Degreaser VS Brake Cleaner - What's the difference?

SCA Brake Cleaner Available at Supercheap Auto:

SCA 360 Degreaser Available at Supercheap Auto:

With a can of degreaser in one hand, and brake and parts cleaner in the other – you could be forgiven for thinking they do the same job. But each solvent has its purpose. Watch on to find out more.

Let's start with degreaser – an essential in any workshop. SCA Heavy Duty Aerosol degreaser is a very cost effective petroleum based cleaner.

Grab a few tins of this for quick and easy cleaning of engine parts, oil spills, engine bays, or degreasing the bilge on your boat. It’s simply a matter of spray on, and hose off – with a little time to soak in between.
Even thick grease and grime will give way with a little agitation from a parts brush.

Degreaser is awesome stuff. But for a little extra grease cutting power, with a residue free finish; SCA Brake and Parts Cleaner should be your go to.

Brake and parts cleaner costs a little more than degreaser, and so is generally used a more sparingly. Brake and parts cleaner relies on isopropyl alcohol to ensure it evaporates quickly. It leaves your brakes or sensitive parts spotless – with no disassembly required.

Brake cleaner will also make light work of small oil stains on the driveway.
However, with its extra cleaning power, brake cleaner can damage delicate plastic and rubber parts – and even harm painted surfaces. Best to ensure it only hits the brakes - and other unpainted metallic surfaces.

Now that you know which is which, you’ll save time AND money - using the right product every time.

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[jayvey]

It's these kinds of videos that YouTube should be filled with. Excellent demonstration, awesome shots, perfect description, great alternate uses, and honesty! Thankyou

[warnacokelat]

Degreaser: petroleum based cleaner, in other word, canned paraffin oil or kerosene. Safe for all plastic parts. Gets the job done and cheap.
Brake cleaner: not safe for plastic parts. keep it to just clean metals.

[richardplantagenet]

"leaves your sensitive parts spotless." I tried this and regretted it. I feel disappointed and misled; and sore.

[scott]

Thanks for explaining the difference between the 2 I will be grabbing a couple of cans of brake cleaner to clean an engine block as thanks to the evaporation of it it makes it easier to then paint it afterwards

[stanimirvuy]

Exactly what I was looking for! Nice video, Thank you!

[burlyredsheep]

Informative and short, thanks for the video!

[Simmons]

Something that gets slept on is the green capped SCA Wheel Cleaner

[fluidefluide]

You can tell he wasn't paying for it..that or his finger had cramp. He'll never have that half tin leftover on the top shelf in the shed. Good video.

[MV]

Always use brake cleaner now. I really got sick of how the degreaser stinks. All you smell for the next week or two when you get in the car. The brake cleaner cleans awesome too, just don't get it on bare paint like in the engine bay where they typically don't clear coat it.

[plizzle]

Thanks for explaining the risks of using brake cleaner on plastic+rubber parts. I thought I remembered that it might not be safe, but this confirms it!

[onrepmujontoasted]

You can use break cleaner for bike chains???

[hamidizadi]

If you use a brake cleaner on calipers, wouldn't it come into contact with the piston rubber seals? I see people spraying brake cleaners all over the brake system. Is that ok? Or would it be best to use degreaser? There are so many products out there. I just get confused what to use for which car parts.

[lukehindle]

i still use brake cleaner for literally everything on my car. any little part of something im working on ill douse it in brake cleaner

[marcusbarnes]

Cleaning the oil off a ford ranger chassi rail after changing the oil filter...what is safe to use that wont effect the paint or the rubber flap?

[Metalheadmike]

I found out the hard way that I didn’t put my oil cap all the way back on. I kept smelling oil burning while I was driving and kept thinking “is that my car?” I get home and pop the hood out of curiosity and there was oil everywhere. This was just after I put a quart in because it was a little low.

[johnwharton]

Brake parts cleaner I put it in my fuel tank to clean my injectors and it works.

[d]

Hey, i have two rear disk brakes(rotors) that accumulated a lot of rust in 2 weeks (for not driving it).
Can i use a brake cleaner to remove all the rust completely? is it possible and safe to do so?

[ranstxx]

Um arnt brakes made out of rubber though...

[keithuk]

Use brake cleaner at work all the time for oil spills

[dannyr]

I been using degreaser/mineral spirits for my bicycle chain
...

I love how brake cleaner when applied just removes gunk and everything it's in path plus dries quickly...my question is does anyone recommend soaking and using brake cleaner for a roadbike cycling chain??