Hey, I'm getting a slight knocking/pinging during acceleration, and i've got 100K+ on my '93 Accord LX. I'm planning on running some Sea Foam through the TB this weekend, but heard horror stories about older engines having huge deposits of carbon coming off and clogging valves and such. I want to take a gander at my valves/head to see how filthy they are, but am wary of removing the cover as I've never done it before. Is there anything to be careful off when taking it off? I can just imagine all these springs and rockers coming off their tracks and not being able to get the damn thing back on...

Also, other than the gas station fuel additive, is there a good way to clean internal parts like the valves other than the Sea Foam route? From the thread searching I did, all I've heard is 1) cleaning the head/throttle body is not necessary if you do high revs once in a while, and 2) spray fine mists of water into open throttle body with engine running. These posts go on forever praising Sea Foam, but there never seems to be a consensus. Any clarification/elaboration is appreciated.

thanks in advance...

 

You can just pull of the cover--you might need a new valve cover gasket or put some rtv silicone on the old one when you put it back. The rockers are mechanically fastened and they have nothing to do with the valve cover--so don't worry about that. By just removing the valve cover though, you will not see the valve faces--you will have to pull the head for that--which isn't worth it if you just want to see how much carbon is in your motor. To loosen carbon another trick is take a spray bottle full of water and spritz it into your throttle body while the motor is running--the steam usually loosens much of the carbon......Jay.

 

sounds good...thank you kindly.