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7 Sprays Every Auto Mechanic Needs in their Garage

Fill up your shelves with the best sprays for the job!

Regularly working on your car means owning an arsenal of products. Whether it’s out of enjoyment or necessity, sprays are almost as crucial as having tools! Without the proper can on hand, a 15-minute fix could turn into a week-long headache.

7 Sprays Every Mechanic Needs

From cleaning and degreasing to maintenance and lubrication, Berryman’s aerosols will help get everything working as it should.  Here are the top sprays for all mechanics — based on both experience and customer feedback.

 

SPRAY FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE & FUEL ECONOMY.

  1. Berryman® B-12 Chemtool® Carburetor, Choke and Throttle Body Cleaner

When deposits are causing rough idle, stalling, and/or loss of acceleration, you need something that will improve drivability.

Say “hello” to B-12 Chemtool® and “goodbye” to gum, varnish, and fuel residues from your carburetor! At the same time, dissolve deposits from your PCV valve, automatic choke, carburetor linkage, throttle body, and distributor shaft with H.E.S.T.

Spray-on B12 Chemtool Carb, Choke, and Throttle Body Cleaner

  1. Professional Mass Airflow Sensor Cleaner

 

Allow your ECU to optimize air/fuel ratio for smoother acceleration, greater power, and increased fuel economy!

With Part #2641 from our 4-Step Professional Air & Fuel System Maintenance Kit, you’ll be safely cleaning that dirty MAF sensor in your fuel-injected, gas-powered vehicle.

  • Fast-drying formula was specially designed for maximum compatibility with all plastic housings and sensitive platinum sensors.
  • Dries fast without residue.

 

Professional Mass Airflow Sensor Cleaner

SPRAY TO PENETRATE AND REMOVE GREASE, GRIME & DIRT.

  1. Berryman® B-33 Engine Degreaser

Apply this proprietary blend of high-performance detergents and emulsifiers to EASILY rid your engine of grease, oil, road grime, and more!

Bonus: The fast spray on/rinse off cycle saves time and conserves water. 

And with no phosphates, abrasives, solvents, or VOCs, it’s completely safe for use with your vehicle engines and small engine parts. That includes lawn mowers, hand tools, machinery, fleet, farm, and marine equipment.

B-33 Engine Degreaser - Penetrating Spray

  1. Berryman® Electronic Cleaner

Remove fingerprints, dirt, dust, oil, and grease — without residue!

Spray Part #2206 on most precision electronic equipment for a quick and safe cleaning. Berryman® Electronic Cleaner helps protect sensitive components and contacts for more reliable operation and longer equipment life. 

A fast-drying formula allows maximum compatibility with all plastics, printed or painted surfaces, and sensitive electronics.

  • Ideal for maintenance and repair of precision components and electronics, such as:
    • printed circuits,
    • relays,
    • contacts,
    • switches,
    • points
    • rheostats, 
    • and tape heads.
  • VOC compliant in all 50 states.

Electronic Cleaner: Spray Safe on All Types of Plastic

If this strikes your fancy, you may also be interested in the Energized Electrical Parts Cleaner and the Electric Motor Cleaner from Berryman®!

  1. Berryman® B-21 Professional All Surface Cleaner & Degreaser

This bad boy is ideal for cleaning parts, tools, and other surfaces. It was also designed for multiple environments, including use at home, your shop, as well as applications on marine, agricultural, automotive, and lawn/garden machinery.

Bonus: Our versatile formula offers very low odor! And that’s right, Berryman® B-21 contains no phosphates, abrasives, solvents, or VOCs.

Quickly and safely clean ALL types of parts and surfaces. We’re talkin’ painted, plastic, rubber, and metal!

B-21 Professional All Surface Cleaner and Degreaser

SPRAY FOR LASTING PROTECTION.

  1. Berryman® Professional Silicone Spray

Protect metal, wood, rubber, and plastic surfaces from corrosion. Give excellent lubrication at any temperature, (ranging from -50 to 500°F)! Or waterproof your your exterior tools and treasures.

Our silicone spray has a fast-drying formula that leaves a clear, odorless, nontoxic film of silicone for long-lasting lubrication, water repellency, and corrosion protection.

Silicone Spray Professional

SPRAY TO DISSOLVE CONTAMINANTS.

  1. Berryman® Non-Chlorinated Brake Parts Cleaner

Brake fluid, grease, and oil – be gone! Our 7th and final spray formula is completely safe on automotive paints, dries extremely quickly, and leaves no residue.

