I have a tap in the motor that doesn't develop until about 15-20 of highway driving, and it doesn't happen all the time. Every once in a while I'll get a tap, but it's not an ordinary tap either...it's really loud o No: I was told by someone that it could be a carbon build-up causing a valve to stick. Does anyone know about ways to clear out a carbon build-up. I have heard some things about squirting water down the carb while running at about 1500-2000 rpm, but I don't know anyone that has ever tried it. I'd appreciate any suggestions, thanks.
You can go to a shop that has a motor-vac. The process is used to clear all the carbon build-up an engine has accumulated over the years. That should solve your problem. A friend of mine has one in his shop and had great success with it, curing alot of carbon problems. It hooks up to your fuel line and injects a stream of chemicals to rid the carbon out. Don't worry, it's completely safe. Rob
I have a guy called Phil who used to work as a Service Parts Director for 30 years with Buick. Now I don't recommend that you try this but this is how they used to deal with this problem back in the good old days...
The motor-vac I was referring to is a chemical that dissolves the carbon. It was introduced not too long ago. It's a machine that is hooked-up to the fuel lines in order to run the process of ridding the carbon build-up, not just a liquid can of dissolvent. I think putting walnut shells would be the last thing I would do. With how my luck is, the whole engine would probably quit on me. LOL. Rob
Sounds like a lifter to me.... I have always slowly poured a small amount of water down the carb of a running warmed up engine at approx 2500 rpm. to clear up carbon in the cylinders. I never had a problem doing this. However you must be carfull and I don't advise you do this yourself. Maybe you have a lifter colapsing intermittently try running a quart of Marvel Mystery oil in place of one quart of oil the next time you change your oil. See if that helps. You can also use the same stuff in your fuel for carbon build up. See the can for details. Good luck. Jake BTW I am in Forked River. What flavor Buick do you drive?
I have a motor-vac in my shop.....it works very well. Works better on the fuel injection model a bit more though. The cleaning agent will actually soak into the carbon deposit and burn it away over a period of time. I have done quite a few cars and then used a bore scope to check out the effects......I was quite amazed how well it worked. You can use water.....be very carefull!. It does work well, unless you put just a little too much water down it. It's also hell on the cylinder walls :blast: We used to use dextron in the "old days" ....it soaked into the carbon and burned it away too.........if you could stand the huge cloud of smoke it produced.:af: Have you tried GM top engine cleaner? That does a decent job, and also smokes like heck....but it does work!:TU:
The 'Water' trick works!!:TU: Ever seen a combustion chamber that had a crack in it - VERY CLEAN!!:Brow: Just make sure you don't pour 'too' much water in there. You don't want to 'hydraulic' the motor. You might try a spray bottle to better atomize the water and also to limit the amount you are putting in at once. Just a though.
My $0.02 I'll give a big thumbs up to the GM Top End cleaner. My father and I fixed a car with a sugared gas tank one time with the stuff, and I was amazed at how well it worked. The car wouldn't even idle before we started, and it ran like a top when we finished. Night and day difference. :TU: - Freed PS- If water's a good cleaner, the leaky gas tank in my S-10 must be keeping it really clean. I get water in the lines every time I drive it in the rain! p
Try some Marvel Mystery Oil. I bought a 455 that knocked a rattled from the carbon buildup. Some Marvel Mystery Oil down the carb and in the gas tank and it purred like a kitten. Mike
There's also a product called Seafoam, available at many auto supply stores. I have used it on several cars and have read many postings on car and boat boards from other satisfied users. Cheap, easy to use, and works great. But, be warned - it will smoke up your entire neighborhood!
Jeepnstein, most autoparts stores like Pep Boys, Advance, Checkers, Schuck's, Kragen. If none of those are in your area I think even Walmart sells it in their auto section. It is billed as an engine top end lube and cleaner. It can be added to the oil, gas or poured down the carb. Mike
I went and bought some of that Marvel Mystery Oil. I want to know which method works best: in the gas tank, in the oil, or pouring it in the carb. Also, if pouring in the carb....how much. I obviously know that you don't pour it in the carb but how much do you put in? With a spray bottle, or some other methods? Thanks again. -Ed-
The amount you use depends on how dirty the engine is. You can pour an ounce or two (at one time) down the carb while the engine is running and work the throttle to keep it from stalling. This may need to be repeated several times. You should notice it running better with each application. If it is an old motor with lots of gunk then add some to the oil as well as the gas. This will be a more gradual cleaning then pouring straight down the carb and the car will smoke until the treated gas is gone or very diluted. But it will clean as you drive. Mike
I went and filled my car up (premium every time), and added about 8 ounces of the Marvel Mystery Oil (the bottle says to use 4 ounces for every 10 gallons) to the gas. I drove the car around the block a few times, and when I got back to my house I noticed it running better already. The idle had smoothed out, and the valve noise was gone. I had a valve dragging, it made a sort of popping noise and someone I know (who builds race engines) listened to it and said it was a valve dragging. After using the Marvel stuff the noise was almost completely gone. I'm chaging the oil this weekend, and I'm going to add some in there. I was really surprised on how well it's worked so far. WAY better than anything else I've tried. Thanks for your help.
