Question: What do you recommend for cleaning a engine(internal) without taking it apart.

[Nick90vetteguy]

Has anybody used any type of cleaners for a engine? I used Valvoline Fuel Injector cleaner/Intake valve cleaner and water cleaner. I have 134,xxx miles on the vette, I'm just trying to do a full service check before spring/summer comes along, I replace my oil every 3,000 miles with Valvoline 5W Synthetic K&N oil filter, Tranny flushed every 5,000 miles(its rebuilt) I have intentions of doing my coolant flush next week(a lil nervous). Other than that just a simple check, any tips would be useful! Thank you everybody!

*NOTE* I'm trying to avoid taking the engine apart*NOTE*
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[Hib Halverson]

Based on how you've serviced the engine so far, why do you feel you need to "clean" the inside of the engine?

 

[Nick90vetteguy]

Well my corvette is a 1990, and I just want to try to keep it clean as possible make it last as long as I can, Ive had overheating problem(found out the relay fuse was shot) basicly I'm going that extra mile to make sure everything is ok, its my baby and I wanna keep it in the best shape I can engine and body(body is in the best shape, re-painted polo green)

 

[93Rubie]

Pop your oil fill cap and peer inside, what do you see? If you see sludge/staining and it is anything significant no "cleaner" short of tearing the motor down will clean it.

If you look inside and see nice clean aluminum heads, keep changing your oil and everything will be fine and dandy. More often than not the only way and engine gets "dirty" inside is from people not changeling their oil.

I know his because I got my DD cheap and the previous owners did the car no favors. I'm best thing to happen to that Focus. I have tried many things to get the sludge out, some stuff has helped but never got rid of it all. Short of a total tear down, nothing will.

 

[tmkassin]

Dump a quart of gm type auto trans fluid in the crank case. Run it for about a week and change the oil. You will be surprised how clean it will get. I have done this many times with no ill affects.

 

[LLC5]

Has anybody used any type of cleaners for a engine? I used Valvoline Fuel Injector cleaner/Intake valve cleaner and water cleaner. I have 134,xxx miles on the vette, I'm just trying to do a full service check before spring/summer comes along, I replace my oil every 3,000 miles with Valvoline 5W Synthetic K&N oil filter, Tranny flushed every 5,000 miles(its rebuilt) I have intentions of doing my coolant flush next week(a lil nervous). Other than that just a simple check, any tips would be useful! Thank you everybody!

*NOTE* I'm trying to avoid taking the engine apart*NOTE*​

With those service intervals your engine would be perfectly clean internally.

If an engine is indeed coked or carboned up internally, you would not want to dislodge any deposits with and internal cleaner as you will just plug up oil galleys and the oil pump pick up screen. The best bet on a severly carboned/coked engine is to just change the oil more frequently letting the oil detergents do their job, and cross your fingers. The only way to get rid of that amount of sludge build up would be to tear the engine down.

 

[Nick90vetteguy]

Thank you everybody!

 

[boomdriver]

Thank you everybody!

STEAM !~!
Safest way to clean and cut grease and road crime. Melts it all off like melting ice...
use it directly on engine parts and engine to detail and clean. Use NO chemicals, just Steam. Mama's been scared of this for over 20 yrs....She either thinks she'll be out here doing it all day or somebody will fly by drop a quarter for servicing his plane... Steam is the most effective and lowest danger of doing damage.Get a couple others interested and split the cost of a steamer abd use it on everything,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,You;ll like it!!!

 

[WhalePirot]

Based on how you've serviced the engine so far, why do you feel you need to "clean" the inside of the engine?

Agree with this. Synthetic oils alone keep the internals real clean and if you run a quality detergent gasoline, the FI cleaner is probably wasted money (per a Pontiac study, years ago).

I admire your care for your car, tho.

 

[strokin383-c4]

Run 10 gallons of 105 octane with Redline's full engine cleaner, the high temp gasoline will burn off any carbons and the redline will re-lube as the carbons are being flushed out. Ive got a daily driver 85 coupe with 240k with valves u can eat off.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Run 10 gallons of 105 octane with Redline's full engine cleaner, the high temp gasoline will burn off any carbons and the redline will re-lube as the carbons are being flushed out. Ive got a daily driver 85 coupe with 240k with valves u can eat off.

Unfortunately, whenever a thread develops discussing pour-in additives that can "clean" an engine, all kinds of disinformation gets posted.

First...there is no such thing as "high temp gasoline". Further, octane-rating has nothing to do with being able to "burn off any carbons".

Next...Red Line Synthetic Oil Corp does not make nor has it ever made a "full engine cleaner".

What Red Line does market is "SI-1 Complete Fuel System Cleaner", however, SI-1 is for use in the fuel system not for use in the engine's crankcase. SI-1 is a detergent-based injector and fuel system cleaner which is a very good choice as a fuel additive, but should not be used in engine oil. Further SI-1 contains little or no lubricants so, even if you did put it in the oil, it would not "re-lube as the carbons are being flushed out."

