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upper intake cleaning ?

H

hotblack98

CEG'er
Joined
Apr 22, 2005
Messages
55
Location
Flint Mi
I cleaned my upper intake on my 98 SVT and the car didn't smoke at all. Has this happened to anyone else?
 
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Did you do it when the engine was at operating temperature? What brand of stuff did you use? I went to Valvoline Instant Oil Change and had them do it for me...what a waste of 50 bucks. Hardly smoked at all so I figured my intake was pretty clean (~55k miles). Took the manifolds off the next weekend, and sure 'nuff, lots of caked on carbon. It was really bad, especially in the secondary runners. If you've never cleaned the manifolds before, I'm with everyone else on the board to say, take them off and clean them properly. Then every so often take some seafoam to it.
 
iBrent said:
Did you do it when the engine was at operating temperature? What brand of stuff did you use? I went to Valvoline Instant Oil Change and had them do it for me...what a waste of 50 bucks. Hardly smoked at all so I figured my intake was pretty clean (~55k miles). Took the manifolds off the next weekend, and sure 'nuff, lots of caked on carbon. It was really bad, especially in the secondary runners. If you've never cleaned the manifolds before, I'm with everyone else on the board to say, take them off and clean them properly. Then every so often take some seafoam to it.
Click to expand...

x2. By far the best way to clean them.
 
I went ahead and pulled the intakes and cleaned them. Wow i am suprised the car would even run. Here are a few pics.

DSC03313.jpg


DSC03312.jpg


DSC03311.jpg
 
Do people normally replace the Manifold gaskets when they take the manifold off?
I'm going to clean mine soon.
 
I would consider it a requirement. You could get away with reusing them, but there's also a chance you'll introduce a vacuum leak and have to tear everything apart to replace them anyway. Just spend the money and know that you have nice, new gaskets that won't fail in 10k miles.
 
hetfield said:
I would consider it a requirement. You could get away with reusing them,....
Click to expand...
The only time, IMO, which you can get away with reusing the intake manifold gasket is if it is less than a few months old and you are taking it out to "adjust" or check something.
 
I said that because I have heard "reports" of people reusing them with no issues. There's always someone who will come in and say something like "You can reuse them. I did and I had no problems." I think the craps shoot isn't worth it, though.

It's just like all the threads about what plugs/wires to use on the Duratec.
 
I would't reuse the intake gaskets, I have seen a lot of contours, mystiques and couguar w/ the cel for bnk 1&2 lean b/c the intake gaskets were leaking.

Also since you have the intake off, pull the t/b off and clean the egr ports b/c they are also know for clogging and setting a p0401 cel.
 
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