OK I am doing a cam install this weekend. I will be pulling the plugs and replacing them and new wires since I have to change the springs etc. Afterwards I will be getting the car dyno tuned about 5 days later. My Vette has 106,000 miles on it and I don't hear any pinging or knock so I don't know if this is needed but I would hate to have a problem while getting tuned. Since I am going to have the plugs pulled would that method work the best? What is that method? I did a search and did not find a discription. Should I do the intake method? Should I do it before the install or after. I really can't drive the car around until after the install because of the balancer has slipped. However I don't want to do it afterwards if it will foul my new plugs. Some advice here is appreciated.


[Modified by gonbad, 11:49 PM 4/27/2004]

 

a couple ways to go here:
1. cost effective and works real well- with motor warmed up, have someone hold Idle at 2k rpms while you slowly pour water into a vac port on the intake. A stream of water about half as thick as a pencil, about a pint worth of water. The water will convert to super-hot steam in the combustion chamber, knocking off deposits. Works well. Just dont get too rambunxious with the rate at which you pour the water in.

2. GM dealership sells a top end recon kit. its a caustic mixture that you pour into the spark plug holes, let sit for a while, then run it out of the motor. you will want to do an oil change afterwards. Save your old plugs to use for this process. I am not crazy about using this method if you have cats in still. This can shorten the lifespan of the cat.

robert
www/gen3motorsports.com

 

The water method works OK, but is not as effective as using a solvent-based cleaner. THe most popular and widely available is Sea Foam, which you can get at most NAPA parts stores. To get it into the engine, I disconnected my PCV fitting on the front of the intake, then attached a short piece of vacuum hose. I put the Sea Foam in a large glass measuring cup, and then used the hose to slowly suck in the Sea Foam while the engine was idling. There is no need to keep the RPMs up if you feed the liquid in slowly --- take about two minutes for the entire can.

Immediately after all the Sea Foam is in the engine, shut the engine off, and let it sit for an hour. When you start it back up, the engine will smoke badly for a few minutes, then settle down. The Sea Foam will produce more smoke than water will. This is a sign that more carbon is being removed. I had no problem with the spark plugs fouling, but I think it's inevitable that some of the carbon goes into the cats.

The second method is to use GM Top Engine Cleaner, in the aerosol version. You spray it into the spark plug holes, let it sit overnight, then replace the plugs and start the engine. Again, copious amounts of exhaust smoke will be the result.

With either method, change the oil and filter immediately after the treatment. Your oil will be black and nasty looking.

 

Since I am going to have the all the plugs pulled and the car is going to be sitting for the whole weekend I bought the spray GM Engine Top Cleaner and will use that in conjunction with a full strength application of Redline Fuel System Cleaner. One thing do I need to turn over the engine a few times give a good spray then turn it over agian and spray then let it sit. Then turn it over a few times intall the plugs and start'em up?

 

Sounds right to me. If your engine has many miles on it, you are going to be amazed how much smoke comes pouring out of your exhaust. Don't forget to change the oil & filter afterwards.

 

Just run a bottle of NX through it, that will clean everything spotless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!