You may use Berryman® to dissolve contaminants from all metal parts of brakes. That includes:

  • drums,
  • calipers,
  • cylinders,
  • springs,
  • and other related parts. 

This one will save you time and money! It also stops disc brake squeal.

Wondering the difference between Chlorinated and. Non-Chlorinated brake cleaner? Here’s a blog with everything you should know.

Brake Parts Cleaner, Non-Chlorinated

Don’t start your next automotive repair without these 7 sprays on the shelf!

Does Direct Injection Technology Improve Performance and Save Fuel? How Does it Work?

Today’s Automotive Engines

Gasoline direct injection (DI) engines are done lurking in the shadows of internal combustion engine development! Over the last few years, more than half of the U.S. fleet had direct-injection engines. And according to the EPA’s 2019 Automotive Trends Report, 98% of gasoline engines in new cars will have direct injection by 2025! 

Market research also shows that the Gasoline Direct Injection Market is anticipated to grow in 2022 and beyond, with the growing trade of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) goods and services worldwide.

But how do they work differently, and is “different” good?

Port Fuel Injection Vs. DI

As you know, all combustion engines generate power from fuel and combustion in order to move the pistons of your vehicle. And all gasoline engines need four things to make power: air, fuel, compression, and spark.

Ok, now moving on… 

Most gas engines use port fuel injection, where fuel is injected prior to the valve and cylinder, where the combustion happens. 

  1. First, the system sprays fuel into the air coming into the engine.
  2. From there, the spark plugs ignite the pressurized slurry of air and fuel.
  3. Finally, this pushes the cylinder head down and spins the crankshaft.
Fuel Injector Close Up
Fuel Injector (Macro Photography)

When it comes to direct injection, however, the slurry of fuel is placed directly into the combustion chamber, (instead of having the fuel mixed in with the air prior to the valve).

For some vehicles made in the 1900s, older fuel injection systems are mechanically initiated in. But most injection systems are electronically controlled through an engine’s ECU (Electronic Control Unit). Closed loop systems, for instance, use an Oxygen Sensor to relay information to an ECU — which controls the actual mix of air to fuel for better air/fuel makeup.

While both port fuel injection and DI are implemented with electronic fuel injectors and an engine computer telling the injectors when to open and close to allow pressurized fuel to pass into the engine, port fuel injection is considered less precise, since it simply sprays fuel into the intake port.

→ Please note that a bad MAF sensor doesn’t always allow for the correct fuel injection calculation, so cleaning your MAF sensor is a key maintenance task!

In comparison, precise DI fuel applications accurately predict the moment when fuel enters the combustion chamber. And by injecting gas­oline at high pressure directly into the engine’s combustion chamber, it measures fuel better than conventional systems or old-time carburetors, improving your overall fuel usage!

Using DI with other Technologies

The precision & timing really allows the calibrator to get creative… Gasoline direct injection engines have opened up a plethora of opportunities for engine tuners to make power, reduce emissions, and increase the durability of the engines.

Combining the system with other technologies — such as turbochargers or superchargers — can deliver even greater gains in economy and performance. So while soaking in your vehicle’s pleasant street manners and good mileage, you can still hold onto the DI’s possibilities of unruly power levels!

→ Learn more about the difference between turbochargers and superchargers here.

As it happens, carmakers are also able to use smaller displacement engines, resulting in an efficiency snowball effect.

Although Some Say the System is Flawed

This is where we should also mention that the immense capability of DI comes with a staggering amount of complexity.

Green Cars Report said that while the modern gasoline direct-injection technologies are being phased in to help add to fuel-efficiency and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions, they still “produce more black carbon aerosols.”

And alas, even though gasoline direct injection is getting cheaper to engineer, it’s still a touch more expensive than previous methods. This is another reason why we’re not yet finding it on all gas-powered vehicles.

Finally, there have been complaints to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that over time DI can lead to clogged fuel systems and engine carbon buildup. The result can be engine hesitation and a loss of power— as well as the need for expensive repairs.

Here are a handful of recommendations if you’ve experienced these same issues:

  • 1. Add a fuel-system cleaner with H.E.S.T. (periodically) when you refuel.
  • 2. Make sure you change your oil regularly. For the exact maintenance and oil change schedule for your particular direct injection vehicle, check your manual.
  • 3. Follow the path of the fuel — from the tank to the engine and air intake — for a complete fuel system cleaning. This includes a fuel injector cleaning!
  • 4. Additionally, it’s a good idea to replace your spark plugs at the factory-recommended times.

