Starting fluid vs brake clean?

Steve A W · Nov 10, 2021

I watch old/cold, will it start videos on YouTube.
I see a lot of people using brake clean or carb clean
Instead of starting fluid.
Ive heard people say not to use starting fluid because
it will wash the cylinders of lubrication.
Wont the cleaner products also wash the cylinders of
lube? After all, their Cleaners.
Just wondering.
Steve A W

J Hamilton · Nov 10, 2021

It sure will. I prefer to do the old gasoline rag trick over using starting fluid myself

SVcummins · Nov 10, 2021

I cant see one would be any better as far as washing the cylinders. I think that the brake cleaner is a little less damaging than ether as far as breaking rings

Billy Shafer · Nov 11, 2021

I don't know about the new stuff. But too much of the old starting fluid. Can destroy an engine.

MarkB_MI · Nov 11, 2021

Preparation H and toothpaste look a lot alike and both come in a tube. Should be interchangeable, right?

Butch(OH) · Nov 11, 2021

Why Mark, of coarse they are, LOL. Long time ago right here that Marvel Mystery Oil and ATF are the same thing,,,after all they are both red.

Butch(OH) · Nov 11, 2021

Hmmm, let's see. Starting fluid is made to start engines. Brake cleaner is specifically made to remove the dirt, oil and dust from old parts and preservative oil from new brake drums and rotors. Which will wash down cylinders? Answer either one, same with carb cleaner.
The old wives tales about starting fluid will never die. Just yesterday I operated a half million dollars worth of newer JD tractors with cold start buttons connected to a can of starting fluid. Yes you can mess up an engine with it if used with no intelligence.

BarnyardEngineering · Nov 11, 2021

I have tried brake cleaner as a starting fluid when I could not find a can of starting fluid immediately. It did not work at all.

Finally made the effort to find a can of starting fluid. One puff, and VROOM!

Most modern starting fluid contains little to no ether. There are brands out there that contain "upper cylinder lubricant" if you just can't seem to stop holding down the button.

Of course after watching youtubers shotgun can after can of starting fluid into running engines, TRYING to destroy them and failing... You've got to be pretty stupid to ruin your engine with starting fluid, or your engine was ready to fly apart in the first place.

MarkB_MI · Nov 11, 2021

> Why Mark, of coarse they are, LOL. Long time ago right here that Marvel Mystery Oil and ATF are the same thing,,,after all they are both red.

Hah! Didn't see that one, but I have a pretty good guess who said it.

Butch(OH) · Nov 11, 2021

and your guess would be correct!

caterpillar guy · Nov 11, 2021

Better yet just plug them in in cold weather no fooling around with burning rags in hay sheds and no ether problems either.

M-MAN · Nov 11, 2021

Starting fluid isn't going to wash anything. All you use is a whiff. Anything more just might get you into trouble but it won't be because of a washed cylinder.

Carburetor cleaner is too dangerous to use cranking an engine. One little spark from anything or a backfire and you will have a fireball from hades. BTDT and won't ever take that chance again.

Traditional Farmer · Nov 11, 2021

Best idea or use a gasser,I have a gas Oliver 1600 utility I keep the hay unroller on to feed with.Fires right up no matter how cold and being a utility its easy on and off to open and close gates.Plug in the Oliver 1365 diesel 4WD when I need to scrap snow

Steve@Advance · Nov 11, 2021

Really have to be careful what kind of cleaner is sprayed into an engine.

Some are chlorine based, the cleaner it's self is nonflammable, the propellant in the can may be if it's propane. But sending chlorine through an engine, or exposing it to flame will produce phosgene gas.

Extremely dangerous, it literally takes your breath away.

showcrop · Nov 11, 2021

After using carb cleaner a while ago I noticed the next day that the part was rusted. That told me that it is not just solvent but also caustic. That should wash the walls down pretty well.

n9lhm · Nov 11, 2021

Oh I gotta remember that one. +1000

Texasmark · Nov 11, 2021

Putting the controversy to bed, last time I bought a can of SF it said on the can that it added lube to dispel the myth. Main concrn was on 2 cycle engines anyway when you spray it directly into the carb venturi.

Brian G. NY · Nov 11, 2021

I put some 2-stroke oil/gas mixture in an oil can and squirt a little in the carb or sometimes I squirt some into the sparkplug hole. This is mostly for small engines. Then, any excess gas finding its way to the cylinder walls contains it's own lubricant.

fixerupper · Nov 11, 2021

It does make sense that ether can clean the oil off of cylinder walls just by looking at its ability to clean a surface completely clean of oil. However if enough ether is used to wash down cylinder walls the end result will be more damage than scored cylinders.

My mower with a twin cylinder Kohler always needs a snort to get it going first time in the spring. The first time i used an assist starting fluid I used ether. It rattled like there was no tomorrow when it started. Every spring after that one ether start I have used carb cleaner and it pops right off without any dramatic noise. I dont know if i have a can of ether on the farm. I am lucky enough to have the ability to park the diesels close to a plugin to plug them in.

SVcummins · Nov 11, 2021

I was looking for a gas engine when I bought my last tractor but Im kinda glad I didn't get one I dont think a gas 3020 will do what my 3020 diesel will do

I only use ether on the very rare occasion

Starting fluid vs brake clean?

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads