Cleaning This Buildup?

93_Rarity · #1 08-12-2016, 10:08 AM

I picked this 2003 XL 2.3 two weeks ago and was checking out the spark plugs yesterday when I noticed the pool of oil submerging the #2 & #3 plugs. I'm halfway through replacing the valve cover gaskets now, but am wondering what ya'll would recommend for cleaning this gunk in the engine. Seafoam? Lucas? Marvel Mystery Oil? I've never added anything to oil before, but I've got the stuff to do a change cause it needs it.

Also, the throttle body and intake are coated in.....something oily? It's pretty bad, and I've cleaned it with intake cleaner twice since I've had it. This is the first time I've had it all apart, though.

So any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks ya'll.

djfllmn · #2 08-12-2016, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93_Rarity

I picked this 2003 XL 2.3 two weeks ago and was checking out the spark plugs yesterday when I noticed the pool of oil submerging the #2 & #3 plugs. I'm halfway through replacing the valve cover gaskets now, but am wondering what ya'll would recommend for cleaning this gunk in the engine. Seafoam? Lucas? Marvel Mystery Oil? I've never added anything to oil before, but I've got the stuff to do a change cause it needs it. Also, the throttle body and intake are coated in.....something oily? It's pretty bad, and I've cleaned it with intake cleaner twice since I've had it. This is the first time I've had it all apart, though. So any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks ya'll.

leave it go. You don't want to break anything loose

----------

Maybe use a little throttle body cleaner on the TB itself but nothing on the internals. Just run a good oil

93_Rarity · #3 08-12-2016, 10:29 AM

Ok, I appreciate it. My first thought was to spray everything with carb cleaner, but decided I might ask first lol

djfllmn · #4 08-12-2016, 10:33 AM

And in all honestly the valve train looks fairly clean for the age of the truck

93_Rarity · #5 08-12-2016, 10:44 AM

It's been sitting the past year or so, but it's got 263k on it.

djfllmn · #6 08-12-2016, 10:45 AM

Yea. That's not bad for that mileage at all

tomw0 · #7 08-13-2016, 08:47 AM

Someone neglected the oil change interval, a lot of times. I would leave it alone, as it does no harm as long as the oil can get to where it needs to be, and return to the pan without problem.
Take a look at the closest cam, 2nd lobe from the left. Does it ride on the 'bucket' that opens the valve? From the pic it looks as if it is not touching, and has no 'clean' sweep around the lobe. If so, that particular valve may be sticking.
I expanded the picture, and think that it is just the angle not showing a shiny reflection, but think it may be ok.
The temp sensor is right in the middle of the second picture. There's a youtube post by makuloco about replacing the sensor when the engine doesn't think it has reached operating temperature, or some other nonsense, FWIW.
You CAN clean the cam cover with carb cleaner, Gunk, or your favorite chemical mix, and prevent more stuff from running around inside. My take is that the cam cover will get splashed by new, more-detergent oil than the tired stuff that is in the crankcase, and may start to 'clean' while the engine runs. You can clean it pretty well, while cleaning the cam, bearing supports, and top of head would be difficult to do properly.
tom

added:
I would remove the throttle body and use a parts cleaning brush, some 'brake clean', and a 9X12 cake pan to catch the brake clean and the gunk brushed loose. Use the brush to keep swabbing the brake clean solvent all over the gummy throttle plate and the inner bore. You can get it clean, and I think you will have better engine response and a better idle.
You might also take a look at the PCV valve to insure it is not gunked up and stuck open/closed. With this amount of deposits, it would be surprising that it is functional. It might be, but might not.
tom

93_Rarity · #8 08-13-2016, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomw0

Someone neglected the oil change interval, a lot of times. I would leave it alone, as it does no harm as long as the oil can get to where it needs to be, and return to the pan without problem.
Take a look at the closest cam, 2nd lobe from the left. Does it ride on the 'bucket' that opens the valve? From the pic it looks as if it is not touching, and has no 'clean' sweep around the lobe. If so, that particular valve may be sticking.
I expanded the picture, and think that it is just the angle not showing a shiny reflection, but think it may be ok.
The temp sensor is right in the middle of the second picture. There's a youtube post by makuloco about replacing the sensor when the engine doesn't think it has reached operating temperature, or some other nonsense, FWIW.
You CAN clean the cam cover with carb cleaner, Gunk, or your favorite chemical mix, and prevent more stuff from running around inside. My take is that the cam cover will get splashed by new, more-detergent oil than the tired stuff that is in the crankcase, and may start to 'clean' while the engine runs. You can clean it pretty well, while cleaning the cam, bearing supports, and top of head would be difficult to do properly.
tom

added:
I would remove the throttle body and use a parts cleaning brush, some 'brake clean', and a 9X12 cake pan to catch the brake clean and the gunk brushed loose. Use the brush to keep swabbing the brake clean solvent all over the gummy throttle plate and the inner bore. You can get it clean, and I think you will have better engine response and a better idle.
You might also take a look at the PCV valve to insure it is not gunked up and stuck open/closed. With this amount of deposits, it would be surprising that it is functional. It might be, but might not.
tom

I appreciate the response. The cam is riding, no worries there. Man, you really looked into this hard. Hope the inspection was free lol.
As far as the TB goes, I'll definitely get that cleaned up. Don't like it one bit how it is now. But I have another quick question-
I broke one of the middle valve cover bolts off on install. I've tried extracting it with no luck. This truck is my backup, so I've just been driving it while the 97 is out of commission (which seems to be every other day nowadays). I'm gonna keep trying to get it out through the weekend, but if I can't, do you think it will be fine to operate till I can afford an LKQ head?

tomw0 · #9 08-15-2016, 08:17 AM

Two thoughts re the cam cover bolt. You can use a small diameter drill, but I know my skill would allow it to wander off-center. There is no corrosion, as the bolt has just been removed & replaced, it is just the torque you used, so... Get a set of the drills that turn CCW, and bore into the broken remains. I think they have a 'shoulder' where the bit portion stops. When the bit finds 'bottom', it will try to remove the bolt. HF has a set, but I do not know the quality. Sears has them. Auto stores may also. Spend the $$$'s on that rather than more work - new head $$ & new head labor and new head gaskets $$$'s.
And you can likely put the cover back on and ignore the broken bolt for a while. It will likely seep some oil, but you've been there already. I would want to fix it my self rather than drive, but if you need to use it you can.

tom

add:

These are the screw thingys I was trying to describe:

http://www.frys.com/product/8022244

Well, one brand anyway.
tom