How can I clean this?!?!

[atruepretense]

So, I started rebuilding my engine after I jumped timing. I've been working on porting the exhaust and intake manifolds. Well, my question is: How the HELL do I clean the intake manifold? Inside it, there is this thick layer of black gunk shit all over the walls and I can't get it out for the life of me. I've left it soak in gasoline, i've used engine degreaser, carb cleaner, etc...It doesn't come off fully! A little here and there does, but not much.

Anyone use anything with good results? Or am I really that ####ed? I've been also trying to degrease my engine with very limited results.

 

[rx7ttlm]

So, I started rebuilding my engine after I jumped timing. I've been working on porting the exhaust and intake manifolds. Well, my question is: How the HELL do I clean the intake manifold? Inside it, there is this thick layer of black gunk shit all over the walls and I can't get it out for the life of me. I've left it soak in gasoline, i've used engine degreaser, carb cleaner, etc...It doesn't come off fully! A little here and there does, but not much.

Anyone use anything with good results? Or am I really that ####ed? I've been also trying to degrease my engine with very limited results.

as strange as it seems i use oven cleaner in a limited amount. I actually ran out of the kind that i like and i cant remember for the life of me what it was called. it wasn't easy off but it was something like that. don't use it on anything that's assembled (ie assembled engine) you need to be able to use it on a small area and then scrub a bit (with proper ppe, mask gloves, goggles etc) because its caustic. then Rinse THOROUGHLY

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[Tanro]

Take it and get it hot tanked?

 

[1993eclipseGS]

Take it and get it hot tanked?

Easiest way, If you aren't trying to spend alot of time on it. Drop it off at your local machine shop and have them hot-tank it. It'll look brand new again and cost you $10-20$ depending on their hot-tank fee's.

 

[atruepretense]

Take it and get it hot tanked?

I wanted to, but I don't know any machine shops in my area. I've asked around, but nothing. I'll keep looking. If not, it's oven cleaner time

 

[Tanro]

I wanted to, but I don't know any machine shops in my area. I've asked around, but nothing. I'll keep looking. If not, it's oven cleaner time

Check with any Napa or Carquest Auto shop. Also check with local performance shops to see if they know someone.

 

[DSMnoobsause]

that or sand blast the inside out and rinse it out after.

 

[JacksonAuto]

It can't be hot tanked because it's aluminum. The solution used in hot tanks is highly caustic and will eat the aluminum. You should have it glass beaded or soda blasted.

 

[rlacasse1]

Try some of the simple green cleaner from a part store. That stuff is wicked, expecially if you don't dilute. The crap is so strong you can't breathe.

Anyways it has always worked on everything I wanted to clean. And worked quite well.

 

[docb002000]

I actually soakeed mine in kerosine for a day them use various brushes on it then brake parts cleaner. It came really clean inside and out.

 

[Talon64]

It can't be hot tanked because it's aluminum. The solution used in hot tanks is highly caustic and will eat the aluminum. You should have it glass beaded or soda blasted.

Surprising I thought It would happen but then I thought hey are heads are alumimum and they didnt get messed up. Yeah I took my intake to get it hot tank looks brand new. Then I port match the gaskets now I feel so much better.

 

[Black95TSIawd]

Pour some seafoam inside of it then shake and rinse. I would let it sit for a while though. The longer the better.


PB Blaster also clean carbon really well.

When you put it all back together, get a good pcv valve and a sealed catchcan so all of that gook doesn't make its way back to the manifold/IC pipes/IC.

 

[ramsack]

I just took my intake manifold to a car wash and pressure washed it. They have that engine degreaser, plus the high pressure of the nozzle. It wasn't perfect, but oil and gunk soaks into the metal and stains it. It still looked dirty but no dirt came off anymore.

 

[VTEC_THIS]

You said you tried a bunch of different degreasers, but what are you scrubbing with? Wire brushes work best to get just about anything off (dirt, carbon, gunk, rust, etc). You can pick up wire brushes from just about any hardware store, they come in different sizes and more importantly stiffnesses. The stiffer the brush the more abrasive it is but you have to be careful it's not too stiff and damages whatever it is you're cleaning/scrubbing.

Your post is from a couple of weeks ago so I'm hoping you already got your intake manifold cleaned up and back on the car, but if you didn't hopefully this helps or can help someone in the future who might stumble upon this thread.

 

[BogusSVO]

do you have acess to a glass beader??

 

[motozachl]

You don't hot tank aluminum but rather cold tank it. This will get anything off the exterior/interior. Then bead blast the outside to remove the oxidation

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[jjrock5]

I took my Evo 3 intake mani to get powder coated at my local spot. I requested to have the inside cleaned (it was FULL of thick, stuck-on oil). I didn't expect much since he said he was going to bead blast it just like the outside (I didn't think he could get into the tight spots). Omg, it came out like new, not one spec of ANYTHING ANYWHERE.

I'd go to that type of place and have them bead blast it.

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[streetillEagle]

^The parts are sitting on your white couch really emphasizes how clean they are. I'd take it that place as well.

 

[atruepretense]

You said you tried a bunch of different degreasers, but what are you scrubbing with? Wire brushes work best to get just about anything off (dirt, carbon, gunk, rust, etc). You can pick up wire brushes from just about any hardware store, they come in different sizes and more importantly stiffnesses. The stiffer the brush the more abrasive it is but you have to be careful it's not too stiff and damages whatever it is you're cleaning/scrubbing.

Your post is from a couple of weeks ago so I'm hoping you already got your intake manifold cleaned up and back on the car, but if you didn't hopefully this helps or can help someone in the future who might stumble upon this thread.

Well i tried a manual wire brush, a spinning wire brush on my drill, even a ####ing brillo pad haha. IT cleaned, but not well.