Intake manifold cleaning

[1988GTU]

Formula 88. Lowes sells it for ~$5/gallon. I bought a storage tote big enough to put a set of heads or an intake in to soak stuff in it. Formula 88 rocks, hands down. I'm glad Forced found it- that stuff removes carbon from runners ect. like you wouldn't believe. Just let the intake soak in it for a day or 2 and it should be good to go.

bLOWEs doesn't not carry it here and I have not found any place within reasonable distances that does carry it.


Hot megasonic atf chemical bath works good too.

[ForcedFirebird]

I've got the 2 cone style with a zerk on top. I used it 1 time and won't use it again, it wastes too much grease in my grease gun for my taste. Besides, for a true car guy packing bearings has a soothing effect

No zerk. I have the one that you put grease in and the press the cap in until the grease oozes from the crevasses, no waste.

[2.8-350TBI]

Hahaha imma try that gel stuff and the shirt in the drill bit method, they still arent all that clean yet...

[60dgrzbelow0]

bLOWEs doesn't not carry it here and I have not found any place within reasonable distances that does carry it. Hot megasonic atf chemical bath works good too.

http://www.formula88.com/index-2.html

[pocket-rocket]

http://www.formula88.com/index-2.html

I'm not shocked his doesn't carry it. It took mine some time to start carrying it after I heard about the stuff :/

[1988GTU]

http://www.formula88.com/index-2.html

Already checked there.

[rooster5333]

As far as whether or not it works, I cant say, as I have not actually tried it. But my ex's bro swore by plain ole ammonia to clean carbon off of parts. Said it turned aluminum parts white, but hey, that wont last long, will it? I just cant stand the smell of ammonia, although I am not quite as offended by coolant as some of you. I might just try that myself. I personally use a trio of cleaners. Diesel works to break thick nasty grunge down. Yes its slightly flammable, but if you will tilt your head back, and peek out of the corner of your eye, while you smoke and clean parts, I don't think it's too dangerous!! Brake parts cleaner clears all traces of grease and oil from parts. Especially when its time to assemble, and you need a completely grease from surface. It evaporates quickly, and leaves no residue. And plain carb cleaner in a can. It absolutely breaks up carbon crud like in the intake, almost on contact. I use a metal drain pan as a small cleaning tub. It will catch excess liquid, that you can dip a cleaning brush in to remove stubborn stuff. It wont fall apart like the plastic pans and storage bin will. It's small enough for convenience, strong enough for longevity, and is almost indestructable.

[60dgrzbelow0]

Already checked there.

I have used another alternative to this powerful de-greaser called "Purple Power":

http://www.clean-rite.com/

This cleaner de-greaser is readily available in gallon jugs at any AutoZone Store... but I would monitor its use over several hours while aluminum components are in submersion, lest you get anything going on in the way of electrolytic transfer. It is important not to allow anything ferrous in nature to soak right along with it. My favourite method of doing this (and with excellent cleaning success, I might add...) is to get hold of a Large Coleman Cooler and fill it with a 50/50 mix of "Purple Power" and water. Lower in the parts and just close the lid. Two to four hours after this deep dunking in the strong solution will dissolve and dislodge even the most intractable carbon, grease and dirt build ups. Checking on the progress of the cleaning is important because some aluminum components have varying amounts of silicate in the casting and may respond differently to the stuff depending on how concentrated you make the mix.

Even after this procedure... additional care and attention should be paid to plunging a cleaning wire brush inside the EGR passage to dislodge the last of the gunk hiding inside...and a follow up dunking would not hurt to be certain its all out. Afterwards... a wash out with regular water via a garden hose under high pressure followed by a spritz with pressurized air will reveal a pristinely clean manifold. Use caution when doing pistons for longer than an hour at a time... as they have molded steel supports inside the wrist pin bosses that can easily corrode. If you do use this stuff to clean pistons...add one last step to the final clean up by spraying the pistons down...inside and out with either Liquid Wrench or some WD-40 to prevent the metal tabs inside from rusting or corroding. The cleaning power of this stuff in dissolving baked on carbon and grease is quite simply profound.

[1988GTU]

Purple power didnt impress me. I switched back to what I normally use now. Just need to filter it more often and apply some extra technique.

[ForcedFirebird]

ROFL

I will smoke a cigarette while filling my car, and my uncle (think about Italian "I kill you attitude") told me he would douse a guy in gas and flick a cigarette on him - well - he didn't like it when I told him it would go out and he would get no fireworks. Not going to happen. Same thing happened when the scrap guy that used to reside behind the old shop, he doused a roll of wire in gas to burn off the shield and it took an actual flame for it to light. A cigarette is not hot enough to evaporate fuel. Done it more than is deemed safe haha.

***again I would scare 60dgrz with my work ethic, but that's just how I roll - on the floor ROFL

[60dgrzbelow0]

Huh?

Does a "Platform Header Building Master" look more stylish...wearing Platform Shoes while smoking a Pall Mall Cigarette as he's gassing up his car?

[2.8-350TBI]

I wouldnt worry about the manis catching fire while cleaning them with flammable solvent(s)...
...I WOULD WORRY ABOUT MY DAMN GARAGE!

[2.8-350TBI]

Sent my pistons to get the piston pins opened up for SBC pins
Intake manis cleaned and polished
And .005 off the heads
2.8/3400 here we come!

[pocket-rocket]

What did you finally end up using on the manis and how did it turn out?

[2.8-350TBI]

Hahaha lots of brakleen, a few shirts, rags, and a power drill took all the deposits out, it did a good job, but took a long time and I figured that the machine shop could do it even better.