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Regardless of how long you’ve been riding, you probably feel very connected to your motorcycle. And, it’s only natural that you want it to perform at its peak for as long as possible.
However, this requires at least the most basic maintenance. Cleaning and maintaining the engine should be at the top of your list when it comes to increasing the overall lifespan of your bike.
The first thing you should do is buy a great carburetor cleaner for your motorcycle. These cleaners help you to remove dirt and sticky gum and are also easy to use.
Take a few minutes to read below as we review carburetor cleaners for motorcycles, and help you choose one.
10 Highest Rated Carburetor Cleaners for Motorcycles Reviewed
| PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|
WD-40  | WD-40 Features: Easy application, leaves no residue Vehicle type: Motorcycles and cars Size: 1 pack, 6 pack | Check Price |
Gunk  | Gunk Features: Removes all dirt, easy to use Vehicle type: Motorcycles and cars Size: 1 pack, 12 pack | Check Price |
Gumout  | Gumout Features: Prevents hard starting, improved fuel economy Vehicle type: Motorcycles, cars, all terrain vehicles Size: 1 pack, 12 pack | Check Price |
Berryman Products  | Berryman Products Features: Cleans all nooks and crannies, fire-resistant Vehicle type: Motorcycles, cars, all terrain vehicles Size: 1 pack | Check Price |
Briggs & Stratton  | Briggs & Stratton Features: Quick and easy to use Vehicle type: Motorcycle, car, lawnmower, tractor Size: 1 pack | Check Price |
Berkebile  | Berkebile Features: Easy to apply, extension tube included Vehicle type: Motorcycles, cars, all terrain vehicles Size: 1 pack | Check Price |
CRC  | CRC Features: Eco-friendly components, removes all deposits Vehicle type: Motorcycles and cars Size: 1 pack | Check Price |
Chevron  | Chevron Features: Long shelf life, versatile use Vehicle type: Motorcycles, cars, trucks, ATVs, boats, lawnmowers Size: 1 pack, 6 pack | Check Price |
TECHRON  | TECHRON Features: Protects the fuel system, better fuel stability Vehicle type: Cars and motorcycles Size: 1 pack | Check Price |
Red Line  | Red Line Features: Cleans all fuel injectors, suitable for oxygenated fuel Vehicle type: Motorcycles, cars, all terrain vehicles Size: 1 pack, 12 pack | Check Price |
WD-40 – Spray
WD-40 is a well-known option, and we’re sure that you’ve heard of it. It’s an all-in-one spray for the throttle body, carburetor, and unpainted metal components.
Its dual-action cleaning system consists of a solvent cleaning formula that breaks up baked-on carbon deposits. Plus, the powerful spray system helps to blast the deposits as well as waste.
As a result, your engine will start fast and easy. You’ll notice smooth performance and consistent idle with far less stalling.
You can use it on both new and old motorcycles, trucks, cars, boats, tractors, lawnmowers, trimmers, and other similar vehicles and gas-powered equipment.
It’s a universal spray that is designed to improve the performance of your motorcycle at high RPMs. It won’t affect catalytic converters or oxygen sensors.
PROS
- For motorcycles and cars
- Easy application
- Leaves no residue
CONS
- Could cause a reaction on your skin
Gunk – Chlorinated
Gunk is another well-known product from a company that’s been around for 75 years. It’s a family-owned business from Charlotte, North Carolina.
It’s a popular cleaner that you’ll see in workshops and garages on many professionals and DIYers who want easy application and fast results.
Gunk carburetor cleaner removes varnish, dirt, carbon deposits, gum and sludge with ease. It makes it easy to clean a gasoline carburetor without removing it, saving you quite some time and effort.
Also, this one won’t harm your oxygen sensors or catalytic converters in case it comes in touch with them. However, you may want to use gloves when using the product because it could damage sensitive skin.
Since it’s a spray, you don’t need any additional tools or equipment to apply the product.
