Carb Cleaner Formulation

[HanShotFirst]

All,

I rebuilt the carb on my son's dirt bike this weekend and everything went just fine. But I got to thinking...

All the spray carb cleaners I'm familiar with were formulated way back when Moby **** was a minnow. Long before modern gasoline formulation.

Just wondering if there are any carb cleaners that are formulated specifically to deal with the issues associated with modern gasoline, and how it screws up pilot jets on a motorcycle carb?

 

[M6erfan]

Berrymans B12 Chemtool is all I use in a spray

Their "Chem-Dip" used to be good but they reformulated it it a few years ago and it's not nearly as effective as it used to be. Luckily I have 5ga of the good old illegal stuff...

IMO, carb cleaners were more effective before they all went "green"

 

[HanShotFirst]

Berryman's was formulated back when Jesus was a Private. And I know it's pretty good stuff. But what I'm wondering is, has there been any carb cleaner formulated SPECIFICALLY to address new gas standards?

 

[M6erfan]

I have no idea. But I clean motorcycle carbs weekly, some new and some 4-5 decades old, and Berryman's spray works the best for me.

Not sure that carb cleaner reformulation is needed just because of ethanol in modern fuel.

Pilot jets being gummed up is in no way a "modern" development...

 

[theoldwizard1]

Anyone use brake cleaner instead ?

It evaporates quicker so I think it leaves less residue.

 

[PBCampbell]

What are these "new" gasoline standards? If you could be more specific about your concerns you will probably get more relevant responses addressing your issues. I'll give you the benefit of doubt that this is not another "ethanol killed my father and disgraced my mother" post relating to ethanol additives in gasoline.
Having said that, I'm still a Berryman's user as a tank additive for small engines that sit through the winter months unused. I also use the original red Sta-Bil in every 5 gallon can when I purchase it. The odd occasions I need to clean a carb (always a neighbors) using a spray can it could be anything I have on hand, but I have a preference for gumout. No particular reason, just what I've always used. If you feel the need for something stronger, Acetone or any Ketone solvent, but that will probably take a toll on seals and such. Heck, Turpentine, Lacquer thinner, and even Pine-Sol have been used in past generations for a carb soak. The primary components of Gasoline haven't changed substantially for decades as far as I know and the problem now as always is systems that sit for extended periods allowing the volatile elements to evaporate leaving a gummy substance in small passages that block or at least diminish new fuel flow.

 

[joe_pinehill1]

for cleaner, I usually use the cheapest on the shelf.

 

[ken w.]

I use a lot of carb cleaners and found that NAPA Macs carb cleaner works well as well as the ones mentioned above. If it says non flammable on the can - it *****. As far as using brake cleaner on a carb , I find that carb cleaner works much better. I usually soak carbs in a 1 gallon basket can of carb cleaner from NAPA for a few hours and they come pretty clean. It doesn't work nearly as good as the original 5 gallon can of Gunk cleaner I bought 30 some years ago.

 

[M6erfan]

Anyone use brake cleaner instead ?

It evaporates quicker so I think it leaves less residue.

Residue? If any it would be petroleum based, so not a factor in carb cleaning. To answer your question...in a word, no.

 

[M6erfan]

...If it says non flammable on the can - it *****.

Berryman's used to have a skull and crossbones on the label, so you knew it was good...

 

[HanShotFirst]

Anyone use brake cleaner instead ?

It evaporates quicker so I think it leaves less residue.

I think the reason there are different products for brakes and carbs has to do with seals. I don't think brake cleaner is real good for the seals you would find in a carb...or at least that's what I was told, I really don't know from personal experience as I have never used brake cleaner on a carb.

 

[HanShotFirst]

What are these "new" gasoline standards? If you could be more specific about your concerns you will probably get more relevant responses addressing your issues. I'll give you the benefit of doubt that this is not another "ethanol killed my father and disgraced my mother" post relating to ethanol additives in gasoline.
Having said that, I'm still a Berryman's user as a tank additive for small engines that sit through the winter months unused. I also use the original red Sta-Bil in every 5 gallon can when I purchase it. The odd occasions I need to clean a carb (always a neighbors) using a spray can it could be anything I have on hand, but I have a preference for gumout. No particular reason, just what I've always used. If you feel the need for something stronger, Acetone or any Ketone solvent, but that will probably take a toll on seals and such. Heck, Turpentine, Lacquer thinner, and even Pine-Sol have been used in past generations for a carb soak. The primary components of Gasoline haven't changed substantially for decades as far as I know and the problem now as always is systems that sit for extended periods allowing the volatile elements to evaporate leaving a gummy substance in small passages that block or at least diminish new fuel flow.

