Intake clean. WOW!

nadrojcote · March 26, 2015

My check engine light came back this morning. Dropped it off at the dealership, hoping they can fix it before tonight so I can drive to winnipeg to catch a flight.

Edited March 26, 2015 by projectsummit

gone_fishing · March 26, 2015

Did u take pics after the cleaning ??

No I did not. Did really feel like taking the intake manifold off again if you know what I mean.

Hard to say for sure from just those pix. Did you see oil from the PCV tap, downstream, inside the manifold? I'm wondering if this could be a valve guide oiling issue with a little reversion spreading it upstream?

Yes there was oil covering the inside of the intake.

Hard to say for sure from just those pix. Did you see oil from the PCV tap, downstream, inside the manifold? I'm wondering if this could be a valve guide oiling issue with a little reversion spreading it upstream?

I thought about doing something like this too but I think it might be pretty difficult. On the inside of the intake manifold, the runners aren't easily accessible because of a cylinder that starts at the throttle body and goes about half way back. Here is a picture from PickUPS in the "Oil Catch can?" thread showing the inside of his intake manifold. This is on a 4.3 but the 5.3 is similar. I don't want to discourage you from trying to get a camera down to the intake valves but just wanted to let you know that it might be tricky. If you get it to work let me know as I would be interested in getting one of those cameras then.

nadrojcote · March 26, 2015

Just got a call from the dealership, they're ordering me a new a catalytic converter.

Silverado-Hareek · March 26, 2015

Just got a call from the dealership, they're ordering me a new a catalytic converter.

Um is that from the intake cleaner? Those products push all that crud through your exhaust system and can foul up the catalytic converter.

nadrojcote · March 26, 2015

I am assuming so, Which means in the future I will be either using intake cleaner every oil change, or having the valves cleaned by hand.

Silverado-Hareek · March 26, 2015

I am assuming so, Which means in the future I will be either using intake cleaner every oil change, or having the valves cleaned by hand.

Gotcha sorry for your troubles. Have you looked into the BG Induction service? I'm wondering if doing this every 15,000 miles per their maintenance plan is the way to go. It's a little more pricey to do that service once a year but they'll warranty your engine up to like $4,000 if you use their products according to their maintenance schedule. The only thing I worry about with any of these intake valve cleaners is the scoring of the cylinder walls from carbon particles getting trapped between the ring seals and the cylinder walls......

nadrojcote · March 26, 2015

I was under the impression that the bg service was similar in cleaning valves by using a cleaning chemical? I was thinking more along the lines of actually physically scraping or blasting off the carbon.

bdbake01 · March 26, 2015

Still watching things. Here's evidence from this morning. Same commute, as always. Same EXACT procedure now and before the CRC, ie reset on interstate ramp, cruise set @ 70 and keep it there as traffic allows. This morning 5.3 miles was at 70, the rest was stop and go to never exceed 25mph again. Here are the #'s:

Also, installed my ADD W1 catch can last night. Was rather horrified at what I found. EVERYTHING covered in oil. I was in it up to my elbows by the time I got the TB off. Even the intake silencer had a fine film in it. TB was crudded up very nicely. Pools of oil/sludge in intake. Nastiness everywhere. Unbelievable. Someone had mentioned taking about LSx's before and no evidence of oil, I beg to differ. I've had MANY an LSx apart, and they ALLLL had intake oil to some degree w/ the LS1 style probably being the worst. I have a homemade catch can on my TA which I have to dump regularly. I thought it was bad, it's got nothing on the truck. Check out the pics. Install isn't done yet, still need to tidy up hoses, etc. My OCD didn't allow me to use white ty wraps. I'll report on the oil collection tonight. Didn't figure ~18 miles was enough to show a lot.

To those that disagree w/ the procedure and what it may OR MAY NOT do, well to each his own. All I wanted to do was share my experience and info. You go make your own decision and I certainly hope whatever you choose brings you the utmost happiness. For me, I'll have a can handy every 5/10k or so. Hopefully with the catch can I'll need it less often.

Edited March 27, 2015 by bdbake01

darkfox1 · March 26, 2015

How the hell does a 6.2 get like 6mpg more than a 5.3??