PROS
- Easy application
- Removes all dirt
- Safe for other bike components
CONS
- Safety gloves required
Gumout – Ideal for Fuel Economy
Gumout Carb and Choke Cleaner does a great job of removing varnish, gum, and other contaminants that attach to the carburetor and other parts.
As you know, these deposits can affect the overall performance of your engine, causing more fuel consumption. For this reason, you should consider this cleaner to prevent stalling, starting, high exhaust emissions, and rough idling.
This one is easy and quick to use. It dissolves the dirt rather quickly while taking very little time to dry as well. Also, it doesn’t leave any residue, either.
What’s important is that it removes dirt from both the outside and inside. As a result, you’re experience improved engine performance along with a noticeable fuel economy.
The spray comes in a 16-ounce bottle that is simple to use and store away.
PROS
- Prevents hard starting
- For all unpainted metal parts
- Improved fuel economy
CONS
- Some people received a broken bottle
Berryman Products – Chem-Dip
This is a good choice if you’re looking for a cleaner to last you a long time because it has a lot of solvents. Also, it’s quite versatile, so it’s suitable for all kinds of carburetors.
Berryman Products cleaner is easy to use at all times. All you have to do is pour it into the basket before dipping your carburetor in. Wait for some 15 to 30 minutes before removing the carb. At this point, it should be completely clean.
This one works on throttle body deposits, removing oil stains, carbon, gum, grease, varnish and gunk. Apart from being easy to use, it’s also entirely safe to use on plastic, aluminum, steel, and metal components.
You can use it to clean transmission parts that are typically more challenging to wash.
More Reading: How to Wash Your Motorcycle
PROS
- Cleans all nooks and crannies
- Fire-resistant
- Works on plastic and rubber
CONS
- Requires hours for heavy-duty stains
Briggs & Stratton – Improves Starting
This Briggs & Stratton cleaner is one of the best choices for 2- and 4-cylinder engines. It dissolves and removes deposits quickly and efficiently.
It comes in a 16-ounce bottle, which should be enough for most cleaning tasks. Also, it’s a spray, so you probably won’t struggle with the application even if it’s your first time using it.
Regular use improves starting and reduces the overall downtime. It also helps to reduce maintenance by removing carburetor/chose deposits.
Another thing worth noting is that this one works on more than just your motorcycle. You can use it on your car, lawnmower, tractor, and other similar vehicles and gardening tools.
It’s a convenient choice because it’s easy to use and store away. It’s a compact bottle so you can carry it easily when needed.
PROS
- Versatile use
- Quick and easy to use
- Improves starting
CONS
- Available in one size only
Berkebile – Gum Cutter
Berkebile is an excellent option for small engines. It’s designed to remove varnish, gum, sludge, and all kinds of other deposits that sit on your carburetor and other metal parts.
It’s well-known for its fast working mechanism, allowing you to ride immediately after you use it. It’s a spray, so it’s simple to use. All you have to do is spray it on the surface of the carb before letting it dry for a few minutes.
What’s great about this one is that it comes with an extension tube. This allows for more precise use so that you can achieve more thorough results.
Also, it’s safe to use around catalytic converters and oxygen sensors. However, you should only use it when the engine is cold.
PROS
- Easy to apply
- Extension tube included
- Fast drying
CONS
- It burns your skin
CRC – VOC Formula
This CRC formula cleans all sludge and dirt that sits on the carb, hampering with its activity. It comes in the form of a spray, so you’ll find it simple and quick to use.
The best thing about it is that you don’t have to remove the carburetor in order to clean it. It makes the entire cleaning process much easier and quicker.
Also, it’s important to note that it contains far less toxic ingredients than most other cleaners. It won’t damage your catalytic converters or oxygen sensors.
Spray the product onto the carburetor, leaving it to sit for a few minutes. Once it dries, you can wipe it with a cloth.
It efficiently removes gunk, varnish, gum, sludge, and other deposits.