I'll add that, with this thread, we are reminded of the good and the bad of the CAC. The "good" is that people can post whatever opinions or statements they want about the issue being discussed. The "bad"ad is that, from time to time, the original posters who are looking for facts :confusedmust put their "B.S. boots" and slog through some posts which are disinformation based sometimes on nothing more than pure imagination.

For more facts on engine oil or gasoline see these two articles here on the CAC

Corvette Action Center | Tech | Engine Oil Deep Dive
Corvette Action Center | Tech | Corvette Action Center Deep Dive Series: Gasoline for your Corvette

 

[Nick90vetteguy]

Hey thanks for the advice, STEAM! Yea dude never thought of that, thanks again everybody!

 

[boomdriver]

Hey thanks for the advice, STEAM! Yea dude never thought of that, thanks again everybody!

Safest degreaser of them all !

The chemicals will damage the plastics and rubber. Steam won;t.

problem is, where to get enough to do any good. Those little steamers that walmart sells are just a little small to be productive, but they do work in small areas.

 

[JimVette]

Harsh engine cleaners (external) have been known to damage the front spring (fiberglass).

 

[aklim]

Not sure how you can steam clean the internals of the engine but I suppose with enough money, anything is possible.

I would say that the best way to clean the injectors is to take them out and have them professionally cleaned every few years or so many miles. I am highly against those cheap and simple "cleaner in a can". You never know what was cleaned, how much and how much remains. No cleaner could tell me that I had a collapsed filter and how much it held back the flow except to R&R the injectors and have them flow tested on a bench. That way you KNOW FOR SURE that it works and how well and what the flow is. Cleaner in a can is good for stimulating the economy, IMO. Keeps me guessing. I don't like guess work. I want as much certainty as I can reasonably get. My car does not run on hopes and prayers.

Is there some reason you are suspecting that you need an engine internal parts clean? Have you had a lot of unexplained detonation or something? As suggested, take off the VC and see what it looks like there. Chances are that with your maintenance you will get it looking clean.

 

[WhalePirot]

That puzzled me, too, though I did have a MB 230 6 cyln that had a one bore steam cleaned by a coolant leak. Wore the hell outta that hole!

I think carbon build-up is from days of yore but it could be streamed with s stream of water injected in the intake while the motor was running, I heard.

Found this:

http://www.ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/repair-topics/rip-offs-scams/engine-flushwallet-flush

 

[aklim]

That puzzled me, too, though I did have a MB 230 6 cyln that had a one bore steam cleaned by a coolant leak. Wore the hell outta that hole!

I think carbon build-up is from days of yore but it could be streamed with s stream of water injected in the intake while the motor was running, I heard.

Found this:

http://www.ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/repair-topics/rip-offs-scams/engine-flushwallet-flush

Coolant isn't the greatest thing for lubrication. Wash away the wall lubrication and you can have issues or in your case, issue. What is Metric Motor's number so you can get a rebuild for the MB.

I've seen it as a light coating on a piston wall but you have to realuize that combustion is going on and there will be carbon. Found out that gasket cleaner does remove it to the metal but there was so little that a simple wipe did the trick for the most part. Spray and wipe.

 

[nelson84]

Unfortunately, whenever a thread develops discussing pour-in additives that can "clean" an engine, all kinds of disinformation gets posted.

First...there is no such thing as "high temp gasoline". Further, octane-rating has nothing to do with being able to "burn off any carbons".

Next...Red Line Synthetic Oil Corp does not make nor has it ever made a "full engine cleaner".

What Red Line does market is "SI-1 Complete Fuel System Cleaner", however, SI-1 is for use in the fuel system not for use in the engine's crankcase. SI-1 is a detergent-based injector and fuel system cleaner which is a very good choice as a fuel additive, but should not be used in engine oil. Further SI-1 contains little or no lubricants so, even if you did put it in the oil, it would not "re-lube as the carbons are being flushed out."

I'll add that, with this thread, we are reminded of the good and the bad of the CAC. The "good" is that people can post whatever opinions or statements they want about the issue being discussed. The "bad"ad is that, from time to time, the original posters who are looking for facts :confusedmust put their "B.S. boots" and slog through some posts which are disinformation based sometimes on nothing more than pure imagination.

For more facts on engine oil or gasoline see these two articles here on the CAC

Corvette Action Center | Tech | Engine Oil Deep Dive
Corvette Action Center | Tech | Corvette Action Center Deep Dive Series: Gasoline for your Corvette

Another problem on CAC is the over abundance of self proclaimed experts and people posting to belittle other members. Isn't that right Hib.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Another problem on CAC is the over abundance of self proclaimed experts and people posting to belittle other members. Isn't that right Hib.

I agree with you, "nelson84". In fact, the problem you discuss above is an issue with lots of other forum sites besides the CAC.

 

[LLC5]

I think carbon build-up is from days of yore

Not by a long shot, especially in premium fueled vehicles, which is the reason "Top Tier" fuel standards were implemented by the leading auto manufacturers.