disgusting, clogged intake. help!

[cyanmauve]

Howdy,

I started to replace my plug well seals and valve cover gaskets today. After getting the upper intake off, I noticed a disgusting carbon black build up which has literally encrusted the inside of the snakes. Here is the problem. Normally, I would take the intake apart and clean it out, but I don't have new upper gaskets that I need to remove to take it apart. I am afraid that if I remove the upper gasket they will split (my motor has 163k and the rubber is brittle and dry).

Does anybody have a good way of cleaning the intake without disassembling it? I hate to reinstall everything with such an obvious problem that could be corrected.

I suspect that I need a new EGR valve. I think htis is the source of the problem. Any ideas?

 

[olympic]

Take it to the car wash and blast the crud out. Maybe remove the cross-over tube and TB for better access.

 

[SHOdownTN]

Howdy,

I started to replace my plug well seals and valve cover gaskets today. After getting the upper intake off, I noticed a disgusting carbon black build up which has literally encrusted the inside of the snakes. Here is the problem. Normally, I would take the intake apart and clean it out, but I don't have new upper gaskets that I need to remove to take it apart. I am afraid that if I remove the upper gasket they will split (my motor has 163k and the rubber is brittle and dry).

Does anybody have a good way of cleaning the intake without disassembling it? I hate to reinstall everything with such an obvious problem that could be corrected.

I suspect that I need a new EGR valve. I think htis is the source of the problem. Any ideas?

DO you have to get any other gaskets beside the valve cover gaskets when you do the valve covers? I will be doing the same thing as you Friday and need to know before tearing in. Gonna clean my intake as well. Atleast the upper part. I'll try to clean the lower with it still on the car with some kind of cleaner and alot of rags or something. Maybe a combintaion of seafoam and TB cleaner.

 

[DHMag]

if the intake to head gaskets are in good shape, you can reuse them. if youre going to take an intake apart, you will need new gaskets. while disassembling mine, the plenum to runner gaskets tore while trying to remove them from the plenum.

the next time i have the intake apart, im going to apply a thin film of silicone to the faces. this aides in reusing gaskets.

 

[cyanmauve]

Olympic- I like that idea, as it doesn't involve me tearing the intake apart at all.

SHODownTN- All you need to do the valve cover gasket is the FelPro set (can get them at AutoZone). However, if you need to adjust the valve shims, I STRONGLY suggest that you do this at the same time. Also, if you need to replace plugs and wires, it is super easy at this time. Really, if I were to do it again, I'd do it all in one pass.

DHMag- I appreciate the advice. That's also what my buddy here in town said. Where did you get your new plenum to runner gaskets after they tore? About how much were they?

Thanks ya'll.

 

[DHMag]

www.rockauto.com has the cheapest prices. but when i recieved my gaskets, they werent even in a box, so to speak. the Fel-Pro box was torn in several places and looked like someone had been sitting on it.


MS94831 is the part number.

check with your local Auto-Zone. price is 45.99. includes plenum to runner (3 sets, 2 alike and 1 unique...alike pair is for the horns) and runner to head gaskets.

 

[SHOtime2511]

i was about to post on this topic....will it damage the manafold to have water blasted in it (off the car of course)???

 

[olympic]

Not at all. Just remove anything electronic and dry it well before installing. An air compressor comes in handy to speed up the drying.

 

[Snake2715]

Its been posted on here before and I almost did this myself.

Some people had recomended calling say NAPA or a machine shop to have it dipped for the night or even two days. My local shop quoted me $20 to do it.

They will do it while assembled still. Just be sure to remove the TB, and DIS etc.

Then you wont risk destroying the gaskets with high pressure.

 

[HopefulSHO]

This is normal; your EGR valve is (probably) fine. This happens after running PCV fumes and EGR gasses through it for that many miles

 

[SHOdownTN]

SHODownTN- All you need to do the valve cover gasket is the FelPro set (can get them at AutoZone). However, if you need to adjust the valve shims, I STRONGLY suggest that you do this at the same time. Also, if you need to replace plugs and wires, it is super easy at this time. Really, if I were to do it again, I'd do it all in one pass.