PROS
- For all unpainted metal parts
- Eco-friendly components
- Removes all deposits
CONS
- Has a shorter shelf life
Chevron – Best Performance
This Chevron is among the best choices for versatile use. It cleans, brings back to life, and protects the fuel system of carburetors, combustion chambers, fuel injectors, intake valves, and other components.
It comes in a 20-oz bottle and is perfect for bikes, cars, trucks, ATVs, boats, lawnmowers, and other gasoline engines.
It’s an additive technology designed to remove all dirt from your carburetor. It makes it easy to clean your engine, providing lower emissions, better performance, and improved fuel economy.
Plus, it reduces hesitation, rough idle, plug fouling, and engine surge, while improving fuel stability and cold start performance.
It’s a well-known product that you can find in many workshops and garages. It’s suitable for professional use as well as for at-home maintenance.
PROS
- Long shelf life
- Versatile use
- Improved vehicle performance
CONS
- Not the most affordable
TECHRON – Great for Automobiles
Techron is another highly useful carburetor cleaner that works on motorcycles, cars, dirt bikes, ATVs, boats, RVs, lawnmowers, and watercraft. It’s made to improve the overall performance of your vehicle while protecting the fuel system.
It cleans and protects fuel injectors, intake valves, combustion chambers, and carburetors with ease. After only one use, you’ll notice reduced engine surge, spark plug fouling, rough idle, and hesitation.
With regular use, the product will restore lost fuel economy and acceleration. It improves fuel stability as well as cold start performance, allowing your bike to perform better as well.
It comes in a 32-oz bottle, requiring one ounce for each gallon of gasoline. Much like all the best carburetor cleaners, this one is trusted by many professionals and is suitable for DIY repair and maintenance.
PROS
- Better fuel stability
- Protects the fuel system
- For bikes and cars
CONS
- Poor quality packaging
Red Line – User-friendly
Red Line is among the best choices if you’re looking for a user-friendly carb cleaner. The fuel system cleaner is designed to clean deposits and prevent corrosion.
It’s important to note that it cleans injectors, combustion chambers, valves, and other components with a concentrated blend of low-temp and high-temp detergents.
Also, this is a great gas treatment that improves the overall gasoline stability and reduces varnish formation and gum buildup.
It comes in a 15-ounce bottle, which is enough for one tank. Because it’s as efficient, it cleans nearly all the dirt in only one treatment.
Another thing worth mentioning is that this one contains synthetic upper cylinder lubricant. This further improves its efficiency and your bike’s performance. Also, it has a long shelf life.
PROS
- Cleans all fuel injectors
- Suitable for oxygenated fuel
- For carburetors and other unpainted metal parts
CONS
- A bit expensive
What To Look For In a Good Carb Cleaner
HEST
HEST is otherwise known as High Energy Solvent Technology and is one of the most important things you should consider before buying a carburetor cleaner.
It’s what improves the fuel efficiency and overall drivability of your bike. The technology was first introduced to clean the whole carburetor spotlessly. As such, it helps to remove all dirt and cover all nooks and crannies.
You’ll notice hard starting, rough idling, and other engine issues after some time of riding. And, the best way to fix the problems is by choosing a HEST cleaner. Make sure to read the label to see if the product features the technology or not.
Ingredients
The first thing you should pay attention to is what type of carburetor you have. This is because not all products are suitable for all carbs.
Some carbs have rubber and plastic parts around them, in which case you can’t use a corrosive cleaner. It would probably melt these parts, further damaging your vehicle.
On the other hand, those that aren’t corrosive enough may not be efficient either. It all depends on the type of carb you have.
Check to see if the featured ingredients are suitable for the particular carburetor your bike uses.
Effectiveness
As always, you should think about how effective is your carb cleaner. You want to get the best value for money, so make sure to pay special attention to what you’re buying.
In most cases, the price is a good indicator of whether or not the product is effective. Cheap products usually lack some critical components which allow them to be as inexpensive.
