3.3TT Intake valves manual cleaning.

[Ohiocruiser]

So, decided to go ahead and clean my valves. The car has 80k miles and is stock. 95%of my driving are easy highway miles. I use 93 shell and change the oil every 3300 miles using amsoil signature series 5w30. Also that was my second time cleaning them. Cleaned them before, at 40k miles. So this is what you get once upper and lower sections of intake manifold are removed.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

This is what the port looked like before and after. I soaked it in cleaner for litle over an hour and than clean it with toothbrush and picks. Even after an hour that build up was very hard to remove. That is one of the reasons, i dont belive in spraying any chemicals into intake while the engine is running.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

And while i was waiting for cleaner to do its job, i replaced the plugs, did TB coolant line bypass and used some of the gold foil to wrap cold side charge pipe and underneath the intake manifold. I doubt it will do much, but you can't go wrong with gold, right??

 

[Ohiocruiser]

BTW this is hks plug after 40k miles.

 

[rk88]

Wow, nice write up! How long did it take for you to clean the ports?

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Wow, nice write up! How long did it take for you to clean the ports?

20-30 min for each port. So if you have access to air compressor, shell blasting is definitely a way to go. Unfortunately, i don't have a power in my condo garage.

 

[JSolo]

You think those plugs good for another 40K? The wear looks minimal.

This whole GDI maintenance was one of the key selling points for me on the 2.5T. I expect to never have to clean the valves.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

You think those plugs good for another 40K? The wear looks minimal.

This whole GDI maintenance was one of the key selling points for me on the 2.5T. I expect to never have to clean the valves.

That was my thoughts also. Will go for 60k this time. Same for the cleaning. As you can see from pictures it wasn't that dirty. And i definitely need to figure out the way to do shell blasting next time. Leaning into the engine compartment for several hours is no fun. My back is kiling me today.

 

[St1nger Guy]

Try lacquer thinner. I did this to my Optima SX and lacquer thinner ate right through the carbon. Used some toothbrushes to agitate and shop towels to absorb it up after. Intakes looked like new when I was done.

 

[777David]

Interesting post. Do you run a catch can?

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Try lacquer thinner. I did this to my Optima SX and lacquer thinner ate right through the carbon. Used some toothbrushes to agitate and shop towels to absorb it up after. Intakes looked like new when I was done.

It's a good tip, considering valves scrubbing was the longest part of the job.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Interesting post. Do you run a catch can?

No, i don't.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

Nice write up! Also a fan of the shiny gold myself.

 

[St1nger Guy]

No, i don't.

You should absolutely be running a catch can, it will prevent like 85% of the crap that you are cleaning off from ever reaching the intake ports. You could avoid cleaning for 100K miles easy. I run meth injection and a catch can, haven't checked by my intake ports should be nice and clean.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

You should absolutely be running a catch can, it will prevent like 85% of the crap that you are cleaning off from ever reaching the intake ports. You could avoid cleaning for 100K miles easy. I run meth injection and a catch can, haven't checked by my intake ports should be nice and clean.

I run it on my previous car. Didn't do much. I do agree with theory behind it though. I just wish someone with stinger provide actual proof. Check your ports and let us see . You will only need to remove upper section of manifold. 30 min max.

 

[JSolo]

@OC, did you clean your throttle bodies too? Why or why not?

 

[Ohiocruiser]

@OC, did you clean your throttle bodies too? Why or why not?

I did. It was surprisingly clean for 80k miles. Never cleaned it before.

 

[JSolo]

Not bad at all. Usually it's the dirt/build up at the edges (12/6 oclock relative to the hold down bar) that cause poor idle or small throttle driveability issues.

For the cleaning, were they unplugged completely? Did you have to do any sort of TB relearn/recalibration procedure? On the G, the idle is all over the place if a relearn isn't done after a cleaning.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Not bad at all. Usually it's the dirt/build up at the edges (12/6 oclock relative to the hold down bar) that cause poor idle or small throttle driveability issues.

For the cleaning, were they unplugged completely? Did you have to do any sort of TB relearn/recalibration procedure? On the G, the idle is all over the place if a relearn isn't done after a cleaning.

Yes, completely unplugged and removed. TB on 3.3 doesn't have recalibration option. So no need to do anything.

 

[SoulJacker]

Is there a write up on how to remove the intake manifold? I read a manual on how to do it but involved draining the coolant and removing the alternator. I may have found a shop that is willing to walnut blast.