By Chris Tropea
Jul 21, 2023
CRC’s iconic brake parts cleaner, Brakleen, recently turned 50 years old. Most of us are familiar with how well the brake parts cleaner works, but it shouldn’t be used to clean everything.
Here's how to use CRC Brakleen the right way.
Presented by CRC Industries.
6/25/21 4:25 p.m.
In reply to ChrisTropea :
6/25/21 4:56 p.m.
Just don't use it to clean before welding.
https://www.brewracingframes.com/safety-alert-brake-cleaner--phosgene-gas.html
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/be-careful-welding-around-brake-cleaner/127201/page1/
6/25/21 5:21 p.m.
Really channeling my inner Flex-Seal guy with this one.
6/25/21 5:28 p.m.
Also don't try and clean plastic headlights.
6/25/21 6:06 p.m.
In before hootus jokes.
6/25/21 6:21 p.m.
It kills big ass roaches on contact as well as Raid.
6/25/21 6:22 p.m.
I use it to clean oil spots off clothing. As long as you hit it early, it can usually take it out before it stains.
DO NOT wear the clothing while you do this. Oh my gosh; NO!
6/25/21 8:00 p.m.
In reply to j_tso :
It works on brown recluse as well. Fun fact, if you get bit by a brown recluse, take the bastard in with you to the ER for identification confirmation and get to the ER within 15 minutes of the bite...
...you still get a good chunk of flesh that needs to be removed. There's no magic shot or antibiotic if caught super early.
6/25/21 8:22 p.m.
Can Brakleen be used to make a boat out of a screen door?
6/25/21 8:25 p.m.
Brakleen drops wasps right out of the air mid-flight, and is cheaper than Raid.
6/25/21 9:06 p.m.
I just used it to hose out baked on oil off a Hyundai valve cover. Literally seconds ago.
6/25/21 9:38 p.m.
Or a lexan windshield.
On the other hand, a can of Brake Kleen and a Bic lighter makes a perfectly serviceable flamethrower.
6/25/21 10:02 p.m.
Whatever you do, no matter how cool you think it might be, DO NOT light the nest on fire after spraying it. Their wings only last 20-30 seconds, but 20-30 seconds of pissed off flaming wasps is more than enough terror to last a lifetime.
6/25/21 10:38 p.m.
I used to use it as hand cleaner after a job, until I found out it can and will absorb through your skin... I'll never forget the incredulous fit one of my friends threw the first time he saw me do that.
if it's a particularly messy or oily job I still use it for hand cleaner actually. Some might argue previous use has already damaged brain cells.
6/25/21 11:18 p.m.
In reply to Number1Gaza :
Liver.
6/26/21 1:49 a.m.
Your brain might be fine but your prostate will be the size of a baseball.
6/26/21 9:47 a.m.
Here's another insightful video on how professionals utilize brakecleen
6/27/21 8:24 a.m.
For the welding safety thing, as far as I know, that only applies to the chlorinated version. The non-chlorinated stuff doesn't work as well, but doesn't have the same safety concern. And I don't think the non-chlorinated would work as well for getting oil spots out of clothes without damage (it's closer to carb cleaner from what I know).
6/27/21 9:04 a.m.
I use it on carpenter bees. I only knocks them down, butvYou have to squish them quickly or they will fly off.
6/27/21 4:55 p.m.
Thanks to CRC for sponsoring this website! I like many of their products, but for brake and parts cleaner I will only use Wurth. Safe on plastic, non-chlorinated, and flashes off instantly leaving zero residue.
6/28/21 12:46 p.m.
I've gone through a lot of cans of brake cleaner every year, and I can't remember the last time I actually used it on brakes.
6/28/21 2:06 p.m.
I use it as a pre-spray for penetrating oil. Acts as a carrier to get the penetrating oil in further/faster/better. Not sure how much this really helps but in my mind it does.
6/28/21 2:07 p.m.
No, but I bet it will take the flex seal boat and make it back into a screen door. ;-)
6/28/21 2:12 p.m.
Just got this press release from CRC.
TLDR: click here to enter for the chance win a trip to SEMA 2022, or monthly prizes from Tire Rack, Crutchfield and Xtreme Xpereince. The contest runs from July 1, 2021 throuh June 30, 2022.
6/28/21 3:01 p.m.
The non-chlorinated stuff (the only kind it's legal to sell here in CA) is mostly acetone with a bit of xylene.
11/2/22 1:15 p.m.
In reply to Dead_Sled :
The secret to that is to flame the nest wasps and all when the temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less, they are not very active at low temperatures. They just stay there and burn. Obviously the flammability of what the nest is attached to must be taken into consideration!
5/5/23 3:15 p.m.
Or a plastic fuel filter canister for a diesel...
5/8/23 10:48 p.m.
In reply to SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) :
Also great for cleaning fresh oil spills off concrete. Soak up any excess oil with oil absorbant pads or towels. Spray on brake cleaner, brush in with stiff nylon brush for a few seconds, then spray on some LA Totally Awesome cleaner from the Dollar Tree right on top of that, then brush again for a few seconds, then hose off with a garden hose and let air dry.
7/23/23 11:03 a.m.
In college I waited tables but was always wrenching on a car beforehand. Nothing else could get into those little dry skin cracks on my index fingers.
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