Question On 3.4 Head Intake Residue

[Jogasz28]

I just got done cleaning the heads and cam carriers. I noticed a lot of buildup on the intake runners of the heads. It felt like a light coating of greasy black sludge. The rear head was definitely worse than the front. The intake manifold had it too. Is this a result of bad intake gaskets and oil leaks?
Or should I be thinking of getting the heads freshened up? 105K miles on engine.
Prior to teardown, the engine burned no oil and I've never seen blue smoke.

[SappySE107]

Its the result of the EGR working properly. It recirculates exhaust gases so you get some nice carbon buildup in your manifolds, heads, and intake valves. All normal but you should keep it clean with GM top engine cleaner once in a while.

[Jogasz28]

Its the result of the EGR working properly. It recirculates exhaust gases so you get some nice carbon buildup in your manifolds, heads, and intake valves. All normal but you should keep it clean with GM top engine cleaner once in a while.

Thanks. That's a relief that I don't need head work.
I used carb cleaner (keeping it away from the valve seals) to clean the heads and intake. Is there anything better to use on them or the head gasket surface of the block now that they are apart?
How do you use the GM top engine cleaner?
TIA,

[pocket-rocket]

You use it when your engine is whole :P First, do not do this in an enclosed space ei: your garage. Second, find a vacuum line with good vacuum. Start the car, and let it get up to temp. Pull that vacuum line off of whatever acc. it was on and put it in the can of cleaner. Grab ahold of the throttle to keep the engine running, and do not let the hose come out of the cleaner. When it gets down to the bottom of the can, let the engine die, but do not let it run out of cleaner before it dies. Once it dies, turn the ignition off and have a beer. Wait 15 minutes to let the cleaner soak into all the junk in there. Hop back in the car and have one heck of a hard time starting the engine again. Beware, you will get LOTS of smoke when it starts! After it starts to smooth out and not sputter, take it out for a drive till it stops giving you the secret agent super smoke screen. We have always varied the throttle as we drive as well. When it's done smoking, congrats, your done I get this stuff at the local GM dealer for ~$7 a can and think it is worth every penny.

[Jogasz28]

You use it when your engine is whole :P First, do not do this in an enclosed space ei: your garage. Second, find a vacuum line with good vacuum. Start the car, and let it get up to temp. Pull that vacuum line off of whatever acc. it was on and put it in the can of cleaner. Grab ahold of the throttle to keep the engine running, and do not let the hose come out of the cleaner. When it gets down to the bottom of the can, let the engine die, but do not let it run out of cleaner before it dies. Once it dies, turn the ignition off and have a beer. Wait 15 minutes to let the cleaner soak into all the junk in there. Hop back in the car and have one heck of a hard time starting the engine again. Beware, you will get LOTS of smoke when it starts! After it starts to smooth out and not sputter, take it out for a drive till it stops giving you the secret agent super smoke screen. We have always varied the throttle as we drive as well. When it's done smoking, congrats, your done I get this stuff at the local GM dealer for ~$7 a can and think it is worth every penny.

Thank you for the info.
I had bought the aerosol can of intake cleaner. I used it as a spray-on to clean the intake and heads as best I could. It REALLY works good, especially on the combustion chamber. I screwed in the old spark plugs, turned the heads upside down and sprayed 'til I got a puddle in each Combustion Chamber/valve area. I left it soak a little while and then used a nylon and brass toothbrush to scrub away most of the black baked on residue.
I figured that way was best as I've got the engine apart anyways and why wait 'til the engine is together and have to push all that crap thru.
I'll definitely use the bottle and your method after the engine has run awhile.
How often should this be done?

[pocket-rocket]

Yeah, good idea I always use brake clean when I have it torn down because it's cheap, lol. I also try to do it with old plugs, and change them the next day, unless I leave it sit long enough to pull the old ones out. I don't think it really hurts them, but then again, I change the plugs as routine maint. every year. Don't ask me why, I just do, lol. Also I think I do the Top engine cleaner once a year as well. I was trying to find a link to the instructions on the site, but I couldn't find them. BTW, I love your '68 RS *insert Homer drool here* I love old cars, but not too old. Mostly the late 60s, early 70s I am more partial to the GM cars, but like the Mustangs from that era as well.

[grandprixgtp_91]

get some stuff from your gm dealer its called cleens, spray or liquid. works awesome.

Jake