Decarbonizing the engine...

[wood_e]

Well I jave 90k and I thought this should be done. Are these instructions correct? (from shotimes) Did I read that right? USE WATER!?!!?! It sounds... well wrong... but... ok... where is this vacuum hose located? Would sea foam work for this procedure?

Thanks for the help... wink

 

[Jr's Sho]

I was told this was not good to do on our engines due to the design of the intake. But all you do is unplug the vacuum hose that goes to the intake right beside the throttle body and just suck whatever cleaner you want to through that intake port. Oh course you will need your own hose to suck the cleaner down with. I was told GM Top Engine Cleaner is a good product and at roughly $4.50 a can, it very affordable.

 

[SHOZ123]

I used a can of Seafoam. Made a lot of smoke but didn't clean the intake.

 

[halfasspunk]

Sea foam is supposed to clean the carbon from the pistons or something like that, i didnt even know you could clean the intake without taking it off.

 

[SHO SUM]

did this on my Explorer..will NEVER make that mistake again! Ford later told me it is not reccomended. I did it and had to sell my truck (91 Explorer XLT) as it ran like crap after..Ford said I would need new pistons and sensors..ugh.

 

[TYSHO]

That's not BS. I did it personally with B12 and then water and it worked and had the same results as the write up exept the blowing out for 5 miles. It blew out tons of crap and worked.

 

[wood_e]

k I hear Bs and not BS.... shrug

 

[Jr's Sho]

If you suck too much too fast, it can cause severe engine damage. My old boss had a Chevrolet Blazer and he sucked a can of BG Fuel Cleaner in and must have done it too quickly because he threw a rod. He actually saved the rod and I saw it and ended up throwing it away. I believe Scott does not recommend it due to the intake design. I can see the cleaner maybe getting pooled up in the intake.

 

[swami]

i have used GM top engine cleaners in many cars over the years with no ill effects. it blows out a ton of smake and improves engine responsiveness every time i use it. i was thinking about trying the ford carb cleaner and engine tuneup in my SHO before i install a new catted downpipe and O2 sensors. HTH

 

[elarm1]

I've heard that you can put tranny fluid in the engine to break down carbon. I never tried it though

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

I use BG throttle body cleaner. Works wonders, but nothing works better than taking the intake off and cleaning it by hand.

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

i have used GM top engine cleaners in many cars over the years with no ill effects. it blows out a ton of smake and improves engine responsiveness every time i use it. i was thinking about trying the ford carb cleaner and engine tuneup in my SHO before i install a new catted downpipe and O2 sensors. HTH

I've heard that you can put tranny fluid in the engine to break down carbon. I never tried it though

Sorry to thread jack...

you two should come to the CapitalSHO meet today...

CapitalSHO Bowling Jan 31

 

[Off Road SHO]

I use BG throttle body cleaner. Works wonders, but nothing works better than taking the intake off and cleaning it by hand.

Ken,

I think that 6 years ago when this was first posted, they were talking about the carbon that build up on the top of the pistons and valves. The steam generated by the introduction of slight amounts of water into the combustion chamber while the engine is running and at operating temperature, breaks up the carbon deposits and lets the (hopefully) small pieces go out the exhaust and get burned up (again hopefully) by the catalytic converter.

The original poster is now married, has 6 kids and drives a minivan.

Tom

 

[swami]

thanks for the invite but it's too COLD today! maybe one of these days. i bought my car off a guy in arlington. i found it on craigslist and we met at the italian store which is a pizza shop-starbucks. alot of hot women there on saturday morning. com'on?

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

Ken,

I think that 6 years ago when this was first posted, they were talking about the carbon that build up on the top of the pistons and valves. The steam generated by the introduction of slight amounts of water into the combustion chamber while the engine is running and at operating temperature, breaks up the carbon deposits and lets the (hopefully) small pieces go out the exhaust and get burned up (again hopefully) by the catalytic converter.

The original poster is now married, has 6 kids and drives a minivan.

Tom

Wow, didn't even notice the date lol
Way to revive an old thread swami

 

[swami]

my first car was a 1973 nova with a 307 and 18,000 miles in 1974. it was a dog and it would ping every thousand miles or so and the dealership said to take a small coke bottle full of water and slowly pur it in the carb without stalling to remove the carbon. an old mechanic, WWII vet and now deceased told me they used to make a rig to make this easier and was a common practice back in the day. the steam from the gas removed the carbon but i would like to think there are better solutions for engines nowadays. HTH

 

[elarm1]

Sorry to thread jack...

you two should come to the CapitalSHO meet today...

CapitalSHO Bowling Jan 31

sorry I couldnt make it, I was at 92SHOOFF's house picking up some parts! I will be at the next one though

 

[Jedi]

3M apparently has a kit that might help you out. Consists of throttle body cleaner (aerosol) intake cleaner (canned) and a fuel additive. They have a video on the site that explains it in some detail.

 

[SHOZ123]

I have the special hoses if you want to try the 3M stuff. I won't need it again.

 

[HotRodKid]

water works via heat shock, when doused with water the carbon will cool much faster then the piston / head / valves and therefore the carbon breaks free. its why the best way to do it is to do the water in spurts, allowing time for everything to warm back up again inside the engine

i had a fiero that i put AT LEAST 25 gallons through over the course of a summer, adn it ALWAYS ran like a top afterwards, never needed new pistons or anything like that, and any sensor that got wet in the process would obviously dry quite quickly due to underhood temps

water also works for cleaning spatter from your MIG nozzle, i do it all the time, much easier then using MIG pliers and i hate the mess nozzle dip / despat spray creates