→ Also check out our 5 essential products for keeping your engine clean!

So What do you Think?

Are you getting the most out of your engine with direct injection? Are there still drawbacks that you’re seeing?

 

Reading the Owner’s Manual: Do you Actually Have to?

If you love and respect your car, then you should be familiar with how that machine works and how it might receive the best possible care. Your owner’s manual is designed just for that — acting as an instructional handbook — tailored to the specific vehicle you own.

You know what they say… Knowledge is confidence!

Woman reading owner’s manual while pulled over

When to read up on your vehicle:

  • You just bought it.
  • You’re borrowing a car for an extended period of time.
  • You have owned your car for years and haven’t recently read the manual.
  • You have a question about its functions/features.

 

It’s true that online platforms such as YouTube can show us the answer to almost any question we have about our make and model of car — but you might not know what information you need, or what kind of video to search for!

For great insights about your particular car, the owner’s manual is the best starting resource.

Understanding your Owners Manual

Don’t leave it to rot in your car’s glove box! Take it out and shine some light on it.

As you skim through the index, be sure to keep an eye out for the following four sections: Instruments & Controls, Driving & Operating, Vehicle Care, and Service & Maintenance. These will likely have the most useful particulars for solving your vehicle issues and/or answering questions about your ride.

In our experience, here’s the order of importance as you read through the information:

  1. The table of contents, where you can scan all topics included in the manual.
  2. Becoming familiar with any and all warning lights; checking the diagram of your dashboard for names and explanations.
  3. The preferred tire pressure of your ride.
  4. The locations of the system components inside and around your vehicle.
  5. How to clean your interior and exterior properly.
  6. Viewing all recommended maintenance schedules.
  7. After your warranty period ends, all repair costs are paid directly; knowing your warranty information might save you some serious headaches!

Frequently Asked Questions

There are many reasons to pull out the owner’s manual… Here are some of the most common FAQs:

What do each of the dashboard lights mean? Which knob, light or button will help me best operate my headlights, my wipers, my radio, etc.

Dashboard symbols: Some dashboard lights don’t have an obvious meaning, but many dashboard lights display important messages, (being out of oil is a big one to know)!

What kind of gas do I use? Where do I put the gas in? How is the gas cap accessed? How do I remove it? Do I open the cover from inside the car? Where is that lever or button?

Gas: Learn all of the doo-dads. Engines are expensive and using the wrong gas can destroy your engine.

What’s the process of it? Where’s the spare, the jack, the lug wrench? How do these things work? How do I loosen the lug nuts?

Changing a tire: Without proper tire inflation, you will not have the proper control over your vehicle.

What type is it?

Type of battery, headlight, steering system: Get familiar with your car’s major components in case something needs to be repaired or replaced.

What are the numbers on my car? What’s embossed on my front door pillar, windshield and/or engine bay?

Identification, configuration & ratings: Look them up in your car owners manual and you’ll see the purpose of each code!

Are there certain fluids I need to take care of? Which products are best for use with this kind of vehicle?

Fluids: Acknowledge the required or suggested levels. After all, these fluids are like blood for your car!

Your car’s handbook is the best possible way to be sure what your car needs and what quantity of it is suitable for your car.

Properly Set Up Your Car

With each passing year, car manufacturers are adding on more technological features. And many require set-up on the owner’s end!

From systems like delayed lighting, to keyless entry, to decibel thresholds, the initial operation can be overwhelming. A manual can be a real asset to make the configuration much easier for you.

Implement Better Driving Practices

Your unique driving dynamic strongly impacts your car’s overall performance.

Driving with a heavy foot causes a lot of stress to a car’s mechanics which particularly affects fuel efficiency. So, keep this in check! 

Your owner’s manual comes with a list of driving practices you can choose to follow in order to enhance the efficiency of your vehicle. 

Abiding by such practices also makes driving an overall safer experience.

Troubleshoot Common Problems

Deal with common emergencies in a pinch! This might include jump-starting your car, changing a flat, or even manually opening an electric window.

Your manual has got your back!

Lower Repair Costs

By becoming familiar with the needs of your car, you will better know what needs to be replaced or repaired, as well as a timeline of when that is supposed to happen. 

All in all, this means you can decrease the chance of paying for unnecessary things!

Education from this trusty resource can be of great help in knowing a thing or two about your car’s maintenance routine.

