Top Engine Cleaner procedure

[tcas1355]

Ok. I have heard a lot about carbon buildup, and engine knocks and pings. I suspect that carbon buildup is my problem (pinging at start-up, and also pinging under mild acceleration). I have also read about Seafoam and TEC. What I need to know is, how the procedure works. Where do I insert the cleaner, how long, and any other instructions. I have never done this before and really don't want to mess it up.

[GM-Tech]

This applies to TEC. I don't know anything about seafoam.

 

Warm the engine to operating temperature. Pour half the can into... probably the PCV hose would be easiest on your truck, slowly at first then enough to stall the motor. Let it set OVERNIGHT. Start it up and run the remainder of the can through the hose without stalling the motor. That's it. Repeating this procedure a second time may help.

[tcas1355]

Thanks. Will try it this weekend.

[03Cobra]

Ok. I have heard a lot about carbon buildup, and engine knocks and pings. I suspect that carbon buildup is my problem (pinging at start-up, and also pinging under mild acceleration). I have also read about Seafoam and TEC. What I need to know is, how the procedure works. Where do I insert the cleaner, how long, and any other instructions. I have never done this before and really don't want to mess it up.

 

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If you use sea foam, do it at night with a lot of ventillation. It will smoke like hell for about 25 minutes (thick white smokescreen). I used it on my 98 cobra a few month ago. Revs a bit smoother after sea foam treatment.

[C & A s Dad]

Ross, I do not want to disagree with GM Tech but please be careful pouring or allowing any liquid to be pulled in through your PCV line. It can "Hydro Lock" your engine, meaning that you allow more liquid to enter a cyl than it can handle. Liquid will not compress and something will give if too much is in a cylinder on the compression stroke. This is very unlikely but it can and does happen.

 

If your carbon build up is not severe you can simply add Chevron Techron to your fuel at 1 oz per gallon for a couple of tanks. I have seen some people inject Deep Creep by Seafoam through a hole that they have drilled into the intake tube just in front of your Throttle Body. Deep Creep is Seafoam an Aerosol can. This is safer but you still have to be careful. They plug the hole with a sheet metal screw when finished.

 

My suggestion would be to try the Techron and if this does not do it, let a Prof Tech like GM Tech perform a professional decarbon job either with an "S" Can or a Motor Vac or similar machine.

[GM-Tech]

Ross, I do not want to disagree with GM Tech but please be careful pouring or allowing any liquid to be pulled in through your PCV line. It can "Hydro Lock" your engine, meaning that you allow more liquid to enter a cyl than it can handle. Liquid will not compress and something will give if too much is in a cylinder on the compression stroke. This is very unlikely but it can and does happen.

 

By all means, disagree if you see something like this! I probably should have mentioned this, but the possibility of this happening through the pcv hose is miniscule at best. It's nearly impossible to get large quantities gulped through there. Pouring half a can all at once through a throttle body or down a carb would be a different story.

[C & A s Dad]

GM Tech, have you ever used the "S" Can system from Motor Vac? They are our supplier for PM products and machines and we sell a lot of "S" Cans and to date, they have recieved good remarks from the Techs that use them. They also offer a intake cleaner that uses a 30" straw to inject a very mild cleaner into the intake while the engine is off. It is my understanding that GM coats the inside of the composite intake with a very slick surface and some of the more aggressive intake cleaners can work so well, they remove some or all of this coating.

[GM-Tech]

GM Tech, have you ever used the "S" Can system from Motor Vac?

 

No, I am not familiar with that product at all. We use Wynn's products, but their induction cleaner is a joke.

 

I'm also not familiar with any sort of coating on the inside surfaces of the intake. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why GM recommends only using TEC for combustion chamber cleaning done in this manner.

[C & A s Dad]

The "S" can is a can that is filled with an upper cyl cleaner and pressrized with shop air. The cleaning agent is injected through an "S" shaped straw that is inserted into the TB and the air intake tube is slipped back in place over the straw. The pressure is regualted and the engine is run until the can is empty. It has become very poplular and is very safe and effective. To date, we have had no issues with the system plus it is much less expensive than a full blown decarbon machine.

 

I have never used the TEC but have heard good things about it.