Looking for some advice. Currently replacing the head gasket on my car and it involved removing the intake manifold. I noticed the inside of the manifold was extremely dirty with gunk and carbon build up. Considering the IM is out of the car, what method should I use to clean it? I heard something about using oven cleaner but not sure if it is an effective method.

 

I would try some brake cleaner on it first. Or take it somewhere and have someone use a parts cleaner on it.

 

You probably shouldn't use break cleaner, you'll end up quite a few cans. I used one of these after I took it literally everything off of it and brought it down to the bare casting. Sprayed thru each port and the plenum for about a minute each, then rinsed it with plain water.

 

Use a heavy duty degreaser, any normal car washing soap won't do anything. Go to your dollar store and find "LA's Totally Awesome" Degreaser, that's what it's called. It's yellowish in colour.

Grab a bucket and fill it to ensure the IM is submerged. Don't water it down. Leave it for a day or two and it'll rinse right off. Filter out the degreaser with a coffee filter if you want to keep and reuse it.

 

Is there any real improvement on the car performance/mpg by cleaning the IM like that ??

 

Why not just get a can of carb/throttle body cleaner and go to town?

 

Submerge it in a bucket of this **** for an hour, or longer if needed. The manufacturer's rep suggested diluting it 3:1 with water, said it worked well on his aluminum mustang heads.

 

1. strip manifold
2. submerge in a bucket of diesel fuel
3. success!

 

If you want a non toxic environmentally friendly way to clean it, use Piston Kleen from Orison Marketing.

It's cheap and will eat burnt on carbon off piston tops and valves without damage or issue. As well as it has zero Dangerous Goods status so transporting is a non issue.

Piston Kleen Carbon Remover