this may be a very stupid question but is it ok to run carb cleaner in an atv to keep the carb clean or is it a bad idea? dont laugh i never owned a carbed engine before i prefer fuel injection for my vehicles.

 

Go right ahead, I always add 1-2 oz. of cleaner & sta-bil to my 5 gal. jugs in the garage for my quads.

 

when you add carb or fuel cleaner to the tank it does the same thing. you shouldnt have to do it very offen though.

 

Couldn't hurt.

 

As long as it is a four stroke, you dont want to put carb cleaner in a two stroke engine, it strips the oil of of the crankcase. I know i have done it on my sea doo.

 

myself, im a firm beleaver if the carb is dirty, take it off and thoughly clean it rather then taking the easy way out w/ the use of spraying or putting carb cleaner in the gas. but thats just me.

 

Some carb "cleaners" are a type of kerosene. They also can if used all the time - dry out rubber parts.

If you want to clean out a carb, intake, head use a product called sea foam its in the carb cleaner section. Use before an oil change. Spray the "sea foam" into the air intake (filter removed) the engine will bogg down and smoke. Let off the spray - it will burn out the cleaner. Repeat a few times. Then one last time spray until the engine dies. Wait a fe minutes then restart -- this will smoke like the worst 2stroke dirt bike you've ever seen. Change oil and your set.


Also great on lawnmowers and cars that have a dirty EGR system. I learned this trick from the V8 Lt1 guys who have a poorly designed EGR in the intake.