Ask the Editors: Carb Corrosion Solutions
We typically view carb cleaning as a tiered process around here. Sometimes a simple soak is all it takes to make the metal look like new again. Other times it takes levels of treatment just to reveal that it was in fact made of metal once. Most carbs are constructed of some variation of zinc- which is very prone to oxidization when exposed to moisture.
That being said, we usually start with the application of a spray-on carb and choke cleaner. Let that work its way into the corrosion and once it dries we usually hit the whole exterior with some Simple Green. Rinse it, let it dry and repeat.
With a little luck, you should be done at this point but don’t fret if you’re still looking at a crusty carburetor. Next on our multi-treatment plan is to fill a bucket with distilled white vinegar and to soak the carb- overnight if need be. You should see heavy bubbling and frothing as the vinegar does its thing.
If that fails, head not to the automotive fluids aisle but rather to the household cleaning supplies and grab a bottle of CLR (Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover). A good soak in this stuff almost always gets the original finish to show through.
Don’t be afraid to use combinations of our techniques and repeated treatments as needed. Take a rag to the exterior after each soaking to wipe away the left over fluids and corrosion that failed to flake away completely.
