93 4runner with 3.0L head gaskets
11-16-2017, 06:30 AM
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93 4runner with 3.0L head gaskets
So my 4runner finally blew the head gaskets yesterday morning. I'm replacing them myself and am wondering if any chemicals can be used to clean out my intake manifold. There is a lot of build up inside and while I have the engine apart I would like to clean anything I can.
What chemical cleaners are safe or have worked for You?
What chemical cleaners are safe or have worked for You?
11-16-2017, 07:56 AM
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The upper intake manifold is usually called the plenum. But you might also be referring to the lower intake manifold; the cleaning process is the same.
They are both aluminum with machined gasket surfaces, so you don't want them corroded. For that reason, I would be very careful with high pH cleaners. In the bad-old-days "hot tanking" involved high-concentration Sodium Hydroxide. Grease could not resist it, but neither could aluminum. (Modern "hot tank" devices have better cleaners, so a professional cleaning won't hurt you.) I used dish-washer detergent (which is reasonably high pH), and I didn't let it soak overnight. In general, get it on, wait a few minutes, scrub, and you should be good.
Since then, I've had good results with Purple Power http://www.clean-rite.com/purplepowe...degreaser.html . That has a pH of 12.98 (high!), so never leave that on aluminum overnight. And wear gloves!
I suggest you get a bottle brush and a mortar tub https://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-...101C/205451550 . It's a really messy job, and you want something to contain the cleaning solution. The bottle brush will reach down the runners in both the plenum and lower intake manifold.
The plenum has freeze-plugs on each end. I didn't remove mine, but I wish I had. They are standard Toyota parts 96411-44000 and you can get them online for only $6 https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/pro...rm=96411-44000 (I'm sure they are standard freeze plugs, so you might be able to get them at a parts store if you know the size. I don't.)
You are absolutely wise to take care of this. Mine was dirty enough that it had covered the ports used by the idle-ups.
They are both aluminum with machined gasket surfaces, so you don't want them corroded. For that reason, I would be very careful with high pH cleaners. In the bad-old-days "hot tanking" involved high-concentration Sodium Hydroxide. Grease could not resist it, but neither could aluminum. (Modern "hot tank" devices have better cleaners, so a professional cleaning won't hurt you.) I used dish-washer detergent (which is reasonably high pH), and I didn't let it soak overnight. In general, get it on, wait a few minutes, scrub, and you should be good.
Since then, I've had good results with Purple Power http://www.clean-rite.com/purplepowe...degreaser.html . That has a pH of 12.98 (high!), so never leave that on aluminum overnight. And wear gloves!
I suggest you get a bottle brush and a mortar tub https://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-...101C/205451550 . It's a really messy job, and you want something to contain the cleaning solution. The bottle brush will reach down the runners in both the plenum and lower intake manifold.
The plenum has freeze-plugs on each end. I didn't remove mine, but I wish I had. They are standard Toyota parts 96411-44000 and you can get them online for only $6 https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/pro...rm=96411-44000 (I'm sure they are standard freeze plugs, so you might be able to get them at a parts store if you know the size. I don't.)
You are absolutely wise to take care of this. Mine was dirty enough that it had covered the ports used by the idle-ups.
