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Cleaning a very dirty inlet manifold help

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 7:54 pm
by hoppi05
Guys I know it's not all our Fortays and it's not one of mine but in honesty I have never had a problem cleaning a part back up with the exception of this one!

I have a euro inlet manifold that must have been in a turbo'd car or one with a serious over fueling issue as it's literally capped in soot.

Do you have any tips for cleaning this out? So far I have gone through cans and cans of clutch and break cleaner, wire brushes you name it but it's not moving. I even got the karcher on it this evening and nothing....

Do you have any tips or options I can use to clean it? Cheaper the better...

Can I cover it in cilit bang or is that dangerous????

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 7:56 pm
by jjmartin349571
Soak it overnight in a big tub of coca-cola :)

Apparently Mr Muscle foaming oven cleaner is good too.

Re: Cleaning a very dirty inlet manifold help

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:03 pm
by hoppi05
Cola really heard that b4 for rust lol OK I shall go buy some tmoz is rola cola OK or is a premium option like pesi needed lol kidding tar buddy

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:15 pm
by jjmartin349571
AFAIK it's the phosphoric acid in the Cola that breaks down the sooty deposits, I've seen it used on a few diesel Accord inlet manifolds to fairly good effect. I'd hazard that any cola will do.

For any oily deposits you'll probably need some kind of degreaser. Or a dish washer :twisted:

If cola doesn't work then I'm sure @Donald can probably suggest something far more potent/dangerous for doing a bit of cleaning ;)

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:23 pm
by RattyMcClelland
For an aluminium intake manifold. Try Methanol. It will clean it and then start eating the metal giving you a free port job.


on a serious note.

coke or Lemon juice, water and bicarb soda solution overnight.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:46 pm
by Vtecmec
I used oven cleaner on the IM and cylinder head/valves, it is designed to remove carbon deposits, worked a treat.

Equally phosphoric acid will do the trick, but only because it will remove a layer of ally that the soot is clinging to, not much of a problem if you are careful.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:50 pm
by Donald
jjmartin349571 wrote:If cola doesn't work then I'm sure @Donald can probably suggest something far more potent/dangerous for doing a bit of cleaning
@jjmartin349571 Bleach and IPA, breathe in the fumes. Then go back to using cola/phosphoric acid to clean :lol: Definitely makes it more dangerous, working with acids after breathing in chloroform is living on the edge.

Re: Cleaning a very dirty inlet manifold help

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:14 pm
by hoppi05
Now I keep getting told the dish washer from a friend and thought it was a joke but I don't own one and if I mess the mothers up who does own one she will own me lol

Re: Cleaning a very dirty inlet manifold help

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:15 pm
by hoppi05
Can you just buy methanol or was that bit a joke???

Re: Cleaning a very dirty inlet manifold help

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:15 pm
by hoppi05
I am an IT guy not chemist lol