Engine Carbon Cleaning

[Mango]

What do you use to clean the top end of a engine "carbon Build up"

I used Sea Foam when i first accuired the Burban Lot of white smoke not sure if it did anything?

20,000 miles ago

 

[Ricko1966]

I always used water,unless I was at work,at work we used jb top engine cleaner,I think the steam from the water does just fine. I also believe a lot products are only made because people will buy them. Surely something I buy is better than something I already have.

 

[fast 99]

Yes water seems to work great. Ever take a head off an engine that has been consuming water? Offending chamber will be very clean.

Doing that operation is only very occasionally needed or desired. If the engine has excessive carbon build up usually something else needs to be fixed.

I have only seen carbon build up cause an issue on a couple new [still under warranty] late 80's 454. Guides were passing so much oil carbon pieces dropped on the piston and broke em. Top end cleaner would have done nothing except drain your wallet.

 

[sidschev]

run it leaner

 

[matt4426]

Do an Italian tuneup.

 

[Ricko1966]

Yes water seems to work great. Ever take a head off an engine that has been consuming water? Offending chamber will be very clean.

Doing that operation is only very occasionally needed or desired. If the engine has excessive carbon build up usually something else needs to be fixed.

I have only seen carbon build up cause an issue on a couple new [still under warranty] late 80's 454. Guides were passing so much oil carbon pieces dropped on the piston and broke em. Top end cleaner would have done nothing except drain your wallet.

This funny,not ha ha ,just weird, in that I never sold a decarb,I never suggested a decarb. These were sold by service writers,I just did as I was told. Can't say with any conviction that they ever did anything besides throw a check engine light.

 

[Matt69olds]

Get the engine hot. Remove the air cleaner. Race the engine while SLOWLY dripping ice cold water down the carb. The idea isn’t to stall or drown the engine, but it will run lousy with the water.

When the cold water hits the hot carbon deposits, they will flake off and be blown out the tailpipe. You might even see a pile of carbon under the tailpipe when you are done.

Once it’s back together, take it out for a “Italian tune up”.

 

[SquareRoot]

LS swap

 

[SirRobyn0]

ACDelco X66-A follow the instructions on the can. Then run it until it quits smoking and do the water treatment like @Matt69olds describes. That's my method and it's pretty darn good.

 

[1lejohn]

Better run a catch can with that LS or it will build up crud. They send a bunch of oil to the top end when run hard that the engine will pull back in the intake.

 

[Joe Voter]

Water.