Cleaning the intake ports in the head

Steve777 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:31 pm **Posts:** 282

So I am preparing to put the cams/intake back on once the parts arrive getting things cleaned up, and am wondering how/if to clean the gunk in the intake ports of the head. Not an issue if the head is coming off and being R&R'd, but with the head still attached to the block is there a good way to clean the oily soot from those ports?

Seems that one could carefully scrape the gunk out, at least as far as one can reach and see. But I am concerned that I might knock loose some pieces of gunk that I can't get out. Valves are all closed now, but as soon as it revs to life any "stuff" left loose in there is headed into the cyls. Even scraping with a vacuum might not catch everything.

I am curious how others dealt with this.

TIA

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:19 pm

Steve777 wrote:

So I am preparing to put the cams/intake back on once the parts arrive getting things cleaned up, and am wondering how/if to clean the gunk in the intake ports of the head. Not an issue if the head is coming off and being R&R'd, but with the head still attached to the block is there a good way to clean the oily soot from those ports?
Seems that one could carefully scrape the gunk out, at least as far as one can reach and see. But I am concerned that I might knock loose some pieces of gunk that I can't get out. Valves are all closed now, but as soon as it revs to life any "stuff" left loose in there is headed into the cyls. Even scraping with a vacuum might not catch everything.
I am curious how others dealt with this.
TIA

Brake cleaner is your friend, buy a case of it! Scrap and spray, scrap and spray. It's messy, but it will get the job done with a little bit of work.

Steve777 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:31 pm **Posts:** 282

I've got a bunch of brake and carb cleaner and been using them on the intake itself while it's off the engine. I was just concerned (perhaps too much so) that if I put cleaner into the intake ports on the head, who knows if I can get it all out, or if some chunks of gunk might hang out there and go into the cyls later. Are you saying don't be concerned?

mrhemi · **Joined:** Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:46 am **Posts:** 182

I pour Mopar Combustion Chamber Cleaner (DO NOT FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS AND POUR THIS INTO THE INTAKE OF A RUNNING DIESEL ENGINE) in each port until flush with the milled top of the head. Let it soak overnight to soften the build up. This also gives you an indication if the valves are leaking (if the cleaner drains down). Then I use a selection of brass bristle bottle brushes to dislodge the build up from the ports and mop up with paper shop towels (the blue ones). Then finish with the shop vac. Very messy but effective. I have done three CRDs using this method with great results.

TheKansasGman · **Joined:** Fri Jun 07, 2019 10:02 pm **Posts:** 39

I used diesel to clean the intake. Just laid it on its back and filled it up. Let her soak for a day or so and then flushed it all out.
As far as stuffin being missed and going to the C chamber, its gonna happen.

TKB4 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:26 am

I found out by chance that steam will do an excellent job in cleaning the intake if you have a source .

layback40 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:41 pm

A soak with bio diesel normally does the trick.

Diesler · **Joined:** Sat Oct 26, 2013 11:51 pm **Posts:** 8

I used Acetone with various size nylon bristle bottle brushes. Added acetone to top of ports , and let soak, removed it with strips of cotton t-shirt wrapped around small piece of dowel. Rinse and repeat until clean

Steve777 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:31 pm **Posts:** 282

Thanks everyone. I did soak the intake ports on the the cam cover/intake. Filled with biodiesel (as that's the most available and cheapest solvent I had on hand) and that and some bottle brushes did a nice job. I've used biodiesels on choked up diesel intakes for quite a few years. Hard to beat as a solvent/cleaning agent as long as you have some soaking time.

On the ports in the head, I chickened out a bit. I made a scrapper out of some stiff sheet metal with a curved blade, and used that to scrape the walls clean. It did a nice job but did not get all the way down nor around to the back side of the valves. Then I cleaned with towels and solvent (acetone this time) and I think it is pretty good. Just did not feel comfortable filling those pockets around the valves with solvent, was pretty sure I would never be able to get it all out or even see it all down there. Probably being overly cautious but... Geordi said (I think) that if you eliminate the ERG, then the oil mist flowing thru there will tend to clean up the gunk, so hopefully that will happen here for me.

TKB4 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:07 am

I only cleaned the intake not the head on the jeep my oldest son drives about 70,000 miles ago and disabled EGR mechanically and when we removed valve cover to put on low mileage head with new valves and ARP s there was still some "crud" but it was very soft and easily almost all wiped away . My conclusion is also that the crud will gradually soften and dissolve and it will take a very long time. I don't know exactly how this affects the oiling etc with the gradually dissolving particles but I suspect this will happen to some degree anyway unless disassembled and cleaned in parts washer etc.

Steve777 · **Joined:** Fri Oct 16, 2015 11:31 pm **Posts:** 282

Thanks TKB4, good to know.

Cleaning the intake ports in the head

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