This stuff is watery, smells like WD-40, takes forever to evaporate, and doesn't cut through grease and oil the way CRC and most house brands do. In short, it's crummy brake cleaner. That is all.

 

I always buy cheap store-brand brake cleaners and have never had a problem.

 

Me too. I figured all brake cleaner was the same. Man was I wrong...

 

I've always preferred to the Autozone brand and usually stock up when its on sale.

 

I've never seen a brake cleaner that had a heavy viscosity. I'm guessing you bought the non-chlorinated version. I've never had much luck with non-chlorinated from any brand. I've never had an issue with Gunk's chlorinated version, but I prefer chlorinated Valvoline when I can get it, but it's been a long time since I've seen it on the shelves.

 

the AutoZone stuff is really cheap they always have it on sale. I always feel guilty with the amount i use.

 

I hope you know of this danger. It can create Phosgene gas when vaporized with a welder. Just a couple of drops of any chlorinated solvent turned into this gas can drop you.

A personal report of its effects when welding:
http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm
http://www.osha.gov/doc/outreachtrai.../weldhlth.html

 

probably a CA-specific formulation to keep the tree-humpers happy.

 

The Gunk brand also destroyed my powder-coated wheels.

I was bleeding my brakes and i'm fortunate enough not to have to remove the wheels for that. After bleeding i usually shoot a little cleaner in there to get rid of brake fluid that might have dripped. The gunk stuff cut right through my powder coating and gave spots on my wheels a hazed finish. I haven't tried polishing it back yet but that's the plan.

The stuff is GARBAGE.

 

I had the same thing happen with a store brand on a set of Corvette Grand Sport rims. I don't think it's unique to Gunk, just the nature of the chemical.

And it never did look the same again, even after trying to buff out the spots. Maybe not quite as bad, but it was still noticeable.

 

All they sell in CA is low-VOC, non-chlorinated these days. I'm used to that and honestly I've never been able to tell the difference between the old red and green versions of the CRC stuff, or the stuff in O'Reilly cans or whatever -- all seem pretty much the same. This Gunk stuff is totally different, in a bad way.

Have to say I was not aware or the welding dangers with the chlorinated stuff, not that I can get chlorinated or ever weld wet metal, but still very good to know so appreciate that post...

 

FWIW Walmart sells brake clean last time I cleaned em out at 1.99 a can. It's good stuff.

 

3M brake cleaner (black spray can) - best there is....really.
I buy it by the case. You may loose a brain cell or two if there is no ventilation!

 

I buy from Ryder Fleet products. Great prices.

http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ryder

 

The black 3M can is not available in CA.