Intake manifold gunk

[David I Blackman]

I have a 1993 ATX with roughly 186,000 Mi on it. I had to take the intake manifold off in order to get the fuel injector pressure dampener changed and the thermostat changed. When I took it off I noticed a lot of gunk in the intake as well as above the valves I took pictures. what is it?

 

[luigisho]

Oil, cabon and gunk and egr condensing stuff. It's also a normal byproduct of combustion. At 180k miles that's not that irregular

 

[David I Blackman]

What is a good way to clean it out. Also, since I have the intake off, is there anything else, maintenance wise, I should deal with considering it has that many miles?

 

[luigisho]

If you have old plugs and wires they easily accessible at this point. Also if you remove them you can examine if any have oil leaking into them from bad seals and if so address that if you are so inclined.

 

[AREA 91]

Berryman's B12 and rags.

 

[David I Blackman]

Does anyone know what size the nuts are for the thermostat housing?

 

[OG-SHOguy]

Once you get it all cleaned up, you can avoid it getting dirty like that in the future by installing a filter (some use in line fuel filters) in the PCV line from the front cam cover to the Throttle-body...That will filter the crank case gasses that are saturated with oil vapor from entering into your intake via the vent hose...I used the filter with removable copper element on mine and never had to clean my intake again...still clean as new after 5yrs of running it with filter on...def installing one on my new one too....you can find the filters at LPS....good luck buddy!

 

[David I Blackman]

Do I need to totally disassembly the manifold to clean it? Also, if there is oil on the spark plugs that means that the valve cover gaskets need replace correct?

 

[OG-SHOguy]

Do I need to totally disassembly the manifold to clean it? Also, if there is oil on the spark plugs that means that the valve cover gaskets need replace correct?

it is best to totally disassemble the intake to clean it....the cam covers, i used to just take them off and clean real good both cover and gasket and use Permatex Black sensor safe (gasket maker) on mine....put a small bead all the way around both sides of the cover gasket and a small bead around each well gasket...then install cover and torque to spec...I have never had a leak with that method...the only gasket i ever replaced on cam cover was because i accidentally tore one when removing it... good luck buddy!