So as most of us know, the 4th gen h22 intake manifolds have the ports welded over as to where the 5th gen intake manifolds have removable plugs to be able to service the runners from clogs and egr/emission problems. I have read about people drilling through the welds and some say there are plugs underneath the welds and other say there aren't. Can anyone on here confirm this or has anyone cleaned out the runners without removing the intake manifold from the head. What was your method or do you have any tips? I already have the fuel rail w/ injectors out of the way and I can see the ports clear as day. Any info will help, thanks.

p.s. Picture will help too.

 

i would but for CA emission reasons, i can't at the moment.

 

I'd buy the plugs and drill and tap the holes for them. Then pipe cleaners and carb cleaner. Maybe shove rags in the fuel injector holes to keep shavings outta the head.

 

Well, I just finished drilling all 6 ports and I am half way done cleaning them. They were pretty gunked up. I drilled it with a 11/64 drill bit at the top of each port until I got through. Then I used a coat hanger and poked and twisted at each hole and got as much build up out as possible. I had to give alittle force in a couple of the holes for the hanger to poke through. I'm gonna rig a small straw of some sort to a shop vac tomorrow and try and vacuum the ports out. Then I'll tap the holes and seal them off with a short bolt or screw of some sort.

 

So I ended up taking the manifold out completely to avoid the risk of getting the shavings into the cylinders. I ended up tapping the runners and cleaned the ports out. I'm gonna use some threaded inserts to sealing them up with some jb weld on top. Should be going back in tomorrow, hopefully. alittle hard now that I have a new born.

 

Did you use any carb cleaner? When I cleaned mine I reused the plugs by filling the holes in the plugs with solder. It has been fine for over a year now. But i guess since you don't have the plugs it is a different story.

 

Only way you should ever drill out egr ports

 

A lot of people have been doing this, but I just took the extra time to remove the intake manifold and spray carb cleaner in the EGR ports until full. let it sit up for about 5 minutes and dump it out. You be amazed how much gunk, carbon buildup is in there. 2 and half cans later it was pretty clean. Not sure if you re tested for smog, but i did yesterday and failed again, bit the bullet and put in a new O2 sensor and cat and now it fails the 15mph test. CA Emissions sucks! Wish we were like European, they focus on C0 output than anything in emissions.

 

I would like to add that, using seafoam, I completely cleaned my EGR ports.

I was unsure, so I pulled the manifold, drilled holes, and it was clean in there!

But to seal it up, all I did was take 10mm bolts, (not even threaded holes) and put JB weld on top. works fine. I wouldn't take the time to thread the holes if I were you.. But to each his own. Good Luck!! : }