HOW TO: Clean your valves - easy & cheap

[Cheapspeed]

Originally Posted by jucca Just done valve cleaning, along with IC, manifold and throttle body wash. For everyone who haven't clean his valve yet, look at almost free 40WHP gain, get the job done ASAP Mine 6s is 95.000miles

You're kidding me. There is that much sitting on the table?? I put this off way too long.

[TiGraySpeed6]

There's not that much normally-
I'm suspect cooler ambient temps added something to that result

[jucca]

Ambient temps was almost the same. Same road, almost same conditions, before and after.
Will not say 100% that all gain is only by valve cleaning, but also IC manifold and throttle body, it must be taken out for accessing valves, so it's good time for cleaning.
Intake temps are 10F difference.
I'am at 120.000km, a cleaning was never done before

[Boost > CI]

Found the answer to my question! I should quit being lazy and read

[racingrayson]

Did this about a week ago and my idle rpm dropped 300 rpm and got wayyyy smoother. Throttle response is improved greatly and the car pulls much harder. Surprisingly at 102k miles and having never been cleaned(at least since 52k) they didn't look much worse than many of the pictures posted here. Checked the piston tops with a boroscope while I had everything apart and holy crap, they have about 2 mm of carbon buildup. Left them alone, going to try seafoam here soon.

[himurax13]

LULZ, I have cleaned many valves, none of which were worse than mine. I did not receive any mentionable gains.

[speed23]

Cobb dyno'd before and after cleaning the valves...there wasnt really any power improvement based on flow, however, they said they could run more timing after the valves were cleaned.

[racingrayson]

I wouldn't doubt no real power gain, but a little quicker spool during daily driving and better throttle response were definitely noticeable. The main gain for me was the smoothness at idle. Mine were gunked up to a point of no longer properly sealing to the head. I had to keep refilling the b12 every 15-20 minutes.

Might have just been evaporating though I suppose.

[Prallell6]

I'll preface this post by stating that I'm a newb. I will be doing a thorough cleaning of my valves as soon as the temp raises above 5 degrees fahrenheit around here. I understand the steps to removing the manifold and everything, but I have not been able to find any info about valve position (again, pry a dumb question) when physically adding b12 cleaner. I noticed some comments about turning the crank but nothing that is really descriptive. Thanks!

[JgamB]

Originally Posted by Prallell6 I'll preface this post by stating that I'm a newb. I will be doing a thorough cleaning of my valves as soon as the temp raises above 5 degrees fahrenheit around here. I understand the steps to removing the manifold and everything, but I have not been able to find any info about valve position (again, pry a dumb question) when physically adding b12 cleaner. I noticed some comments about turning the crank but nothing that is really descriptive. Thanks!

"The (21mm) crank pulley is on the right, turn clockwise to turn the engine, it will be at TDC when it gets toughest to turn (check valves are TDC by looking, then pouring some B12 in and see if it stays put)"

Refer to the pic in the OP.

[Prallell6]

Originally Posted by JgamB "The (21mm) crank pulley is on the right, turn clockwise to turn the engine, it will be at TDC when it gets toughest to turn (check valves are TDC by looking, then pouring some B12 in and see if it stays put)" Refer to the pic in the OP.

Thank you, sir.

[theurgy]

Yeah I did the same except I used gasoline instead of B12, figured if gas seeped into the cylinder, wouldn't be as bad as B12.

[Lex2007]

Gasoline is the finest and cheapest of solvents...

[Prallell6]

Originally Posted by theurgy Yeah I did the same except I used gasoline instead of B12, figured if gas seeped into the cylinder, wouldn't be as bad as B12.

How long did you let it soak for? You think it would make removal any easier using the b-12?

Also, when I'm at tdc I need to be in compression stroke so valves are closed, correct?

[theurgy]

Oh no.. I just used gas to test if the valves are seated properly.
After that I used a harsh cleaner (Mazda Zoom Cleaner)

[Prallell6]

ahh, good call. I'll probably go that route as well.

[BlueMetalJacket]

Just finished cleaning my intake valves using the soaking/walnut shell/scraping method. Here are my observations. I did NOT remove my air cleaner or battery and I was able to get everything out. Note that I do have a MazdaSpeed Blue CAI. This is still one of the more difficult projects I've done.

