My Dirty, Dirty Intake (Pic Heavy)

[BigVic]

Originally Posted by CyberPunk223

you all are nuts,,

don't get me wrong, I put a RX on mine at 7,000 miles and did a aerosol seafoam treatment into the TB, for $150 what the hell,

But lets go back to the drawing board here,, now what harm does having deposits on your valves do?? As long as the valve seats keep themselves clean what's the difference?

It will be interesting to see if people without the catch cans have problems down the road... What are your predictions?

Wow, if this is the same guy at MC (CyCam1), he is a trip. Same thing at the MC site/ Present him with a ton of evidence, and still the same old diatribe. If not CyCam1, sorry.

Bottom line...can catches oil. That oil would go into intake, causing build up on valves. What about that is so hard to understand? There is tons of info. proving / showing build-up.

It's not complicated.

[HotWheel]

I only have 3K on my new Camaro. I guess I know what I'm buying with my next paycheck...

[911medic]

Originally Posted by BigVic

Wow, if this is the same guy at MC (CyCam1), he is a trip. Same thing at the MC site/ Present him with a ton of evidence, and still the same old diatribe. If not CyCam1, sorry.

Bottom line...can catches oil. That oil would go into intake, causing build up on valves. What about that is so hard to understand? There is tons of info. proving / showing build-up.

It's not complicated.

I don't think this the same guy, although I believe he is on this forum, spouting his engineering credentials and calling catch can users suckers. Can't remember his username here, though.

[rtcat600man]

Just completed another oil change 2 days ago. This is what was in my catch can after 3500 miles. I have been saying for for 2 1/2 years that it collects approx 1 oz per 1000 miles. Looks like it caught a little more this time. I did do some spirited driving at the local Waterford Race Track during the Camaro Superfest Show. These higher engine revs tend to force more oil into the catch can. Now imagine all this all going into your intake manifold and all over the valves too, with nothing to help clean them off. This is not a 2 stroke engine. I have stopped over a quart of oil from passing thru my intake since I added my catch can.

[menendez1293]

Originally Posted by rtcat600man

Just completed another oil change 2 days ago. This is what was in my catch can after 3500 miles. I have been saying for for 2 1/2 years that it collects approx 1 oz per 1000 miles. Looks like it caught a little more this time. I did do some spirited driving at the local Waterford Race Track during the Camaro Superfest Show. These higher engine revs tend to force more oil into the catch can. Now imagine all this all going into your intake manifold and all over the valves too, with nothing to help clean them off. This is not a 2 stroke engine. I have stopped over a quart of oil from passing thru my intake since I added my catch can.

That is a lot. I guess we will see how much my elite can catches whenever i get up to that amount of miles on it. Have just about 50 miles on it and haven't seen a drop of oil in it

[blackswan]

Perhaps Techron would be better for cleaning carbon off the valves? I may try...

[911medic]

Originally Posted by blackswan

Perhaps Techron would be better for cleaning carbon off the valves? I may try...

Give it a shot and let us know what happens.

[Kessler]

[Jason@JacFab]

I didn't see it on the first post, but did you happen to note which of the cylinders was in the worst shape as car as carbon build up? Just wondering if what you have seen coincides with what I'm seeing on my car.

I don't see any build up yet, but I am seeing what I would call excessive oil consumption in cyl's #1, and #6, while the rest of the cylinder intake ports are looking fairly clean.

[911medic]

Originally Posted by RacnJsn95

I didn't see it on the first post, but did you happen to note which of the cylinders was in the worst shape as car as carbon build up? Just wondering if what you have seen coincides with what I'm seeing on my car.

I don't see any build up yet, but I am seeing what I would call excessive oil consumption in cyl's #1, and #6, while the rest of the cylinder intake ports are looking fairly clean.

I'll try to check my pictures when I get home from work later and see if I can tell.

