerry save on average $800+ a year on their car insurance!<\/p>\n\n\n\nCarb Cleaner vs. Brake Cleaner: What\u2019s the difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is carburetor cleaner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is brake cleaner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Chlorinated brake cleaner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Non-chlorinated brake cleaner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can you substitute carb cleaner for brake cleaner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Should you use carb cleaner or brake cleaner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Find cheap car insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n