I would like to know what the difference is between Carb cleaner and Brake parts cleaner. I've used carb cleaner on a carb and it took the paint right off the choke flap thing. I used brake cleaner on a throttle body the other day and it worked great. It was on a 4.0L Ranger though it had a sticker saying something like "do not clean throttle body", I did it anyways cuz it was filty after 180k miles. Now it still runs fine after cleaning it. So which is best? I would like to know the technical differences between the two and possibly Throttle body cleaner.

 

I think brake cleaner doesnt have oil or somthing in it to make sure that the rotors or drums dont get oil coated on them to mess up braking. Dont use brake cleaner on maf sensor or any electrical sensor because or the oil again but because it could coat the sensor or whatever.

 

brake clean doesn't leave a residue, and works good on most metals/oils, do not use on plastic, is turns most white

carb clean is more powerful than brake clean, but it leaves a white film

 

LOL!!!

 

i believe ford coats their tb's with some sort of very smooth coating to aid in airflow and/or reduce buildup.

 

I know that if you clean something with carb cleaner, paint will crater like crazy, with brake cleaner it will go on smooth, so the carb cleaner must have a lube or coating of some type.

 

If you really want to know the difference, all of these products must have a MSDS (material safety data sheet), which tell you whats in them, amoung other things. Most are available on the company WEB sites.