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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Mahtomedi, Minnesota
Posts: 335
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cheap engine cleanout
I was wondering, the other day I saw a video of someone pouring water down the carbeurator to clean out carbon deposits, is this safe? I know you can run seafoam through the carb via vacuum line but is water safe to do this with?
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Austin 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 4.8l V8 (Wrecked) 2003 Chevy 1500 standard cab short bed 4x4 w/ 5.3l |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Chesnee SC
Posts: 254
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
I use to work at a dodge dealership and they would do the same thing with automatic trans fluid. They would hold the throttle 3/4 way down and someone would start pouring. Needless to say it would smoke the whole city block up. Whether it did any good idk.
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1980 Malibu Classic 2 dr coupe 1964 Impala SS 4 speed 1968 GMC (major project) grandpa bought new 1969 Chevrolet C-10 Shortbed Fleetside 2008 GMC Canyon (daily driver) |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 2,151
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
This works well on my son's go kart. After a while the valves start sticking. Pour in some ATF while it is running gets them lubed up again.
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#4 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Jersey shore
Posts: 115
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
Just a reminder water DOES NOT COMPRESS!!!! You will hydraulic the rod it you add too much. Found out the hard way racing boats and when it flipped over water got in the carb bye bye rod!
Marty |
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#5 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Forestburg, Texas
Posts: 659
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
The water does work, but is DANGEROUS for your motor.
SeaFoam is a way better alternative. Back in the day engines would carbon up, but now days the gas has so many detergents and ethanol that carbon is not and issue like 20+ years ago.
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Mark Jesus is the Way! 2003 2500HD CCLB Duramax/Ali (Clifford) 2014 2SS/RS black on black Camaro (Betty) 2006 Pontiac SOLSTICE silver/black (Lula-Bell) 1970 C/10 Short Wide (Peggy) 1964 C/10 Short Step (Hambone) RIP Jimmy Hamilton Thank you for the trucks |
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#6 |
Cluster King
![]() Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Junction City, OR
Posts: 5,263
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
Well what ever you use you need to use in moderation or hydraulicing may be an issue and that does tend to be hard on connecting rods. Good old fashion prestone works very well. Have you ever seen the top of a piston that had a coolant leak on it? It does a great job removing carbon deposits.
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 499
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
You can use water but it does not work as well as seafoam. Plus there is not advantage to letting it soak like there is with seafoam.
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Russellville, Arkansas
Posts: 1,699
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
Seafom works great. I used it on my wifes 2001 Mustang when the V6 would start to knock when hill climbing. Run a bottle through the PCV line while raising the RPM. Smoke the neighborhood and highway all the way into town. But no more knocking from carbon buildup.
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#9 |
Where's my beer?
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Posts: 1,772
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
I remember my buddies dad who was a Chrysler mechanic back in the 60's talking about dribbling water down the carbs on a cross ram 413. He said he rigged up something so it just barely dripped so of course it wouldn't hurt the engine, but instead cleaned it. I"ve used Seafoam myself with noticeable results.
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#10 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Gainesville, TEXAS
Posts: 658
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
It does work, I've done both water and ATF, IN MODERATION, don't just dump it down the carb.
Use a spray bottle and just mist it into the intake. It's an old racers trick back in the 50's -60's, some even made a water injector for going down the track.
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1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne LB 1/2 ton finished restoration/rebuild 1995 350 throttle body FI, 4L6E (running on modified GM wiring harness) 3.08 posi rearend, factory A/C on 134A, p/s, p/b, late 70's power windows and locks and cruise, speakers in the dash + 6x9's behind the seat, factory tilt, 40 gallon fuel tank in the bed with integrated tool box, air assist bags on the rearend, sway bar up front and much more. 1972 chevrolet SNB finished 2002, 350 TB FI, TH400, factory A/C, p/b, p/s, (FOR SALE) 1969 Chevrolet 1 ton in work, home made PTO dump bed extended frame, 350 CI , 1972 Chevrolet 3/4 ton suburban future project 1972 Chevrolet 3/4 ton p/u maybe a project one day 1966 Toyota Landcruiser my playtoy |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: The West
Posts: 767
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
If the goal is to remove carbon deposits you want to use something that will both dissolve the deposit and then burn. Water is a poor choice. And as others have said it cannot be compressed, so use too much and it's goodbye rods.
Best to stick with something like seafoam |
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#12 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Gainesville, TEXAS
Posts: 658
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Re: cheap engine cleanout
Another way to do the ATF additive is to pour a quart or two into the fuel tank before fill-up.
I've been doing this on my gas burners for years. It's a cheap fuel additive and cleaner.
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1972 Chevrolet Cheyenne LB 1/2 ton finished restoration/rebuild 1995 350 throttle body FI, 4L6E (running on modified GM wiring harness) 3.08 posi rearend, factory A/C on 134A, p/s, p/b, late 70's power windows and locks and cruise, speakers in the dash + 6x9's behind the seat, factory tilt, 40 gallon fuel tank in the bed with integrated tool box, air assist bags on the rearend, sway bar up front and much more. 1972 chevrolet SNB finished 2002, 350 TB FI, TH400, factory A/C, p/b, p/s, (FOR SALE) 1969 Chevrolet 1 ton in work, home made PTO dump bed extended frame, 350 CI , 1972 Chevrolet 3/4 ton suburban future project 1972 Chevrolet 3/4 ton p/u maybe a project one day 1966 Toyota Landcruiser my playtoy |
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