Not exactly Fiero related but Fiero owners are some of the most knowledgeable...
When replacing injectors on my DOHC the UIM, although slightly oily/dirty, the intake was relatively simple to clean. However, I pulled the aluminum upper and lower intake manifolds on my mothers 95 Lincoln to replace gaskets, 4.6 DOHC V8, and the inside of all 16 of intake runners, plenum and lower manifold are COATED with carbon. pics to come..
The problem is that although I can probably clean the most of the runners and LIM with a plastic brush or plastic brush on a flex extension and drill, how can I clean the carbonization out of the plenum?
Are there any cleaners out there that will loosen up the carbonization enough to pressure wash it out of the plenum?
Please advise...
IP: Logged
10:58 AM
PFF
System Bot
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
most of that junk comes from a combination of oily gasses from the PCV and sooty crap from the EGR by adding filters or catch cans to the PCV, you can cut down on how quick the junk builds up.
IP: Logged
11:07 AM
lateFormula Member
Posts: 1048 From: Detroit Rock City Registered: Jul 2002
If you've got the plenum off the engine, take it to a local engine/machine shop and have it hot tanked. You'll get it back looking like the day it came out of the mold.
IP: Logged
11:11 AM
fieroguru Member
Posts: 12451 From: Champaign, IL Registered: Aug 2003
Easy Off oven clearner works wonders for cleaning carbon buildup from the insides of intake manifolds. If you leave it on too long, it will turn the aluminum a dark grey, but not much of an issue for inside the runners.
If you've got the plenum off the engine, take it to a local engine/machine shop and have it hot tanked. You'll get it back looking like the day it came out of the mold.
That depends on the solution they use... some solutions can turn aluminum into a foamy film on top of the solution...
Does anyone know if Dean (Whodeanie on the forum) can hot tank? His shop is only a few miles north...
most of that junk comes from a combination of oily gasses from the PCV and sooty crap from the EGR by adding filters or catch cans to the PCV, you can cut down on how quick the junk builds up.
Manifold is already off the engine and although Seafoam is good stuff the amount of carbon on this intake is going to require hands on or professional help..
Easy Off oven clearner works wonders for cleaning carbon buildup from the insides of intake manifolds. If you leave it on too long, it will turn the aluminum a dark grey, but not much of an issue for inside the runners.
I thought about that however its the plenum I cannot access, the bundle'O snakes intake runners are accessible, however, the plenum has no easy access into it.. I don't even want to know how much buildup is in there..
Do a quick search for "Lincoln Continental" or "Mark VIII intake manifold" on google to see the nature of the intake..
Here's a pic from ebay on the exact manifold turned upside down...
Could those two round plugs be removable plugs perhaps?
IP: Logged
11:39 AM
1fatcat Member
Posts: 1519 From: Zimmerman, Mn Registered: Dec 2010
You don't really NEED to clean it. The carbon won't hurt the performance very much. I doubt your mom would be able to tell the difference. Make sure any egr passages are clear, or idle air passages, but the carbon in the main runners isn't really an issue unless you plan to race that big old lincoln....that is of course, unless the carbon is SO thick that it's blocking more than 10% of the port diameter.
You don't really NEED to clean it. The carbon won't hurt the performance very much. I doubt your mom would be able to tell the difference. Make sure any egr passages are clear, or idle air passages, but the carbon in the main runners isn't really an issue unless you plan to race that big old lincoln....that is of course, unless the carbon is SO thick that it's blocking more than 10% of the port diameter.
Several ports I would probably wager that about 10% of it is blocked... If I've got the damn UIM and LIM off, several hours+ to get off, I figured I'd do it right...
IP: Logged
12:46 PM
1fatcat Member
Posts: 1519 From: Zimmerman, Mn Registered: Dec 2010
Take it to a shop that has a hot tank and have them cook it out. You may not be 100% satisfied with the results, as even a cooker won't get it ALL out.
Edit: A "cooker" or "hot tank" is just an industrial sized dish washer with a turn table (like your microwave). It relies on hot water and detergent mix sprayed onto the part under high water pressure. The water will not get into the places you can't see (not under pressure anyways), and unless the guy flips the part around mid way through the process, the high pressure water may not even get to the parts you can see.
The only two ways to get it sparkeling clean is: 1. Dip it in a bath of solution for many days, rinse and repeat. 2. Replace it with a new one.
[This message has been edited by 1fatcat (edited 11-21-2011).]
Its hard when you can't really get to the stuff. Just spray it down with TB/intake cleaner and use one of those pipe cleaer type bushes that are bendable... might allow you to knock more loose where you can't get a standard tooth brush.
My mom had some crazy kitchen brush when I was a kid. It was about 2 feet long, bendable, had medium bristles that were about 1" to 1.5 " diameter... I wish I could get one now for stuff like this... Darn metal wire holding it rusted up & fell apart over time.
------------------ Rescued & resuscitated 1984 Indy Fiero Pace Car #770 presently reversibly modified...LOL!
Has anyone ever seen manifold plugs such as these? Are they reuseable?
emm dub
I have never seen a plug like that in a local parts store. I've been wrenching on cars and trucks for over 20 years. You can order them through Ford, but wait 1~2 weeks. That plug NEVER gets removed for service work. You are digging deeper than you need to.
Seafoam is great stuff, but the Mopar upper combustion chamber cleaner is surprisingly even better. This product actually expands instead of staying a liquid after you kill the engine so it gets in all the areas. Other than that it works just like seafoam in the top end of the motor. I know you already have the manifold off, but I just thought I would throw that out there for any others who might want to clean up their engine.
Get a plastic tub big enough to fit the intake into. Put the intake in the tub, fill it with diesel fuel, put the cover on it and let it soak for a couple of days. Remove the intake and pressure wash it to clear out the liquified goo. Repeat as necessary.
IP: Logged
12:19 AM
lateFormula Member
Posts: 1048 From: Detroit Rock City Registered: Jul 2002
Originally posted by Cooter: Put the intake in the tub, fill it with diesel fuel, put the cover on it and let it soak for a couple of days. Remove the intake and pressure wash it to clear out the liquified goo. Repeat as necessary.
Kerosene would likely do the job as well as diesel. Just another option...
IP: Logged
12:23 AM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
Car-Quest sells an outstanding product. It’s an aerosol can “detergent” not a solvent. They also have a 24 inch long extension tube (think spray can wd-40 red tube) that is plugged on the end but has splits along the tube to allow the product to be injected deep into the intake. Warm the engine – squirt it down and let is “soak” in for 10-15 min. Start and the Fog begin!! You also may wish to check out the ”S-Tool” they sell for a more “complete” cleaning.
I do body and paint work, only mech work is on my own cars.