>> You can also head over to our maintenance products to improve ​​vehicle performance and overall drivability. Our Berryman Products Comparison Chart can be another helpful user guide in this department.

Extra Features and Reliable Vehicle Specs

With a full manual read, you’ll certainly come across features that you thought never existed. In today’s age, we can assure you of this!

Extra details or trademarks for your ride might just be of great use to you.

As for the specifications mentioned in your manual… You’ll know it’s a credible source of information! Specified by the manufacturers themselves. A level of trust that can be extremely reassuring.

Locating your Manual

Just checked your glove compartment and saw that you do not currently have a manual for your vehicle? 

Don’t worry, you can still get one. Most sites require a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) number, as well as your car’s make, model, and year.

 

 

Here’s 7 More Reasons Why You Need Silicone Lubricant Spray

If you’re an automotive technician or car enthusiast, then you already know how silicone lubricant spray can help keep your vehicle running smoothly in a great number of ways — from gas-cap door maintenance to alleviating rust buildup on hinges and latches.

Berryman® Professional Silicone Spray with fast-drying formulaBut did you know that our Berryman® Professional Silicone Spray might also be used for a variety of household tasks, as well?

Explore some of the most common non-car uses for our Part #1716 aerosol spray: 

  1. Cleaning
  2. Weather-Proofing
  3. Winter-Proofing
  4. The Removal of Stickers / Sticky Things
  5. Quieting Down the House
  6. Plumbing Everything
  7. Preventing Wear & Tear

Cleaning

Dirty surfaces be clean! Just spray the silicone lubricant onto your grimy exterior and wipe off with a cloth or paper towel. Excellent for getting rid of stuck-on food that might be in hard to reach places, or sprucing up oven and grill grates.

With the same spray and wipe process, try removing scuffs on tile or linoleum flooring. If you wait a minute after you spray, the mark should rub right off!

Applying to surfaces where filth has been gathering also includes heavily used areas, such as buttons, knobs, panels… you name it! Who doesn’t love to watch as stubborn dirt or stains disappear before your eyes?

Spraying Professional Silicone Spray on blood or tomato stains while it is still damp also helps with clean-up. Just throw the item in the washing machine soon afterward!

→ BONUS: We’ve also been told that adding silicon lubricant spray to your vacuum cleaner bag before running over your carpeting will help loosen dirt particles and make vacuuming easier.

Weather-Proofing

Because silicone is water resistant, our lubricant spray can also protect certain items from moisture and rust.

  • When it comes to painted hinges, you’ll want to prevent the paint from chipping off and rusting. Our silicone spray will not only help protect the outer paint, but may also move down into the hinge itself, to maintain a smooth operation.
  • For home & garden metals, this is so useful as a rust retardant!
  • Silicone is especially handy for wooden tools — just apply to prevent the wood from drying out and splintering.

Corrosion protection includes most surfaces, including metal, wood, rubber, and plastic!

Winter-Proofing

You don’t need to be fighting both the cold AND a frozen door, this winter. Prevent ice from bonding the rubber and metal around your metal doors! Simply spray silicone on those weather strippings.

And shoveling heavy snowfall is a hard enough job as it is… We recommend keeping the snow from sticking to your shovel with your new assistant, Berryman® Professional Silicone Spray.

Sticker Removal

  • Remove labels from jars, bottles, cans, etc., without damaging any surface underneath them.
  • Rid of pesky stickers by spraying them down with this product! After waiting about 30 seconds, peel away the sticker easily. It shouldn’t leave any sticky residue behind, either!

And remember, our Berryman® Professional Silicone Spray’s fast-drying formula leaves a clear, odorless, nontoxic film of silicone for long-lasting lubrication.

Remove Annoying Noises

Silicone lubricant spray can be a great alternative for WD-40. Think of applications like hinges, locks, and door handles.

It also lubricates wheels on furniture pieces, so they move more easily and quietly.

DIY: Plumbing Everything

This handy product is so common in the plumbing world that it is often just called Plumber’s Grease.

Whether it be faucet fittings, threads, belts, tools… The project list goes on and on!

Maintenance

Extend the life of zippers on clothing, backpacks, sleeping bags, etc. by keeping them moving smoothly. Using a silicone spray prevents friction, which also means keeping your blades sharper for longer.

And how about lubricating your pressure washer hose and wand o-rings to make the o-ring last longer? Yep, Part #1716 acts a surface surface film, sealing the o-ring and metal surface as one. It then protects the o-ring against cracking, pinching, cutting.

