Hey everyone, glad we're back online! I'm in the process of swapping out my intake manifold, and there's at least 139k miles of sludge in the lifter valleys. It ain't pretty. How should I get rid of it? I stuffed rags into all the intake ports and the water passages. Should I stuff the distributor hole too? Is there anything else I should do, and how should I go about cleaning it out? Also, anything I should check on while I'm down there? Any other helpful tidbits or ideas would be great. Thanks folks, and welcome back!

 

Normally I'd say hot tank it. Otherwise I'd use a putty scraper for the really bad stuff then carb cleaner. After wards I flush it with motor oil to remove as much residue as possible. Then use a High Detergent Motor oil such as regular Mobil oil to help clean everything up and change it after about 500 miles. Unless you just bought your car you should change motor oils and replace it more frequently.

 

Ok, keep in mind that this is with everything still in the car. So Where would I be flushing all the sludge residue and carb cleaner to? Thanks for the quick reply.

 

Do you have a shop vac? I would try to get the "crumbs" out with that, and then keep the hose right on the end of the scraper as you go. It only takes a little piece of junk to clog an oil passage, so plug any possible way for the crap to get into the engine. Once you start breaking it loose, make sure you get it all.

 

I do not have a shop vac, unfortunately. But I do have an air compressor . Where are the oil passages so I can plug them? In the block or heads? Do I need to plug the distrib hole? Anything else? Thanks!

 

The lifter valley is full of holes for oil to drain back to the pan. If you see an open hole, it goes into the bottom end. The distributor hole will also let junk down into the engine. I'd leave the compressor alone, you'll really get into trouble with that. Seriously, once you start disturbing the gunk, you are taking chances of getting crap into the engine. A $30 shop vac from walmart wouldn't be a bad investment, and would be cheaper than tearing an engine down after a bearing starves for oil. You should definitly change the oil afterwards too.

 

Alright, thanks for your advice. Are you talking about a wet/dry shop vac? So one could simotaneously scrape out and spray carb cleaner, while vaccuming all the crap up? Hope that made sense, it's late...

 

yep, shop vac, usually is a wet dry vac.

Yet i have a better way todo it. Over the years my mom has bought 3 of those bissel carpet cleaners the oldest one works just like a shop vac but IMO sucks way more air flow. SO when i gotta clean up messes, i use it. works every time.

 

DON'T VACUUM FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES!!! YOUR VACUUM CAN EXPLODE. The motor in the vac can ignite the fumes.

 

hmm guess thats why using a bissel is a better idea, forgot about the sparks coming from the motor, by bissel is belt driven so, i shouldn't have to worry. Of coarse there is always possibility, but, you cant live life scared of everything all the time. no fun.

 

Well, guess I should have checked thirdgen earlier, since I borrowed a shop vac and cleaned it up that way. Glad it didn't explode on me. Thanks for your advice!

 

This is an old post, but Im having the same trouble as this. Although I need clarified a bit more. I too have a lot of sludge and crap in my lifter valley. How would I properly clean this...(with the block still in the car). I knwo I dont want anything going into the distributor hole, but what the holes for the lifters?

Should I clean the valley first, and then remove the lifters, and clean those??...Or should I remove the lifters, and then clean the valley????...WHat are the consequences of dropping some sludge into the lifter holes?? Ill try my best not too...but you never know. I have a lot of sludge buildup around the lifters. Also after all that what cleaning solution can use that will not harm my engine. Should I just brush with a small brush and something engine oil, and shop vac it????...anyone have good ideas...thanks.

 

yea, remove the "dry" setting from your shopvac, and use it as a wet vac.
if you don't have the intake off yet, i'd run about a quart of diesel in your crankcase, drive it around the block, give it about 15 minutes of drive time, then shut'er down and drain it, and remove the filter, and go to town on removing the intake.

then yea, shop vac, hit it with some diesel to clean it, and a rag/brush. Once it's fairly clean, vacuum it out again. Put it all back together, fresh oil, with more diesel in it, drive it around again for 10 minutes, then flush it out again and put in new oil and filter.