Sludge in Intake

[88-GT]

Well I pulled off my upper to just do a little cleaning/painting over winter and now it seems like its going to be anything but routine. When i started looking it over, inside there is about a 1/4 thick coating of what almost looks like mud. The scariest part is when you scrape it off it looks like it consists of dust or sand. Now I just recently bought the car(last year) and it had a coolant leak at the tb that was getting in the intake and I know it had a rough last couple weeks(theft). So now Im kinda worried about this but the thing is the motor runs really strong, doesnt smoke, oil never really gets dirty. I am hoping that this sludge has stopped before the heads but anyone have anyidea how this would happen? Should maybe soak the upper and lower in gas and pressure wash this **** outta it the best I can? I dont know, just flustered right now, any help would be great. Thanx.

Edit: Sorry for length.

 

[srothfuss]

Trust me, that isn't a long thread....

The sludge builds up over time from the EGR system. Almost all stock intakes with the smog equipment will have a nice coating of gunk in the runners. You can run "sea foam" through the motor to clean out most of it.... but seeing as you have the motor apart you can probalbly take it to a engine shop and have them clean it out for you!

 

[88-GT]

But this doesnt look like anything seafoam can handle. Like I am not exagerating when i say 1/4 inch, I can like scrape it off the inside with a screadriver. I am thinking I will go the pressure washer route, cause I am definately not putting it back on in its current state.

 

[vristang]

I am confused.

Is this in the intake runners OR in the lifter valley?

Either way I wouldn't get too worried if the motor seems to be running ok.

:Word:

 

[88-GT]

Intake Runners, mainly in the back of the plenum, seems to stop before the runners make their turn down into the lower.

 

[88-GT]

I guess I will just clean it out good and keep an eye on it, I am going to pull the lower this afternoon too, I am thinking of plugging all the vaccum lines off the upper and filling it from the TB opening with kerosene or something, then let that sit than go to the carwash.

I guess on the pluss side it will be like a MAJOR port job once all the crud is gone. Extrude hone I think its called.

 

[vristang]

I guess I will just clean it out good and keep an eye on it, I am going to pull the lower this afternoon too, I am thinking of plugging all the vaccum lines off the upper and filling it from the TB opening with kerosene or something, then let that sit than go to the carwash.

I guess on the pluss side it will be like a MAJOR port job once all the crud is gone. Extrude hone I think its called.

The last time I cleaned out a long runner intake I just used a pressure washer. Just be sure that you get all of the water out. I used an air compressor, then let it sit for a few days, while I did other things.

It would be nice to know where the oil came from though. The usual suspects are the tb to vc hose, and the pcv hose. Are either of these oily?

 

[Black1987Stang]

Mine had normal carbon buildup and i put it in a glassbeader and 20 minutes later not a spec of carbon and looks like new. But since you dont have one you would have to have a shop do that.