Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

[TilliamWe]

As part of a larger project, I have the exhaust manifolds off of my 1997 5.7LX. #2 cylinder has not been firing for a long time(that's the larger project), and the manifolds have 650 hours total on them. There is quite a bit of carbon build up in the manifolds. Without taking them to someone, what can I clean them with at home? Thanks

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

A solution of muriatic acid.....The proper mix will be on the bottle......Be careful of the mating surfaces after you soak 'em, they will be softer than normal at first.....JK

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

thanks!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

I dont clean them. if its just carbon its no worries. if its rust and scale in the water passages its a worry. I see many failures soon after the "acid" bath. in the salt pond anything over 3 years and your on borrowed time.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

Rodbolt, I was truly stunned at their seemingly good condition when I took the risers off. I expected to see lots of rust & scale, and there was hardly any. So while I may be on "borrowed time", I am liking the interest rates.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

Tilliam, he did say 3 years in salt water. Based on your location I'd guess that you run almost exclusively in fresh water?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

Originally posted by LakeLivin:<br /> Tilliam, he did say 3 years in salt water. Based on your location I'd guess that you run almost exclusively in fresh water?

Peoria, IL...........<br /><br />Ayuh,......... You'd Think so................<br /><br />Up Here,..... All Reasonably Freshwater,.........<br /><br />I've seen 30 Year Old manifolds,+ risers that Look Brand New.................<br /><br />And,.... That's with "Drained Block" winterizations,+ No Anti-Freeze................

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

last 5 summers & 400 hours exclusively fresh water, yes. but it did see some salt it's first 4 years in FL. And wasn't winterized at all there. Here it gets winterized w/green stuff.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

Are you trying to clean the Carbon out of the Ports,....<br />Or the Rust out of the passages,.???<br /><br />If you're talking about the Carbon,...... Forget About It,.... It'll Clean Itself after you get it running Right............<br /><br />If you're trying to get the Rust out of the passages,........Forget About It,....And Buy a New Set.........<br /><br />All that Rust,... Used to be Cast Iron,.....If the Cast Iron is Gone,.... Nothing holds the Water Out...........

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

It's just the carbon I was wondering about. Water passages are not rusty.<br /><br />Thanks all!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Cleaning exhaust mainfolds at home

then just clean all the gasket surfaces and be happy. do use a striaght edge across the riser area. sometimes the heat and tension causes the riser surface to distort but its easy to flatten with a medium mill file.<br />sometimes the surface around the bolt holes will rise some.