Spray your sliding door tracks for smooth movement. You might also spray your garden hose retriever to keep it rolling with ease!

What Makes Silicone Lubricant Different?

Lubricants, greases and oils are terms that people tend to use interchangeably. But there are notable differences in these materials.

  • → Grease has high viscosity, with similar properties to peanut butter. The semi-solid is engineered to stay in place and provide a longer lasting barrier between metal components.
  • → Oil has lower viscosity, with a consistency comparable to vegetable oil. For intense friction and high-speed applications, an oil is typically the best choice.
  • → Silicone has a low variation in viscosity as a function of temperature, operating effectively over a temperature range of -50 to 500°F! That’s why Our Professional Silicone Spray provides excellent lubrication in any condition, helping waterproof and protect most surface types.

 

But all types of lubrication – including oils, greases, and sometimes water – are used to reduce wear, friction, and heat from moving parts or materials. And any substance that achieves this goal may be called a lubricant.

Berryman Products has a variety of lubricants and greases available, each designed for different types of applications.

Which is your go-to lubricant and what do you use it for most? We’d love to hear from you — reach out and follow us on Facebook today!

 

The Benefits of Gas and Diesel Fuel Conditioners

Gas & Diesel Conditioner

Contrary to popular belief, fuels today aren’t what many may consider the best quality-wise. The problem begins with the current refining processes that aim to get the most fuel out of every barrel of crude oil. 

That, along with government mandates, is a recipe for inefficiency and instability that can result in damage to your engine over time.

But many of these problems can be solved or mitigated with the help of a suitable gas & diesel fuel conditioner.

Why use fuel conditioners?

Low-quality fuel contains some harmful elements that could lead to long-term damage to the inside of your engine during the combustion process. 

Residues arising from fuel combustion could lead to buildup in your fuel injectors, filters, and other crucial components in your engine. This could lead to various other issues, including some starting problems and poor performance, which could all contribute to a reduced engine life expectancy.

Diesel fuel, in particular, has numerous properties that need to be protected. These include lubricity, cetane rating, cold weather performance, and stability. 

 

Fuel conditioners eliminate all of those issues while offering plenty of other benefits. A good fuel conditioner can:

  • ∙ Improve fuel efficiency.
  • ∙ Increase engine performance.
  • ∙ Lower emissions.
  • ∙ Prolong engine life.
  • ∙ Offer protection against gelling in the winter.
  • ∙ Increase cetane rating and improve startup time. 

 

When should I use fuel conditioners

When should I use fuel conditioners?

Incorporating a gas & diesel fuel conditioner into your vehicle maintenance plan is largely beneficial and can significantly prolong the lifespan of your engine. In trucking, for instance, many companies have enjoyed a boost in fleet performance and avoided major problems as a result of incorporating fuel conditioners in their fleet’s maintenance plan.

 

The Berryman Gas & Diesel Fuel Conditioner was developed to help you avoid common problems that come with low-quality fuel as well as eliminate combustion problems in fuel injectors, improve fuel efficiency and offer lubrication to upper cylinders.

 

You can incorporate the Berryman Gas & Diesel Fuel Conditioner in your annual maintenance schedule by adding the fuel conditioner every time you fill-up. It is designed to treat up to 400 gallons of gas or diesel fuel and is compatible with all 2-stroke and 4-stroke gas and diesel engines. 

 

Winterize your vehicle

Winterize your vehicle.

Winter is almost upon us. There’s never been a more perfect time to condition your fuel for the winter months .

Remember that when temperatures start reaching below 30°F, the paraffin in diesel fuel begins to crystallize, which means your fuel will start to gel. So winterize your vehicle and protect your engine! Start saving fuel with the added winter protection provided by the Berryman Gas & Diesel Fuel Conditioner.

What is HEST?

HEST – “High Energy Solvent Technology,” a Berryman exclusive, incorporates the use of strong solvents, as opposed to weak carriers and diluents such as mineral spirits or kerosene. As a “tip of the cap” to our HEST technology, positive feedback regarding any of our products is affectionately referred to as a HESTimonial.

View HESTimonials & Write Your Own

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What is HEST?

HEST – “High Energy Solvent Technology,” a Berryman exclusive, incorporates the use of strong solvents, as opposed to weak carriers and diluents such as mineral spirits or kerosene. As a “tip of the cap” to our HEST technology, positive feedback regarding any of our products is affectionately referred to as a HESTimonial.

View HESTimonials & Write Your Own

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