The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk chemically cleaning inside of engine?

what works the best for cleaning an engine.Ive got a v-8 with pluged oil return holes.A quart of diesel in the oil,kerosene,trany fluid? Thanks,Ron.

I once knew a guy who ran his packard with only kerosene in it about twice a year. I would'nt run it with anything but oil in it. Can you get to the holes with an air hose? If you can you might soak some penetrating oil in it for a few days and the blow it out. I have never had that problem so I am just guessing. Good luck.

Chevy V-8? The only holes that clog up routinely are the ones on both ends of the cylinder heads, and you can reach them by removing the valve covers. Just poke them clear with a piece of dowel rod and scrape the gunk away that's accumulated under the covers. While you're in there, replace the valve guide seals. One with enough mileage to clog the drain holes probably has totally worn out guide seals to go with it, and it will smoke like a freight trrain every time it's started. After the worst of the crud is removed by hand and the valve covers are back on, add a quart of kerosene to the oil and run the engine for 30 minutes at 1,500 RPM. DON"T DRIVE IT! Any load on the engine with solvent in the oil will burn rod bearings.
Jerry

Marvel mystery oil is a favorite of mine. Provides a good lube and excellent cleaner at the same time. Not the most expensive option either. I like to run some over the top of a fresh oil change to keep it clean too.

All this works...Mavel mystery oil is really great stuff...so is Sea Foam

Thanks guys.The truck is a 72 ford with a 390 with 90 thousand miles.I had the valve covers off before and was able to forse a wire rod through 3 of the 4 return holes in the heads.Im atempting to get it back on the road for my 16 year old son to drive.It smokes like a pig onse the head fills with oil.

Get a long drill bit, and a variable-speed drill motor, and ream those holes out. Then use a can of Wynn's "Engine Cleaner" in the oil, and run it for 30 minutes or more at a fast idle. Drain it while it's hot, and change the oil and filter. You'll need to install new valve guide seals to minimize the oil consumption.
Jerry

Whatever you do DO NOT use a product called "engine restorer" - don't remember the brand- I ran it through my '62 Nova before taking apart the motor, I could taste, smell, and feel it for two weeks. No substitute for serious scrubbin. Good Luck and Godspeed.
Jeff