When I did get it apart, my valves at 80kmi looked like a team of squirrels crawled in there and collectively shit 8 times all over my valves...THICK! I was having the smoking turbo issue previously and was lucky enough to get it fixed at the dealership for free. I soaked half the valves in Seafoam and the other half in B12. The B12 was MUCH more powerful and the Seafoam did virtually nothing! Keep in mind I only soaked for an hour because a hot girl could call me and I don't want to waste time torquing on my car. Since I had excellent results cleaning my EGR with oven cleaner, I wonder if it might be the way to go for future valve cleaning?

I cleaned out the EGR stuff a few months ago because I was throwing a code. Soaking all the parts with a little foaming oven cleaner and some time worked like a charm and the EGR works perfectly now...meaning no CEL, but constant cancer in the form of recirculated exhaust. Maybe I'll get rid of it.

Some suggestions:
-Use B-12 NOT Seafoam!
-The vinyl tube method didn't seal well for me and created a HUGE mess everywhere, even with a vacuum running. I would consider using modeling clay next time to seal off the intake port, use a LITTLE walnut, and a LOT of air to turbulate it. Maybe take the sparks out to help vent?

[Lex2007]

Well, did a hot girl call you?...or do you feel guilty for not scrubbing more?

[jack_hammer]

Originally Posted by BlueMetalJacket Keep in mind I only soaked for an hour because a hot girl could call me and I don't want to waste time torquing on my car.

you need to get your priorities straight

[Jason43]

Originally Posted by BlueMetalJacket The B12 was MUCH more powerful and the Seafoam did virtually nothing!

This is why I laugh when people talk about pouring Seafoam through their intake with a huge sense of accomplishment.

[Lex2007]

Is there any reason to clean the exhaust valves and replace the VVT chain tensioner simultaneously with respect to parts removal and access or are the tasks totally separate?

I need to do both and don't want to R&R gaskets, parts twice.

[himurax13]

Originally Posted by Lex2007 Is there any reason to clean the exhaust valves and replace the VVT chain tensioner simultaneously with respect to parts removal and access or are the tasks totally separate? I need to do both and don't want to R&R gaskets, parts twice.

There is no need to clean the exhaust valves since they get hot enough to burn that shit off. You do realize that we do not open the valve cover to clean the valves, right?

[Lex2007]

Originally Posted by himurax13 There is no need to clean the exhaust valves since they get hot enough to burn that shit off. You do realize that we do not open the valve cover to clean the valves, right?

The valves and the runners. Both get dirty.

Yes I realize the valve cover doesn't come off to get to the runners. I'm asking about anything peripheral to that which might need to be removed. I don't wanna do things twice if avoidable.

[himurax13]

Originally Posted by Lex2007 The valves and the runners. Both get dirty. Yes I realize the valve cover doesn't come off to get to the runners. I'm asking about anything peripheral to that which might need to be removed. I don't wanna do things twice if avoidable.

Of course they get dirty but not enough to affect anything. There is no way to clean the exhaust valves without pulling the head or motor.

The only thing I can say that is worth doing is replacing the PCV. If you wanted to replace the VVT, I don't think the intake mani needs to be taken off for that.

[Lex2007]

Originally Posted by himurax13 Of course they get dirty but not enough to affect anything. There is no way to clean the exhaust valves without pulling the head or motor. The only thing I can say that is worth doing is replacing the PCV. If you wanted to replace the VVT, I don't think the intake mani needs to be taken off for that.

What's the name of this thread?

[himurax13]

Originally Posted by Lex2007 What's the name of this thread?

LOL, well cleaning the valves is not easy as the title would imply and only the intake valves get cleaned. If you want to tackle cleaning the exhaust valves while the motor is still in, please make a writeup for it.

[Lex2007]

Additional tips for cleaning REALLY dirty intake valves

HOW TO: Clean your valves - easy & cheap

see post #37

[BlueMetalJacket]

Originally Posted by Lex2007 Well, did a hot girl call you?...or do you feel guilty for not scrubbing more?

Well I checked my voicemail several times. I think she just dialed the wrong number. Next time I'll have her come over and scrub for me...two birds, ya know?

...and why do I have such a hard time loading the MazdaSpeedForums website? It times out most of the time and I can't navigate anywhere.