Carburetor or TB cleaner?

[JTK]

Do you think there is a difference between the two spray cleaners? or is it all marketing? You can buy a $4 can of name brand "throttle body cleaner" or a $1.50 can of 'house-brand' carburetor cleaner. Both are sensor safe and appear to contain the same ingredients. What gives? I also noticed a similar thing with CRC brand electronics spray cleaner. Looks to be the same stuff as the CRC MAF spray cleaner!

Joel

 

[surfstar]

While the carb and TB cleaners may say "sensor safe" - that is usually referring to the 02 sensor. I wouldn't spray them directly onto a MAF element, like I would with CRC MAF cleaner which is made specifically for MAFs. Carb/TB cleaner seems stronger on carbon than the CRC MAF was, so if you're cleaning the TB etc use one of those.

 

[Big Jim]

If you are cleaning a teflon coated throttle body it is better (but not critical) to use one specifically intended for throttle bodies. It is even better to find one that says that it is safe for teflon coated throttle bodies.

If it is not a teflon coated throttle body, it doesn't matter. In either case you don't want to soak the throttle position sensor.