Solution: dirty valves and decarboning your engine.

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

Ok so you have done your 60k and cleaned out your intake runners and plenums. You cleaned the ports on the heads the best you can but still have that nasty build up on the tops of your valves, and boy is it hard and crusty. Tough to reach and, clearly a hindrance to efficient air and fuel flow. so how can you take care of it?

Here is a neat trick I learned from a very smart old guy on the forum. It's cheap and effective. My valves were pretty crusty looking, so I added 1 quart of Dextron III ATF (make sure its the III stuff, not anything else) to your tank at next fill up (16 gallons). It sounded wrong to me (down right scary). The car started fine, and didnt burn a cloud of smoke. I drove 3/4 of a tank and had the intake off to do some other work. Lo and behold, my valves that were hard and crusty had quite the softened oil look and a few of them were pretty clean. The atf cleans the whole system out really well and doesnt hurt your cats or O2's.

I was amazed at the results. I will add one to the tank every oil change.

 

[SHOtime2511]

interisting!

 

[shomesomesho]

Is this for real??

 

[n8rsk8r]

when I worked at Jiffy ****, the manager would have us employees put some atf into the oil and run that for a bit (5 min or so) then have us drain and refill with just new oil. It was to clean the oil system. I have heard others trying it, so I know it wasn't just his crackpot idea. BUT... I have never heard of it in the gas though!!

 

[1993MTXSHO]

why does that sound like id gum up injectors and fuel pumps?

 

[jessemachone]

I've used it in the oil system as well with good results - not yet on the yamahammer engine, usually on old chevys or fords.

 

[hawkeye18]

IIRC dexron III is actually pretty thin. I doubt it would gum up pumps. Fuel injectors, possibly, but if it cleans them as well... but ****, just to be on the safe side I'd run a can of Seafoam through it on the next tank. Sounds like a good idea tho.

 

[sho_sc]

Is this for real??

This is an "old school" trick for decarboning the engine, it seems to work and has been around for years. However, I would not suggest doing it at all in a FI car nor while on the track with a NA car. The added ATF greatly lowers the effective octane rating of fuel.

 

[mclarida]

I worked at a foreign car repair shop in Daytona for a year(they serviced Ferrari and Bentely,Rolls Royce cars) and I would see the owner/master mechanic use atf in the fuel system and in the oil as a cleaning agent. At oil changes he would substitute a quart of oil with atf(and change the oil a week later) and put it in the tank as well. He also said that it is a great degreaser. I compared it to insanity until I saw the results. This coming from a man that works on $500,000.00 cars. I think it is safe.-
M

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

Note again though that I am speaking of the Fuel system, not the oil system. I was very skeptical at first, but I have had my intake off a few times since I purchased the car and the heads were pretty gummy. I hand cleaned everything but still couldnt get way down the ports. The Dextron III did clean alot of that up. It will not gum up the fuel pump or your injectors as it is actually oiling them as the gas runs thru them.

 

[SHOZ123]

Damn 2 strokes....

I wish the V8 had the FI spraying on both valves like the V6. It only sprays on one which stays nice and clean. The second one looks like chunk of coal sometimes.

 

[yamahaSHO]

How well does it mix with the fuel? I wonder if any of it stays behind in the tank??

 

[93rev2sev]

LOL I beleive it. I was just thinking of the looks I would get from my dad or brother if they saw me pouring ATF into the gas tank.

Remember, 1 quart of ATF in a full tank is 1/64. I'm sure its fine.

I wonder how it works in COMPARISON with seafoam.

 

[SHOZ123]

ATF is a light weight oil to start with. Same as the other OTC upper cylinder lubes available.

 

[JATRAMMELL]

Is ATF one of the ingredients in Marvel Mystery Oil? MMO seems to look and feel a lot like ATF.

 

[Shoaz]

FWIW, I think a similar effect can be accomplished using the Red Line (or, I suppose, similar) fuel injector cleaner, which is now called Complete Fuel System Cleaner. I get it at Pep Boys, or sometimes NAPA. Dumping a little bit of that in every tank (or just frequently) keeps things clean, including the intake valves.

 

[itwonder]

I just finished cleaning the ports as best I could with Seafoam and carb cleaner. I used a wood dowel with a popsicle stick duct taped to the end to free as much crud as I could reach off of the back side of the valves.

I think my next step will be to position each cylinder at TDC, and fill the intake port with Seafoam enough to cover the valve. Then let is sit for at least 12 hours. It will take a while to do all six, but I'm in no hurry. Of course, I'll blow out each cylinder afterwards to avoid hydrolock.

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

I just finished cleaning the ports as best I could with Seafoam and carb cleaner. I used a wood dowel with a popsicle stick duct taped to the end to free as much crud as I could reach off of the back side of the valves.

I think my next step will be to position each cylinder at TDC, and fill the intake port with Seafoam enough to cover the valve. Then let is sit for at least 12 hours. It will take a while to do all six, but I'm in no hurry. Of course, I'll blow out each cylinder afterwards to avoid hydrolock.

I agree this is the best way to get all that stuff out....its tough work, but it will do it.


Jason: It mixes well with gasoline as both are petroleum based. As to what is left in the tank, after a fill up, it would be very minimal.

Diliution ratio would be 1 quart to 16 gallons, or 1/16 x 4 or 1/64 which is exactly right rev 93.

I wish I could get a good picture of the valves with my camera. No matter how I add light, I always get the top of the port instead.

 

[shomesomesho]

Diliution ratio would be 1 quart to 16 gallons, or 1/16 x 4 or 1/64 which is exactly right rev 93.

d.

So what brand Dexron III ATF did you use?

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

I used Castrol althoug I was told that any Dextron III would work (cheap stuff too). I figured the castrol would be cleaner than the cheap stuff.