If I top 19 in mixed driving I'm lucky.

Since the treatment its been holding onto the 19s well though. It was in the high 17s before.

Ya know there is one option for the cats.. you could use cutouts or.. hollowed out cats.. but you'd need a tune and certain emissions states may give you trouble with no cats.

The shops around here all swear to me they could get a tuned motor to pass emissions with no cats. I'm not sure how.

Ask the dealership to show you the old cats before they toss em if ya dont mind.

nadrojcote · March 26, 2015

if you are referring to my mpg, I live in a really small town where we drive two block and get stopped by a stop sign or red light. Also its cold up here in winter so we use remote start a lot.

bdbake01 · March 26, 2015

So this afternoon I had several errands to run. Combined with relentless afternoon traffic/construction issues, it was a fun backroad trip. Just to answer those who may believe I always get 24mpg...not the case. But I wanted to see how bad it could get!

I flogged the holy livin piss out of it. Like, bad. I treated the throttle like a two position switch. I saw WOT at every single (safe) opportunity, and >100 mph no less than 4 times (pic evidence below). I did see a moment where the mpg fell below 15, but the 53.7 mile average came in at a reasonably respectable 15.9. And I'm serious when I say I beat on it like a 14yr old boy who found his first JCPenny Spring Catalog.

Had a f'in blast! Dam I love this truck.

Anyway, evidence below plus the results of the first ~54 miles on the catch can. Maybe 1/4 oz, but still very disappointing. Not in the performance of the can - which I'm VERY happy with - but the fact that this is needed on such a vehicle.

darkfox1 · March 27, 2015

OK.. I'm getting a catch can. There a thread for this? (I'm sure there is.. but.. I need to know how to install it.)

When I saw the oil pic without reading the whole thread I kinda freaked out cos I thought that was in your intake.

If there's that much oil in such a short period of time.. (oil? you sure that's not coffee or something? You didn't run over a starbucks did you? ) ima have to do this.

I suppose to be fair on my mileage.. I live out in a weird place I guess. A couple of stop sign back country roads that lead about 6 miles to a major road with a speed limit of 65. So I get to accelerate slowly until I get to that, then it's pedal to the metal up to almost 70 so I don't get ran over by the big rigs hauling loads from Alabama. Most of the time they get over.. sometimes they don't.

This engine does a weird thing when you floor it like that. It starts to roll real slow, then the engine revs up and its like it presses the "go" button. Throws you back in the seat.. takes 3 gears to reach 68 though.

Despite having to do this almost daily I still get high 17s most of the time..

I drive almost everything like I stole it. I have a lead foot, and my mileage often reflects it. Still tho.. setting my cruise control at 64.. I should see that 24! Or at least 21.. c'mon!

bdbake01 · March 27, 2015

When I saw the oil pic without reading the whole thread I kinda freaked out cos I thought that was in your intake.

I did post one pic of the intake, which did (kinda, bad pic) show oil literally pooled in the intake. Obviously I couldn't reach all with the rag, but there was a depressing amount of oil in the valley.

If there's that much oil in such a short period of time.. (oil? you sure that's not coffee or something? You didn't run over a starbucks did you? ) ima have to do this.

LOL! No. Though...coffee would be good right about now. With pie. Hmmm...pie....

This engine does a weird thing when you floor it like that. It starts to roll real slow, then the engine revs up and its like it presses the "go" button. Throws you back in the seat.. takes 3 gears to reach 68 though.

Torque management.

I drive almost everything like I stole it. I have a lead foot, and my mileage often reflects it. Still tho.. setting my cruise control at 64.. I should see that 24! Or at least 21.. c'mon!

Rock on dude!

nadrojcote · March 27, 2015

Do you have a lift/level bigger heavier LT tires? Also what's your axle ratio?

darkfox1 · March 27, 2015

Me? Him?

I'm stock 17s with crappy bridgestone HTs that I hate and want to get rid of ASAP and 3:08s.

Hrmm.. ya know when I did the intake cleaner I said I was gonna do the TB but I just didn't want to fool with it. I wasn't even in my wrenchin' clothes. Might need to pop that TB off and have a look in there still.