Imrc Cleaning

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DOHCtor_Mark

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Should I make this a part of my tune-up "to do" list? The car hasn't had a tune up since it was built back in 1993. I wonder how much hp is lost when those things get coated with gunk. Has anyone else here cleaned their IMRCs?
 
If you've ever seen a carboned up IMRC and gunked up intake, you'd understand.

Get some Seafoam and cleanup the induction system. I surmise a lot if IMRCs could use a good cleaning. You can also remove them with the intake and physically or chemically clean them. The two primary sources for this BTW is the EGR system and PCV system.
 
Oh I have seen them pretty messy, especially higher mileage ones. But I think its too much labor to get to for a bareley noticeable run. Whats the seafoam deal all about?
 
ONEBADMK8 said:
Oh I have seen them pretty messy, especially higher mileage ones. But I think its too much labor to get to for a bareley noticeable run. Whats the seafoam deal all about?
Click to expand...

Geno Geno Geno, I can't believe you haven't heard about this.I can't keep giving you these free lessons.Pretty soon I'm going to have to start charging you. LOL


Seafoam is a cleaner that you suck up through the vaccuum of the brake booster hose.

Heres what you do.Pour about 2/3s of it into a bowl or something that you can easily get the brake booster vaccuum hose into.You can just stick it into the can but I like to see what I'm doing.
With the engine warm suck up the fluid a little at a time, too much will kill the engine.Once you get fairly close to the last of it suck up a bunch in order to kill the engine.If it doesnt die then just shut it off immediately.Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes.Then when ou go to start it back up it will be hard to start but it WILL start.Then rev the crap out of it for a couple minutes and then drive it like you stole it for a good 10 minutes.
You wont believe how much smoke pours out of it.The more smoke the worse it was. I then put the rest of it into the oil.I also put another can into the gas tank to help keep the injectors clean.
You can find it at NAPA stores and Auto Zone just started carrying it.Its about 6 bucks a can.

They also make a transmission additive and a penetrant like WD 40 or PB Blaster. I havent tried them yet but if they work as good as the other stuff then they are great.

I guess its been around the Marine industry for a 100 years.
Let me know how it works out.
 
I'm a little sketchy about putting non-traditional cleaners in my engine or using non-Ford approved methods. I'll have to wait for someone else to do the seafoam thing. I think I'll either go with some throttle body cleaner or cleaning the IMRCs. I figure, that even a carburetor has to be pulled off and cleaned.
 
I've personally done the seafoam treatment on about a dozen cars with zero problems.
And amazing results!!!!!
 
Seafoam has helped out with my higher mileage Cougar with the 3.8 v6. My father also used it on his Ranger, and it stopped pinging, which it has done for 5 years.

It isn't a miracle worker by any means, but if you have a car that has lots of build up carbon in the intake tract/valves, it does a good job of cleaning that out.

I have seen one report of O2 sensor problems after doing it, but I haven't ran into that. It can be done every oil change, I wouldn't do it that many times, mainly because of all the steam and smoke created and scaring the neighbors.

Even on a low mileage 2000 Grand Marquis, I got a pretty good showing of carbon on the sidewalk out of the tailpipe.
 
Just used Seafoam on my 98. There's still a cloud of smoke hovering over the Lawrence/ Haverhill area...
 
Bangster said:
... It can be done every oil change, I wouldn't do it that many times, mainly because of all the steam and smoke created and scaring the neighbors.
Click to expand...

You only need to do it until there is no 'smoke screen'. Afterwards, maybe annually depending upon your driving habits.
 
Hmm...guess I just wanted to be able to "see" the results. Actually seeing that the part is clean just gives me peace of mind. But, you guys have definitely got me curious about the seafoam. I'll try it in my Hyundai first...hehe.
 
Okay okay, I'm starting to notice the trend here. How much for this seafoam? And where do I get it?
 
It's just a few bucks. Auto parts store.
 
same here but, if it works...who I am to question success?? But, I just thought of something....I could blast my intake and powder coat it while it's down for IMRC cleaning....hmm.
 
My dad has a 97 4.6 dohc continental and I was wondering since the imrc doesn't open the secondaries until almost 4k do they get cleaned when you do seafoam or a t-body cleaner. As the limiter kicks in at 4k just after the imrc opens them up. I held the throttle open limiter holding it at 4k and sucked seafoam deep creap in through the pcv. I also tried sucking some in at idle speed and idling it as well first. The car seems to kind of bog around 4 or so then pick up within 1-3 hundred rpms. My brother s sho just took off when the secondaries open this seems kind of wierd compared to how his car reacted. I don't know if its the tranny or the engine but what could cause it to bog like that?
 
purelux said:
My dad has a 97 4.6 dohc continental and I was wondering since the imrc doesn't open the secondaries until almost 4k do they get cleaned when you do seafoam or a t-body cleaner. As the limiter kicks in at 4k just after the imrc opens them up. I held the throttle open limiter holding it at 4k and sucked seafoam deep creap in through the pcv. I also tried sucking some in at idle speed and idling it as well first. The car seems to kind of bog around 4 or so then pick up within 1-3 hundred rpms. My brother s sho just took off when the secondaries open this seems kind of wierd compared to how his car reacted. I don't know if its the tranny or the engine but what could cause it to bog like that?
Click to expand...

Bump for an answer on this fossilized thread...
 
i just got a can at walmart for 8.50 and put it all in the gas tank along with a full tank of shell 91 octane that gas sucks makes alot of pinging chevron is better. im gonna get another can and do the vacuum hose way
 
Damn dude, this post is over 5 years old. If it hasn't been answered by now, it never will be.
 
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