However, although you should use the price as guidance, don’t focus on it too hard. Some products are expensive solely because the brand is popular. You can always check customer reviews to see what previous users have to say about effectiveness.
Ease of Use
Ease of use is always critical when buying products for your motorbike. Some carburetor cleaners are pretty tricky to use, which makes the entire experience annoying.
You’ll hate using even the best cleaner if the application process is complicated. This will cause you to waste time and also hate doing maintenance on your bike.
The ease of use depends mostly on the packaging of the cleaner. Some are designed to be simple to use, while others are somewhat more complicated.
It also depends on overall efficiency since those that are more effective are also easier to use as a whole.
Safety
Safety is another critical aspect to consider when buying a carburetor cleaner for a motorcycle. As you know, these products contain quite a few chemicals. You should check the ingredients list to see if you’re allergic to some of them.
Make sure to read the label and instructions on how to use the cleaner. Some of its ingredients may be dangerous when in contact with skin, so we suggest you wear protective gloves.
Those that are too corrosive and dangerous are best left to professionals. Stick to those that are safer to use.
Fast-acting
As you probably know, some cleaners are faster than others. They complete the job faster and don’t take too long to dry.
Because both fast- and slow-acting are useful, you can choose based on your needs and preferences. In most cases, fast-acting cleaners are better for when you’re in a hurry. They take no more than a few minutes, allowing you to get back on the road rather quickly.
Still, overnight carburetor cleaners are often better for deep cleaning. The process does take time, but the results are far more impressive than those you get from a fast-acting product.
Accessories Included
In some cases, you’ll need a few other tools and accessories to clean your carburetor. This usually includes a pair of safety gloves as well as a carb washer kit.
Some carburetor cleaners come with these accessories included, so you may want to consider buying them like that.
You’ll need gloves anyhow, especially if you’re working with a highly dangerous and toxic cleaner. So, you may as well look for a product that comes with gloves so that you don’t have to buy them separately.
What is a Carb Cleaner?
A carburetor cleaner is often referred to as an engine cleaner as well. It comes as a spray or a liquid solvent and is meant to wash your engine system.
It usually features ingredients that can melt paint, gum, gunk, and other similar deposits that sit on parts of your engine. For this reason, it’s only recommended for unpainted metal components.
Although there are many cleaners on the market, you should know that not every type is suitable for all carburetors. For this reason, pay particular attention that the product you choose fits the particular system you have.
Types of Carb Cleaners
Chlorinated
Chlorinated products have corrosive materials that allow deep washing. In most cases, these materials are methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, and trichloroethylene.
These ingredients are harmful to both the environment and your body. However, they’re best when it comes to removing heavy-duty dirt from the carb.
You should always keep safety in mind when using chlorinated products. Make sure to wear gloves and maybe even protective eyewear just to be protected a bit more.
Non-chlorinated
Non-chlorinated are somewhat better for the environment since they use low toxicity materials. In most cases, these are made of isopropyl alcohol, heptane, and petroleum hydrocarbons.
One thing to keep in mind is that they’re not as effective as chlorinated solvents. This is because the ingredients aren’t as toxic and can’t eat the rust and dirt as efficiently.
And although you should still wear protective gloves, these are unlikely to damage your skin if you don’t.
Pros of Cleaning your Carburetor
Acceleration
A dirty carburetor can affect the amount of fuel reaching the engine. As a result, you’ll experience issues with starting your engine and accelerating.
Once you clean the carb, you’ll notice an immediate difference in how easily you can accelerate and start the engine. You’ll also experience better fuel flowing.
Fuel Efficiency
Once the parts of your carburetor are clogged by oil, sludge, and other dirt, you’ll notice that the engine is deprived of the fuel.
The dirty carb stops the fuel from reaching the engine, which is why it’s fundamental to clean it. All it takes is a good cleaning session to remove the deposits. This will allow for better fuel efficiency.
