Cleaners and rad fluids - why so different and what damage if wrong cleaner/fluid used?
Hi Scotty,
I sincerely hope this email finds you well and in good spirits!
I watch your videos on YouTube and I want to thank you so very, very much for the knowledge and experiences you have shared with us, I am eternally grateful for it.
If we lived near each other, I’d bring a sandwich and coffee for us every day!
I have some technical questions for you, here they are:
- I’m not entirely sure about the differences between throttle body cleaner, carburetor cleaner, mass air flow sensor, and brake cleaner, how they are similar and how they are different and what happens if the chemicals are not used as directed. I use exactly as directed but there’s a lot of really bad advice on the net that ignores how these chemicals should be used (using brake cleaner to clean throttle body for example). Manufacturers don’t provide much information on what the chemicals really do and maybe that’s why there’s so much bad advice out there.
- Same question when it comes to radiator fluid, why so many variations, some will really hurt if used in the “wrong” car. Again no one explains what the chemical soup was designed to do and why it can mess up a car that is not designed for a particular radiator fluid, or even why a particular radiator fluid was designed for a particular car.
A general question: Does anyone sell a good small engine tachometer? These are pretty hard to find at a reasonable price, most look like toys.
Some things I can share (and I hope you find them useful) is that car thieves are clever. With electronic wireless keys, thieves can read your key fob in your house, duplicate the key fob code and drive your car away… I put my key fob in a compact metal can. The can lid and body MUST have metal-to-metal contact because that forms a Faraday cage around the key fob, that makes it impossible to ping and read the key fob. If you are in a pinch, put the key fob into the microwave oven and sticky note to remind you. Microwave ovens are great faraday cages.
Many, many thanks!
And I wish you a long and good life,
John Studenny.
Please break your questions into smaller ones with a specific topic. Thanks.
Spray cleaners are a combination of a solvent, detergent additives, and propellant. The differences have to do with what materials the solvent will react with and what residues might be left behind. For example, brake cleaner needs to have a strong solvent to get rid of grime and built up brake dust, but has no slippery detergent additives that can stay behind and reduce friction (brakes need friction). But brake cleaner’s solvents can damage sensitive electronics as in a MAF sensor; MAF cleaner is more gentle and leaves behind almost no residue of any kind that would affect function of the sensor. And something like WD40 is an excellent cleaner for electrical connections, but leaves residues that would reduce friction if applied to brake parts and impair function of a MAF sensor.
throttle body cleaner
low residue, low evaporation point (lighter hydrocarbons). Needs to be tough on oil mist and crankcase vapor deposits, and have something to break up carbon deposits.
Throttle bodies are usually metal (the ones I've seen) but there are plastics around it so it probably can't be too aggressive.
carburetor cleaner
Carburettors are mostly metal. These solvents will be heavier to stay on the surface longer. (longer chain napthenes). Needs to dissolve stubborn gasoline residues (gum/varnish). It is designed to leave behind a thin protective/lubricating film. There is no place for carb cleaner on modern cars.
mass air flow sensor
MAF sensors are extremely sensitive to contamination. It's basically a very thin, very precisely calibrated toaster heating element, and the computer measures how much the passing air cools it down. When anything except air gets on this thin wire, it changes the thermal mass and throws off the readings. The cleaner must be absolutely residue-free. You will notice that the spray comes out at a relatively high speed and that's because it relies on mechanical force to do a lot of the cleaning.
brake cleaner
Very aggressive, high pressure, low residue cleaner. Not safe for plastic and will instantly dissolve/damage some body trim parts.
Must not leave slippery films on braking surfaces.
They also now sell a non-chlorinated variety which is a little bit safer.
thieves can read your key fob in your house,
these are the skilled, well financed high tech thieves. They're not going to waste their time risking jail for a Camry. I think they're after the $100k + cars.
