[7smurfs]

So I am at bmtech atm doing some diagnostic shit to my car and I asked about cleaning the intake valves and they said they charge $175 for it.

This seems quite cheap at first so I asked how they do it and they said they use some sort of liquid to dissolve the gunk out of the valves.

so Liquid intake cleaning = $175
Walnut blasting = $500

Does anyone know if there is any significant difference in the two methods? Aka worth it?
Couldn't find anything on Google

[naynay]

i think with liquid, sometimes it doesnt desolve all of the gunk. diy jeff?

[7smurfs]

Ah we could spend a day and hand clean it.

You need yours done too Nate?

[naynay]

halvies on the machine haha

[totti84]

I did mine by hand.

Buy a rifle cleaning brush kit, manifold and TB gaskets, few cans of brake cleaner, few hours of elbow grease = done for less than $100

[naynay]

did you have to rotate the crank totti?

[Scotty89]

Originally Posted by naynay

did you have to rotate the crank totti?

I think you will have to, or otherwise bump the starter.

If you don't at least one of the valves will be open and you'll simply be washing the crap straight into the cylinder.

[Socket]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

washing the crap straight into the cylinder.

This sounds fun

[Scotty89]

Originally Posted by Socket

This sounds fun

Not fun when the motor hydrolocks

[Socket]

Originally Posted by Scotty89

Not fun when the motor hydrolocks

Got that right mate

[Coupes33]

I did my intake ports myself. It took a day to do it and cost less than $100 as Totti said. I also used a couple of rifle barrel brushes, wire with flattened ends, a syringe from SuperCheap, tooth brushes and a vacuum cleaner. I used Repco Carby Cleaner to dissolve the carbon build up on the valves and ports. I bought a few cans but only needed one. I removed the fan from the radiator and used a ratchet and socket on the bolt holding the harmonic balancer on the crank to turn the engine over. The process was:
-Turn the crank until both valves were closed.
-Fill the port with Carby Cleaner and leave for 20mins.
-Use the rifle barrel brushes, tooth brushes and wire to clean port and valves.
-Suck up the fluid and carbon with the syringe and use vacuum cleaner for final clean up around the valves. I attached a piece of 1/4" hose ID into the vacuum cleaner hose to get into the port area.
-Repeat process until satisfied with results.
-Turn engine to set up next port.

Ports before cleaning



Ports after cleaning

[Socket]

Nice works Coupes.. wish I had the steelies to do this

[Scotty89]

Thanks Coupes! I knew there were other ways than the walnut blasting.

I'm going to give this a shot, thanks for being the guinea pig!

[lemonpark]

we all need to do this one day. group DIY meet? lol

[kOncept]

I saved some money on labour by having my valve cover gasket replaced at the same time since they had to take everything apart anyway