The difference these days is the amount of alcohol to be found in gasoline. Gunked up carb is not a "new" problem by any means. The difference is that it takes much less time to have your pilot jet get clogged.

 

[M6erfan]

The difference these days is the amount of alcohol to be found in gasoline. Gunked up carb is not a "new" problem by any means. The difference is that it takes much less time to have your pilot jet get clogged.

So are you asking about carb cleaners or fuel additives?

A spray carb cleaner will do nothing to prevent gumming

Also, if you're using the bike on a fairly regular basis the fuel should not be an issue. It's only when it sits for an extended period that problems can occur. I've cleaned carbs that had fuel left in them for 25-30 years that ran fine after a good cleaning. If not using the bike regularly, shut off the fuel line and drain the carb before storage

 

[ttpete]

I have a 5-gallon bucket of the good old Methylene Chloride stuff and the idle jets still have to be punched out clean manually. I've been using a bristle off of a small bronze wire brush I have, and it's small and stiff enough to do the job properly.

 

[HanShotFirst]

So are you asking about carb cleaners or fuel additives?

A spray carb cleaner will do nothing to prevent gumming

Also, if you're using the bike on a fairly regular basis the fuel should not be an issue. It's only when it sits for an extended period that problems can occur. I've cleaned carbs that had fuel left in them for 25-30 years that ran fine after a good cleaning. If not using the bike regularly, shut off the fuel line and drain the carb before storage

I get all of that.

Just asking if there are newer-better carb cleaners out there I may not know about.

 

[M6erfan]

I get all of that.

Just asking if there are newer-better carb cleaners out there I may not know about.

None that I know of.

But you keep bringing up modern fuel, which is a non issue in regards to your your query

 

[malibu101]

I have a 5-gallon bucket of the good old Methylene Chloride stuff and the idle jets still have to be punched out clean manually. I've been using a bristle off of a small bronze wire brush I have, and it's small and stiff enough to do the job properly.

To walk in somewhere and get a whiff of that, or used gear oil, makes me say-
"It smells like a real shop in here!"

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Anyone use brake cleaner instead ?

It evaporates quicker so I think it leaves less residue.

It is also rough on plastics and coatings while not leaving any lubricious or anticorrosive residue. some EFI throttles are also coated in a magic ?plastic? that keeps the PCV goo from sticking as bad, and may even be ruined with carb cleaner.

 

[M6erfan]

IDK, maybe I'm nuts but I use TB cleaner on throttle bodies, brake cleaner on brakes, carb cleaner for carbs, MAF cleaner for MAF sensors...

I will say that CRC QD Electronic cleaner is a very good all purpose contact cleaner...

 

[LXCam]

IDK, maybe I'm nuts but I use TB cleaner on throttle bodies, brake cleaner on brakes, carb cleaner for carbs, MAF cleaner for MAF sensors...

I will say that CRC QD Electronic cleaner is a very good all purpose contact cleaner...

Great advice right there. The shaft seals aren't all the great and brake cleaner can fubr the electronics right quick if you get enough of it in there. I use brake cleaner on all the throttle bodies but I remove them and face the electronics up and use a rag to clean and not just spray the **** out of it.

 

[M6erfan]

Almost forgot

...Deoxit D5 for electronic connections

 

[Kmp259]

Almost forgot

...Deoxit D5 for electronic connections

Good stuff.....

 

[jessesandy]

Almost forgot

...Deoxit D5 for electronic connections

Great stuff. Brought the electric systems back to life back my '83 Ford that was parked for 15 years. Lights, buzzer, gauges, ignition switch, etc.

 

[mbshop]

Carb cleaner has been dumbed down. Well, as most cleaners have. Those of yoj with the old cleaner, be carefull, you can get in serious trouble getting rid of it $$$$$$$$. Carb cleaner should only be used on bare metal. I just get the cheap stuff from wal mart. Seems to be adequate.
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