[Zach335i]

I started walnut blasting my n54 tonight and I did two valves and when I went to jump the starter to do the third, shells fell into the other valves from the top? I don't know why and I'm freaking out, please help me out. It definitely went into some of the open ones

[slanteyez]

Are you sure you are walnut blasting correctly? How can media fall from the "top" doesn't make sense.

Heres a video of walnut blasting an n54

[specialist]

open the valve again. and blow it out us an air blower

[mifesto]

i'm guessing you forgot to fully suction out the walnut before turning the starter?

do you have a small vacuum? maybe you can attach a hose to it and suck pieces out via spark plug hole.

[Zach335i]

I cleaned 1 and 2 and when I jumped the stars tree to close 3 so I could clean it, shells fell into 6. I didn't accidentally get them in there...

[e90TiAg335i]

That makes zero sense! If you were cleaning 1,2 and didn't accidently get shells into 6, how did they get there to begin with?
As other's stated, just attach a small hose to the vac and shove it down the sparkplug hole. Then blow compressed air into the cylinder with the valves open. That should take care of them.

[GATORB8]

Originally Posted by Zach335i

I cleaned 1 and 2 and when I jumped the stars tree to close 3 so I could clean it, shells fell into 6. I didn't accidentally get them in there...

I would agree to blow them out the spark plug hole, but, like the others, I don't understand how the shells fell into 6 but it wasn't an accident?

Definitely tape off the other ports while your cleaning each one for the rest.

[SingleturboVert]

Sounds like he blasted multiple ports at once....?

[asquared]

I usually come across 4-5 banks that are closed when beginning the process. I've done over 20 cars and I'm having a hard time on what exactly the OP did. Did you not suck up all the excess Walnut shells prior to bumping the starter? Or did you blast while the valve was open? Always make sure the valves are closed when blasting. It's unrealistic to think you will get every single particle out. Some particles will get past but that's exactly why BMW uses Walnut shells, they will just burn off. We need more details OP on what exactly happened to be able to point you in the right direction.

[LQQKOUT]

I always cover the open valve inlets with unmasking tape so no media can get in them while I'm doing the ones that are closed.

[N54POWR]

Just how much shells are we talking about? One of the reasons we are supposed to use walnut shells is because when a few get into the engine, they'd simply burn off. A small amount is no big deal. If it was a significant amount, then opening the valve and blowing air through the spark plug hole will probably clear enough that it won't be a problem.

[Zach335i]

Update: I bought a borescope and looked through the spark plugs and saw nothing. So I put everything all back together and it started up great with no issues. I appreciate the help. I guess I was just worried I was going to cause damage to my engine. In the end I guess I did it right.

[musa]

Originally Posted by Zach335i

Update: I bought a borescope and looked through the spark plugs and saw nothing. So I put everything all back together and it started up great with no issues. I appreciate the help. I guess I was just worried I was going to cause damage to my engine. In the end I guess I did it right.

When you need to do it again next time, what would you do differently ... ?

[Ten-Zing]

This thread got me to thinking about the whole process. What if a person were to have a second vacuum attachment going into the spark plug hole and have the valves open while doing the walnut blasting? Would this clean the valves better and possibly the seating area of the head/valve? The only post work you would have to do is like the OP did and bore-scope the cylinder to verify you retrieved all the walnut media.

I also wonder if post walnut would there be any benefit to running corn cob media through?

[asquared]

Originally Posted by Ten-Zing

This thread got me to thinking about the whole process. What if a person were to have a second vacuum attachment going into the spark plug hole and have the valves open while doing the walnut blasting? Would this clean the valves better and possibly the seating area of the head/valve? The only post work you would have to do is like the OP did and bore-scope the cylinder to verify you retrieved all the walnut media.

I also wonder if post walnut would there be any benefit to running corn cob media through?

If it's done properly and correctly, you wouldn't have to go that far. As long as you ensure the valves are closed before and are using the proper attachments, it's a piece of cake. Literally takes me under 3 hours start to finish

[MysticRob]

Originally Posted by musa

When you need to do it again next time, what would you do differently ... ?

I will fill the gas tank with walnut shells so the injectors can shoot them out and clean the piston tops.

Then I'll reverse the intake and exhaust sides so those same walnut shells will be expelled past what USED to be the intake valves, hence cleaning them as they blow by.

Genius. Patent pending. Come to my seminar, you make lots of money. Your friends are losers.

[musa]

Originally Posted by MysticRob

I will fill the gas tank with walnut shells so the injectors can shoot them out and clean the piston tops.

The I'll reverse the intake and exhaust sides so those same walnut shells will be expelled past what USED to be the intake valves, hence cleaning them as they blow by.

Genius. Patent pending. Come to my seminar, you make lots of money. Your friends are losers.

I love this ... so original ... vaguely reminds me of someone called Donald Trump The Greatest!

[Zach335i]

Originally Posted by musa

When you need to do it again next time, what would you do differently ... ?

I honestly wouldn't change a thing. I guess it was just a little trial and error with the media blaster to use it correctly. Also for the guy who said you can do it in under 3 hours, I doubt you did it that fast your first time. Everything can be done faster with experience.

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by Zach335i

I honestly wouldn't change a thing. I guess it was just a little trial and error with the media blaster to use it correctly. Also for the guy who said you can do it in under 3 hours, I doubt you did it that fast your first time. Everything can be done faster with experience.

1st time took 4 hours. It should really be 3 or less. 1 Hour to disassemble, 10m per port, 1 hour reassemble. It doesn't take an hour to dis/reassemble if you know what you are doing.

[NoQuarter]

I used a lot more media than what is mentioned my first time. Supposed to be about 25lbs to do the job.

I could not get the air pressure/valve opening/tube angle correct.

However... My shop vac was clean! I simply scooped out the media from the vac and put it back in the pressure tank and kept at it until unlearned how to do it!

[=C=]

Originally Posted by asquared

If it's done properly and correctly, you wouldn't have to go that far. As long as you ensure the valves are closed before and are using the proper attachments, it's a piece of cake. Literally takes me under 3 hours start to finish

How do you ensure the valves are closed?

Is there a detailed explanation for this?

[GATORB8]

Originally Posted by =C=

How do you ensure the valves are closed?

Is there a detailed explanation for this?

You bump the starter until you can see that they're closed.