okay, before i ask about this idea, i'm going to forewarn all critics that i do know this won't be as good as a hot tank or such, but i'm sure it'd be much cheaper than having the shop do it.

considering i have 110k miles on my 98, i know i have some carbon build-up in my intake manifold. after cleaning out my tb i noticed all the nasty black (most likely carbon and such of course) buildup as far as i could see in the manifold. so i'm debating taking it off myself and cleaning it out. my method i've dreamt up is using duster to the inside of it and also soaking it in really hot water, maybe with baby soap (since it'd obviously be a lot less harsh than dish soap) and maybe using a lint free towel of some sort to clean it out. again, please spare me the insults. i myself know this isn't exactly top notch mechanic work, but it'd save the $700 every shop is wanting to charge to take off the manifold and such. what're your ideas??

 

I would think that if you're going to the trouble of pulling the manifold yourself it would be much better to have a shop hot tank it than risk getting lint/dirt/bugs/bubblegum/etc.. into the manifold. I would bet that most of that $700 the shops want is in the labor involved in removing and reinstalling the manifold... dunking couldnt cost too much, could it??


cv

 

well, as far as the hot tank goes, i know my college's auto department has a hot tank that we can use for like $25 i think. i'd probably consider using that, but i can assure you i wouldn't be losing bubble gum in the manifold. i know to keep the engine covered, i.e. lower intake plenum. not to mention, i know that all the objects forementioned would suck. i also realize that you want preserve the actual surface of the manifold as it should be from the factory and not possibly screw it up with dish soap or such materials. BESIDES, $700 would buy me the extrude hone intake. point in case, i don't feel like spending all that money to clean my stock manifold unless it's gonna be for something like an entire new manifold, which i don't want to do.

 

Best way is to take it off the car. Anything short of that, just use like two full cans of carb cleaner.