What different ways have people removed the carbon/oil build up in the intakes while their off the engine?

I have tryed the engine rebuild shop, got some off.

I have sprayed with gastrol super clean, helped a bit. Doesnt help where I cant get an old toothbrush.

Carb cleaner works, but takes a butt load.

Any other ways?

 

To get it pretty much completely cleaned you could have it hot-tanked by a machine shop. That should clean EVERYthing off it. If you wanna do it yourself, I found that "Easy-Off Oven Cleaner" (found in most grocery stores) does some insane cleaning ...It'll break down crud and even paint with ease. Apply it (or any other kinda engine degreaser stuff you can find) and let it sit for about 15 minutes then power-wash it at a car wash ...could clean up pretty good.

 

Permatex 4MA Gasket Remover, followed by the quarter car wash. It will strip it to bare metal.... paint, gasket remains, everything.

 

88iroc, I have taken it to a machine shop. Not sure what they did, but the final product wasnt what I wanted.

Sounds like I will have to try oven cleaner, or that gasket remover.

Anyone have other ideas/solutions?

 

Be very careful about using any caustic cleaners on aluminum (your intake, etc.). Caustic has a realy affinity for aliminum molecules and will continue to dissolve the metal even after rinsing. It needs to be neutralized with a mild acid, then triple rinsed, and will still often promote severe oxidation (blackening) of the aluminum after use.

 

dish washer works good for cleaning parts if you can send the wife to the mall for a hour or two. i sort of preclean everything before it goes in the dish washer.

 

vader, which ones listed are caustic?

the over cleaner, or the gasket remover?

Dishwasher one is not an option, but thanks for future reference.

 

Oven cleaner and gasket remover are both caustic.

That's why you do it at the quarter car wash: so you can wash every trace of the chemical off of the parts.

 

One other hint, After cleaning the part in the dishwasher, make sure you do two empty loads, to make sure there is no residue in there. Don't ask me how i know . the things we do for our cars....

 

I used Valvoline Syn power carb & Throttle body cleaner, it will eat carbon like water washing away mud.

 

C'mon, Ed... You're not telling the whole story...

 

like the whole dishwasher one...hehehe! My fiancee's uncle has an 81 camaro and one night we watched their kids....and hotd@mm....went to the kitchen and his headers were in the sink! hehe!
-G

 

I can vouch that mothers get really mad when you put your lower tpi intake into the dish washer and set it to "Pots and Pans". I got yell'd at for a long time, course dad thought it was a good idea after hearing what I did.

 

what about plain jane gasoline? I used it on one of my heads after going through a can of tb cleaner and still having a ton of grease left on the head.Cheaper too. just smells bad!!!

 

sand blast the thing