Dirty intake manifold - How to clean? Topic is solved

[Sveedy]

My entire engine is dry and white, not shiny and silver like that.

There is a reason they are called White blocks. They can from the factory painted White.

I don't know if the intake was painted white. I just assumed that they were called white blocks because they are aluminum.
I'm the second owner of this car and it was / is always garaged. No white paint anywhere, and I just removed the engine a couple of weeks ago. Of course I might have just stepped into a sarcastic hole you dug.

Firefox's manifold sort of looks like aluminum when it gets oxidized ; those white crusty deposits. I think they do make a navy jelly sort of product for aluminum. I'm sure there's something that will bring it back.

[FireFox31]

There is a reason they are called White blocks. They can from the factory painted White.

After almost 20 years of ownership, I had only seen the therm "white block" recently. This is the first I've ever heard they were painted. Thank you, now I won't try to fight the white, assuming it's corrosion.

[Sveedy]

Once you clean it up, I think it would be easy to maintain.
From what I've found so far on working on these, is to keep a few intake gaskets on hand. It seems that the intake needs to come out far more often than say on a V8. And once you do it a few times it really doesn't take much time. I think I'm down to less than 30 min.
So next time you have to remove it for another reason, clean and detail it then. Kill two birds etc...

[RickHaleParker]

Firefox's manifold sort of looks like aluminum when it gets oxidized ; those white crusty deposits. I think they do make a navy jelly sort of product for aluminum. I'm sure there's something that will bring it back.

It is heading for the solvent tank. Wait and see what it looks like when it comes back.

[FireFox31]

When I removed the intake today, I was surprised to see how much oil was in it after only a few weeks since I last had it off and cleaned. The new gasket was wet and there was even some oil on the block under the gasket. I hope I didn't mess up the oil trap while trying to clean it.

I removed the injector fume rail (vapor purge rail). Each injector hole had a rubber o-ring firmly holding it. I carefully pried, starting on the driver's side (with the hose outlet), freeing each before moving to the next.

The hose between the fume rail and the large intake hose is quite firm so maybe it should be replaced. It's part 9463080 for $46 list price, but it's only at VolvoPartsWebStore, Tasca, and other dealership-level suppliers. I won't replace it until there's a problem since it's only carrying extra gas fumes.

Now the intake is at the machine shop, hopefully in the solvent bath right now. After soaking, they will glass bead the inside of each port to remove any remaining build up.

[FireFox31]

The intake is back from the automotive machine shop. They soaked it in a solvent bath, glass beaded (sandblasted) it, than painted it. I didn't really want them to paint it since now it won't match the engine. Is it safe to paint the inside of a part like this? Regardless, it looks fantastic, seems very clean, and cost $50. For the time it takes to clean it yourself, instead spend that time taking it to an automotive machine shop for the professional treatment.

[RickHaleParker]

Is it safe to paint the inside of a part like this?

No reason to paint the mating surface or insides.
Mask off the mating surface and ports with painters tape. Then trim it with an X-ACTO knife.
Peel the tape of after the paint has setup.

[Sveedy]

^ I think we was concerned that the intake ports now have paint in them, as the shop didn't do what you suggested and mask them off. I don't think the overspray will be any sort of problem. Nice looking intake !

[RickHaleParker]

^ I think we was concerned that the intake ports now have paint in them, as the shop didn't do what you suggested and mask them off. I don't think the overspray will be any sort of problem. Nice looking intake !

My interpretation was he wanted to change the color. If he does want to change the color, mask it off to avoid building up more paint on the mating surfaces.

As for not being the color he thinks it should be, he took it to a Mechanic. Mechanics are biased toward all go and no show. To get it looking right he would need to take it to an Automotive Beauty salon. Where they are biased toward all show and no go.

I would not have a problem with using it as is.

[FireFox31]

Do you think the gasket will stick to the painted mating surface? I'll try paint thinner to clean that, and may resort to fine sandpaper or steel wool to gently abrade it. Same goes for the vapor purge rail holes so the o-rings don't stick to the paint. They were difficult to remove before it was painted.

The shop asked offhand if I wanted it painted and I declined, but not firmly enough it seems. I saw a bunch of other engine parts on their "completed" shelf similarly painted, so maybe they just do it for everything. Hopefully it's good quality paint, won't flake, and will help with corrosion resistance.