Should I pour water in the intake to clean carbon deposits?

[System_Error_117]

Hey Gang,

Has anyone had much luck with some of the old carbon cleaning tricks on our engines? I ran some seafoam spray through mine one time that seemed to smoke up the entire lake, lol. So I can assume I had a lot of carbon build up.

Has anyone had luck doing the old water in the intake method for de carboning their valves and cylinders?

I could set a drip up and let it run for a half hour or more and really get it squeaky clean!

[ndutton]

Originally Posted by System_Error_117

I ran some seafoam spray through mine one time that seemed to smoke up the entire lake. So I can assume I had a lot of carbon build up.

Not so sure you can reach that conclusion by putting a petroleum solution into the intake, suspect the same would happen on a brand new engine. Are there any other indicators of carbon build up? Have you inspected the cylinders with a borescope?

I acquired a tired A4 several years ago, it ran but poorly. I rebuilt it as a spare and found no carbon build up whatsoever.

[System_Error_117]

I haven't had any issues on my engine. But it seems a lot of boats in our club are having issues with sticking valves recently. Just don't want to become another statistic.

I'm pretty good with all other maintenance. Oil filter kit installed. Acid flush the block every few years. But it is an original untouched engine internally.

I've seen the water vapor trick do wonders on older European car engines with early direct injection systems that dirtied valves like crazy. Just thought it would be good insurance for the longevity of the motor.

[ndutton]

Sticky valves around here are usually from water incursion into the combustion chamber.

[Al Schober]

I'd vote no on the water injection. My big concern is what it's going to do to the pistons. I've seen pistons with hunks of aluminum missing and with broken rings that I suspect was due to water in the combustion chamber. I'd rather see you add a little MMO to the fuel.

[joe_db]

Short answer is no, water in there is why the rings get stuck in the first place
There are solvent/cleaner/lubricant type chemicals for this task. My first step is MMO and see how that works.