[VCho455]

Here is a link describing the serious health dangers involved when using brake clean on or near areas to be welded. This happened to a guy just like us.

Beware and stay safe.

https://www.brewracingframes.com/saf...ces%20phosgene

[grivera]

Wow - crazy story!! Thanks for posting.

[Dragncar]

I have never understood why most people use Brakeclean as their go to for cleaning oily parts. Its meant for brakes and brake fluid is water based so it will not work as good anyway. CRC Heavy Duty Degreaser works better than carb cleaner for oily parts.
Thanks for posting the warning, I weld a lot.

[Ram Air IV Jack]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

I have never understood why most people use Brakeclean as their go to for cleaning oily parts. Its meant for brakes and brake fluid is water based so it will not work as good anyway. CRC Heavy Duty Degreaser works better than carb cleaner for oily parts.
Thanks for posting the warning, I weld a lot.

People use brake clean because it removes just about everything with an oil base, leaves no residue and dries very quickly. I've used this to clean clock works before oiling!!

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by Ram Air IV Jack

People use brake clean because it removes just about everything with an oil base, leaves no residue and dries very quickly. I've used this to clean clock works before oiling!!

I say this because you can buy something that does the job better, Carb cleaner is better at removing oil and grease and CRC Degreaser works better yet. Gasoline is oil based, brake fluid is not. Brake fluid is closer to anti freeze than engine oil. Water and alcohol mix with brake fluid. But wont mix with engine oil.
So many act like a product made for cleaning something, brakes, that has a fluid that is not oil based is the go to, be all for cleaning oily parts. Its not. It has to have ingredients in it taking up space in that can designed to work with brake fluid, not engine oil. So its less efficient.
Don't believe me, try some CRC. I had to clean a OEM oil filter adapter for a new expensive build. I used Brakeclean and was not happy with how clean I could get it. Got some CRC Heavy Duty Degreaser and it was night and day better.
Does it work, yes but its far from being the best.
And if it did not leave a residue this thread would not exist. Potentially deadly residue it leaves.
People go down to the parts store all the time with the intention of buying a product to clean oily parts and no plans on going home and working on brakes.
Then buy Brakeclean when there are cans of CARBcleaner right next to them that does a better job.

[JSchmitz]

YES!!! Burning chlorine producing phosgene! Phosgene is a poisonous gas.

[i82much]

Oh come on, toughen up a little!!!

[JSchmitz]

Originally Posted by i82much

Oh come on, toughen up a little!!!

Care to demonstrate?

[i82much]

Originally Posted by JSchmitz

Care to demonstrate?

absolutely not!!!

[Cammer-6]

Please add welding galvanized material too

[promptcritical]

DOT 3 brake fluid is polyethylene glycol based, not water based, if that matters to the discussion.

[Scarebird]

I warned a guy on another forum about this - he told me to fark off with that chemistry shiat.

[Cammer-6]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

I warned a guy on another forum about this - he told me to fark off with that chemistry shiat.

survival of the fittest

[jonmachota78]

I remember a big thread about this years ago on this forum. Im no chemist but i think this warning doesn't apply to non-chlorine brake cleaner in the green can

[65 Lamnas]

Originally Posted by jonmachota78

I remember a big thread about this years ago on this forum. Im no chemist but i think this warning doesn't apply to non-chlorine brake cleaner in the green can

Correct

[VCho455]

Originally Posted by jonmachota78

I remember a big thread about this years ago on this forum. Im no chemist but i think this warning doesn't apply to non-chlorine brake cleaner in the green can

If you could find it and link it here that would be cool. I didn't find anything when I searched.

[rolling money pits]

If “brake clean” doesn’t remove grease/oil, why is it commonplace to spray down new rotors with it when doing a brake job?

But yeah…high heat near chlorine? Not good bedfellows.

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by rolling money pits

If “brake clean” doesn’t remove grease/oil, why is it commonplace to spray down new rotors with it when doing a brake job?

But yeah…high heat near chlorine? Not good bedfellows.

It does remove oil and grease. Just not as good as carb cleaner and certainly not as good as CRC DeGereaser.

Now, while it looks like brake fluid might not be purely water based, glycol.
There is a huge difference what is in your brake system and your engine.
If you put oil in your master cylinder you will basically destroy your brake system. Water, nope. You could flush it out, bleed everything and be OK.
You wash brake parts in hot soapy water and never in a oil based solvent tank.
Carb cleaner is just better at removing oil and grease than BrakeClean.
The sticky dust ect. around your rotors is not oil based.
When I was a kid before Brake Clean was around or popular I seen my dad use a alcohol/water mix with a siphon gun and compressed air to clean around brake drums.
My father was a master heavy equipment mechanic.

[Formulajones]

They sell non chlorinated brake cleaner. It's all I've used for decades.

[Jay S]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

They sell non chlorinated brake cleaner. It's all I've used for decades.

Same here.