Filthy intake manifold/valley/lifters...how to clean???

[munly]

Hi. I need help. I'm in the process of replacing the intake gaskets, valve cover gaskets, spider and various other bits and pieces. I have the intake manifold and valve covers off...and the valley/block is full of black sludge as well as the manifold is full of carbon. What's the best way to clean this son of a gun? Any tips or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[98_k1500]

If you have the intake off, you can clean it with parts or brake cleaner. I WOULD NOT advise cleaning under the valve covers or in the lifter valley. All the crud that falls into the lower end of the engine (and some WILL fall in there if you try to clean it) will find its way to the oil pump pickup screen and will wipe out your bearings via lack of oil flow. My advice on the crud inside the engine is to run some transmission fluid in your oil (just dump a quart in with your oil) about 100 miles before you change it. It will slowly dissolve the crud instead of it breaking off in chunks. It will take a few changes to clean it up, but it will get the job done.

 

[SkyHighColorado]

Spray easy off oven cleaner all over the manifold and let it sit and stay some more lets it sit then hose it off and dry.

 

[98_k1500]

Careful with the oven cleaner... Some of it is not aluminum safe. Don't wanna have it eat up your intake.

 

[SkyHighColorado]

I used easy off in the yellow can, it worked well for me but yeah be careful it is very strong and put on gloves because it will eat your skin.

 

[skylark]

When I bought my Skylark it had 123k. That engine was a sludge nightmare! I ran 4 quarts of valvoline 10 40 and 1 quart of atf for the rest of it's life. It died at 275k when the tranny slipped and I over revved it.

 

[94Sierra4x4]

I did the intake gaskets a couple winters ago on my '94. I blocked off as much as I could with papertowels and such before and then I started chipping away at it piece by piece, having the vacuum head sucking right beside the screwdriver. Cleaned it out pretty good. Had a couple passages completely blocked off with carbon

 

[98_k1500]

I still would not suggest this ^^^. Some of it is gonna get missed and it'll find its way to the bottom of the pan eventually and get stuck on the pickup.

 

[94Sierra4x4]

I still would not suggest this ^^^. Some of it is gonna get missed and it'll find its way to the bottom of the pan eventually and get stuck on the pickup.

I spent 5 days cleaning that valley and the intake manifold. (Had a zipdisc wound and could only clean for a few days...) I ran the truck for about a year before I wrecked it. Never had any issues with oil pressure, just sharing my experience.

 

[Ruger_556]

Or you could just, you know... Run good oil and don't buy cheap gas