Cleaning cast aluminum parts...

[carbon]

I don't have access to a blasting machine or a hot tank, what is the best solution for cleaning the inside of an intake manifold? The 3500 I bought is pretty dark inside... stupid EGR and PCV.

Also does anyone have a good example of a catch can system being used with the 60* PCV system? If I can get it clean, I'd like to keep it that way.

[robertisaar]

purple power?

seems to work pretty well for me.

[3400-95-Modified]

Purple power will discolor aluminum if it soaks though, just be aware of that.

[pocket-rocket]

Formula 88 overnight- if you can find it at a local retailer. That stuff made it look like I had hot tanked some stuff with heavy carbon/nastiness after sitting for a few days.

[1988GTU]

Formula 88 overnight- if you can find it at a local retailer. That stuff made it look like I had hot tanked some stuff with heavy carbon/nastiness after sitting for a few days.

Can you direct us a link online for purchasing? I always have a hard time finding that stuff.

[NateD4]

Orange citrus degreaser works for me. Home Depot sells it by the gallon. I scrub/soak with that and then rinse. It brightens and cleans.

[23TrackroadsterV6]

Oven cleaner will work well too

[boomofdoom88]

oven cleaner is a no no on aluminum, unless you dont mind it pitting

[pocket-rocket]

Can you direct us a link online for purchasing? I always have a hard time finding that stuff.

http://formula88.com/inicio/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=96

Although the brick and mortar stores they "claim" to sell at are:



I use the term claim because I have a hard time finding it around here too. Only found it once at Lowe's and haven't seen it since.

[Superdave]

oven cleaner is a no no on aluminum, unless you dont mind it pitting

I use it all the time, works great to remove carbon. Just don't let it sit on there.


you will need a long bottle brush for the inside though.



BTW, a machine shop would charge like $10 to boil a UIM and it would be done in an hour or so.

[carbon]

So the Formula88 won't cause discoloration?

[pocket-rocket]

It left a flakey powdery substance on the heads I left in for 2 weeks. They were a bad set to start with so I didn't really care about them. The 96 DOHC UIM I left in there went from being all carboned up to being perfectly clean inside in a couple days and it didn't discolor. I can get pics if you like. There is still a carbon line in the center because I didn't have enough cleaner to reach that high up in the tub I had it in.

[robertisaar]

the line in the center should be an interesting contrast.

[pocket-rocket]

the line in the center should be an interesting contrast.

It is, lol. It's like a carbon racing stripe that goes from the drivers side to passenger side since I had it laying flat in the tub

On the more serious note, it also shows how well the Formula 88 worked after a day or two of soaking and -0- scrubbing. I didn't touch it once I tossed it in there until I pulled it out to flip it over.

[carbon]

Pics would be cool... carbon racing stripe