Engine
A dirty carb may also cause difficulties with starting your motorcycle. Once you clean it, you’ll notice that the engine performs much better, and without any struggles.
It’s going to start easily, allowing fuel to flow efficiently and smoothly. In many cases, cleaning your carb fixes the issue of starting.
Function
If your motorcycle is acting up, having issues with starting and overall performance, it may be time to clean the carburetor.
You’ll notice the improvement in performance and function the very first time you try the bike after the cleaning session. It will start and run smoothly.
How to Know If It Needs Cleaned
Fuel Excess and Overflowing
The excess dirt will block the carburetor, causing the amount of fuel that reaches the engine to increase. As a result, you’ll notice black smoke.
Also, excess dirt can prevent the needle valve from closing. This usually results in fuel overflowing from the carb, wetting the spark plugs.
Can’t Start The Engine
The first thing you should if you notice any issues with your engine is to clean your carburetor. This is especially important if you can’t start the engine at all.
The dirt may be blocking the passage, preventing the fuel and air from traveling through. You’ll notice improved performance the moment you clean the carb.
Excess Air
Another thing that may happen is the engine getting excess air and fuel. Excess air may create a popping sound that you will identify immediately.
In nearly all cases, the reason behind the situation is a dirty carburetor, so just give it a good clean.
Step-by-Step: How To Use The Cleaner
Disassembling
The first thing you should do before cleaning the carburetor is removing it. Turn off the fuel tank valve and take the engine out slowly.
Remove the fuel line before taking away the hose. Also, make sure to detach the extra hose from the engine.
Once you do that, you’ll notice a clamp that you have to loosen using a screwdriver. Untighten the screws and pull the clamp out slowly.
Twist the top cap that’s on the throttle cable. Remove the slide before taking everything out slowly and effortlessly.
The entire process shouldn’t take too long, but make sure to take your time if it’s your first time doing this.
Cleaning
Remove all O-rings and gaskets before soaking the carburetor in the cleaner. Keep in mind that the best way of cleaning your carb is by soaking it in the cleaner. Consider doing this, although it’s a bit more time-consuming and expensive.
Spray solvents work just as well, and they’re less time-consuming. Make sure to have all the required safety equipment if you’re going to use the spray version.
Put the gloves and safety glasses on before spraying the carb with the solvent. You can go ahead and polish the parts before allowing everything to dry.
Make sure to put everything back in place once the components are fully dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it effective?
Carburetor cleaners are effective, but that’s only if you choose a high-quality product. Also, washing the carb can only do so much. There’s a lot more to maintenance than just soaking your carburetor in a solvent.
Make sure to maintain all parts in a proper manner to achieve the ultimate performance.
How often should I plan on cleaning?
Professionals suggest that you use fuel injection whenever you fill-up the tank. You can use a spray every month, but there’s no need to use a dip-in cleaner any more frequently than every three months.
However, keep in mind that these aren’t rules.
How does it work?
Carburetor cleaners use strong chemicals to break down the stubborn dirt deposits. In some cases, all it takes is a little spray of the chemical to remove the dirt.
Other times, you may have to dip your carb into the solvent. Either way, the cleaning process is rather simple and doesn’t take too much time.
Can you clean it without removing it?
Some spray cleaners allow you to remove the dirt without actually removing the carburetor. This is a simple and quick solution to getting an improved performance.
However, make no mistake, this won’t show nearly as good results as you can get by removing the carb before cleaning it.
Conclusion
Motorcycle maintenance is critical if you’re looking to get the best from your bike and for the longest period. And although you can go many miles without doing certain maintenance steps, cleaning your carburetor is something you’ll have to do more frequently.
This may seem a bit tiring, but the entire process shouldn’t take too long. It also doesn’t take much work and effort, especially if you leave the cleaner to work overnight.
Make sure to choose the best product from our list, ensuring that the type fits your carb and engine.