[terry_b]

This is exactly the thread I need! Couple questions:

I got the catch can on fairly early, but I did run without it for maybe a few thousand miles... don't really remember. At one point it was also noted that the drain on the catch can had been left open for an unknown amount of time ( not sure if this was dealer after some warranty work, or I forgot to shut it after draining ) but I drain it pretty often so at most it was less than a single oil change. Is that terribly bad? I was wondering what I should expect and if maybe it would be worthwhile to have the dealer do a top end cleaning?

A while back I had a small leak on the front engine cover and the dealer replaced that and some other seals (warranty covered). Would they have cleaned up the top end then? Seems like they would clean everything they had taken apart before putting it back together. I know personally I wouldn't put it back together dirty, but I didn't think to make a point of it at the time.

I'm looking at doing a seafoam and maybe cleaning up the valves soon - depending on what they look like - while also adding a Vmax throttle body and ice-olator. I'd appreciate any and all tips, and how long should I plan on? This thread and a couple others have been great! I'll try to do some before and after pics as well.

[911medic]

Originally Posted by RacnJsn95

I didn't see it on the first post, but did you happen to note which of the cylinders was in the worst shape as car as carbon build up? Just wondering if what you have seen coincides with what I'm seeing on my car.

I don't see any build up yet, but I am seeing what I would call excessive oil consumption in cyl's #1, and #6, while the rest of the cylinder intake ports are looking fairly clean.

OK, sorry for the delay.

I went back and reviewed my photos, and from what I remember, the worst valves were on the passenger side front cylinder, which I believe is #2, if this drawing is correct, right?

NOTE: See Sycraft's post below. This drawing is incorrect, per info from GM. The cylinder numbering for the 3.6L V6 is actually the mirror image of this drawing.

[911medic]

Originally Posted by terry_b

This is exactly the thread I need! Couple questions:

I got the catch can on fairly early, but I did run without it for maybe a few thousand miles... don't really remember. At one point it was also noted that the drain on the catch can had been left open for an unknown amount of time ( not sure if this was dealer after some warranty work, or I forgot to shut it after draining ) but I drain it pretty often so at most it was less than a single oil change. Is that terribly bad? I was wondering what I should expect and if maybe it would be worthwhile to have the dealer do a top end cleaning?

A while back I had a small leak on the front engine cover and the dealer replaced that and some other seals (warranty covered). Would they have cleaned up the top end then? Seems like they would clean everything they had taken apart before putting it back together. I know personally I wouldn't put it back together dirty, but I didn't think to make a point of it at the time.

I'm looking at doing a seafoam and maybe cleaning up the valves soon - depending on what they look like - while also adding a Vmax throttle body and ice-olator. I'd appreciate any and all tips, and how long should I plan on? This thread and a couple others have been great! I'll try to do some before and after pics as well.

You may want to have a cleaning done, or do it yourself, but you probably don't have a TON of buildup after only a few thousand miles. My valve pictures were after ~26,000 miles.

Running with the drain valve open basically introduced a vacuum leak, which if it didn't cause a CEL is probably no biggie now that it's closed. But, your catch can was basically doing nothing during that time.

I wouldn't count on the dealer having done a cleaning when you had the repair done, unless it's specifically part of the repair procedure. If you're talking about the timing chain cover, I don't know if they have to disassemble the heads and take apart the valvetrain for that, but I'd guess no.

Swapping the TB is literally like a 10 minute job, maybe 20 if you're going slow and careful. Pulling the IM takes a bit longer and is more involved, plan on a couple of hours of dis-/reassembly. Look at intensifi's DIY for details. Once it's off, it's easy to see the intake valves, and you'll know where they're at as far as buildup goes.

Can't speak to the spacer, but if you have it apart to check the valves, I can't imagine adding it as part of the reassembly would add very much time at all.

[terry_b]

Thanks man, I appreciate the advice. I'm shooting for next friday for the intake manifold dissassembly, maybe even throw a coat of paint on it. I'll be sure to post up my findings!