I would but I can't afford to do the valve shimming, wires, and plugs at this time. I just hope it wont ruin the gaskets when I do get the funds gathered to do the valve shimming. I can do the plugs and wires after it's all assembled. Might be tough but I think I can do it with the intake on.

 

[Slo-Sho]

Water isn't going to do Jacksh*t for the carbon in the intake. Do yourself a favor and go to your local autoparts store and ask for about 5-6 cans of Berryman's B-12 Chemtool, more or less depending on how bad the intake is. Grab yourself a few toilet bowl brushes, the wire kind that looks like a loop. Squeeze the brush together so it's straight and go to town. Wear dishwashing gloves or equivalent b/c this stuff is nasty.


Total cost should be about ~$15 and a couple hours of your time.
I would *highly* recommend atleast replacing the plugs if they are suspect.

 

[Blue-By-U]

6-8 cans of Berryman's B-12 Chemtool Carb cleaner will eat right through that gunk; you can get it at AZ or Wallymart.

 

[SHOtime2511]

i was worried about the little secondary TBs what are they maid of??? are you guys sure it wont hurt them??

 

[Slo-Sho]

Don't be scurred. The intake is made of several types of metals all of which are impermeable to the Berryman's solvent cleaner. Do not fear young grasshoppa.

 

[GR8SHO]

i was worried about the little secondary TBs what are they maid of??? are you guys sure it wont hurt them??

I've seen several posts about using 6 cans of Berrymans B12 choke and carburator cleaner. I decided to go this route. It is very messy but the results will be good. The B12 won't hurt the paint too badly. Brake cleaner will. Use of flexible bristle brush will help for the long runners. Take the butterfly assemblies off. This will give you access to the horns inside the long run of the intake. Yes, this means taking the whole intake apart. The crud really needs direct spray of the B12 on it to melt the crap away. A good utility sink will help to wash the stuff out afterwards. Did I mention this will be a messy job?

If you decide to spray down the wall of the cylinder head passages (you will find these equally grungy) just above the valves, you will find that the cleaner will run into the the cylinder heads. What I would do at this point is pull the plugs out, and then turn the engine over manually using a ratchet on the crankshaft bolt. This will allow the solvent to be expelled from the cylinders. After it's cleaned out, change the oil to get the B12 out of the crankcase. After everything is reassembled, have another car handy to help jumpstart your car as you will need some good cranking cycles to get the motor to fire.

Lastly, while you have the intake off, you have access to the cylinder head cover bolts. You can use black RTV around the grommets to seal that area and keep it from leaking oil.

 

[SHOdownTN]

LMAO, the carwash did little but anger folks waiting in line. I did use 5 cans of cheep carb cleaner and got it clean enuff for me. I used weather strip adheasive, the yellow snot stuff to hold my gaskets in place. I never curled the rear cover gasket and first time I had ever done one of these cars Also didn't miss one vacume hose. Just takes takeing your time and some help.
I started around 9 a.m. and finished about 4 p.m.
I also cleaned the oil from the plug wires and out of the wells.

 

[Blank-Disk]

that carbon build up is usually only bad for about as far as you can see intot eh tubes, teh rest is jsut kinda sitting there like a film. I reccomend spraying the living **** out of the intake, fully assembled to protect the gaskets and all, letting it sit, and then using a wire brush to get off the really tough stuff that you can see. Then, drain all teh fluid out,a dn respray, let sit for about 15 mintues, make sure it gets all over, and re drain.

 

[95MTXcruiser]

To remove the crud out of my intake i used a couple cans of Mopar combustion chamber cleaner and let it sit over night. Started up the next morning and blew it all out the tail pipe. Idled like new when done.

 

[SHOdownTN]

To remove the crud out of my intake i used a couple cans of Mopar combustion chamber cleaner and let it sit over night. Started up the next morning and blew it all out the tail pipe. Idled like new when done.

I got alot out with carb cleaner but I'll try something like that.