Morning everyone.
97 xj

Today i'm going to be replacing my cracked exhaust manifold and in the process taking off the intake manifold. I'd like to give the intake manifold a quick cleaning. What's easiest way to go about this? Should I take some means to protect the electronics?

Thanks!

 

Remove the throttle body, injectors, and the intake air temp sensor and go to it! It can even be hot tanked at that point. You may find some carbon in the ends of the intake near the valves caused by oil from the CCV system cooking from the heat. Brakeclean works good with a nylon brush. You can even remove these deposits from the heads of the valves with a brush in an electric drill, although you won't get all of it. If you do this, be sure to give them a good air blast when you're done.

 

If you want to really go to town BroncoMan did a really awesome job on his.
Start reading at Post# 92428.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/wh...940/index6162/

 

Thanks guys. Anything wrong with cleaning the head side intake ports(with care to not knock anything into the head)? It's pretty gummed up with grease and grime...or should I just let it be?

 

I'm currently in process of replacing exhaust manifold. I took everything off today and found intake manifold to be gummed up. I'm trying to clean it myself and came up with this idea. We'll see how it works.
Put a bottle of purple power in water with a small fish pump flowing the degreaser through the guts of the intake. If this doesn't work, I'll likely try a different chemical.

With regards to intake ports on head, they are gummed up pretty bad. Should I try to clean these out by hand while I have the manifolds off or just let them be. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

That's a good idea and a lot safer than shoving a pressure washer wand in the port runners.

Keep us posted.

 

I don't think it's a good idea to submerge the pump though. I don't think it's designed to work that way and may short out. Aquarium pumps usually pump air into a tube to lift water into the filter, not pump water. Now a small water pump designed for a tabletop water feature is another story. Plus the entire manifold should be submerged. Try CLR or Lime-Away out in the sun to heat up.

 

You could try cleaning them up, but do one cylinder at a time when both valves are closed and you put rags in the other ports to keep the crap out of them. Then blast the ports you just cleaned with air pressure before you go on to the next one. You'll get much better airflow if you chip most of that crap off the intake valves. Then think about adding an oil catch can in the hose from the CCV valve to remove the oil that comes in thru it. I just used a water separator for an air compressor and with my worn rings, I was stopping about a 1/2 cup of oil each week! (pour it back into the engine!)