{"id":8974,"date":"2017-08-16T06:02:44","date_gmt":"2017-08-16T14:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/corksport.com\/blog\/?p=8974"},"modified":"2023-05-11T13:40:32","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T21:40:32","slug":"how-to-clean-your-intake-valves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corksport.com\/blog\/how-to-clean-your-intake-valves\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Series: Clean Your Intake Valves and Why"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you have a Mazdaspeed, then you have probably heard about cleaning your valves a time or two. You may be asking yourself, why is it that I need to do this? What is it good for? Or why do my valves get dirty in the first place? I\u2019ll be covering all of that in this blog post today, along with full instructions on how to perform the job. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do my valves get dirty? <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They get dirty because our engines are Direct Injected. This means that the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber, rather than in the ports. This also means that there is no fuel passing over your intake valves, and those nice detergents in the gas that are advertised don\u2019t do anything for you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An example of direct injection.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

That being said, Carbon from the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system and oil from the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) have free reign to cake your valves.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The figure above is an example of a dirty valve after approx. 80k Miles with no EGR delete or OCC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do I need to do it?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If enough time passes without any preventative treatment, the valves eventually can get so caked with carbon, that it can start interfering with proper airflow, combustion, and even the valve\u2019s ability to shut all the way. Intermittent misfires, knocks, poor fuel economy, and loss of HP are all symptoms that can occur. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What products do I need?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you get into this list – be sure to check out the CorkSport Valve Cleaning tool<\/a> released after we published this blog!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m glad you finally asked that! Go ahead and get ready to start jotting down some notes on the things you will need! Most of these can be found locally. <\/span>*You will need a Shop-Vac, and an Air Compressor. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Media Blaster – \u00a0This is just a gravity-fed<\/span><\/i><\/b> gun with a hopper. Powered by compressed air. As you squeeze the trigger, the media falls in and goes out of the blaster. You can open and shut the media valve in order to Switch between media and air only.<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Link:<\/strong> Purchase the Media Blaster<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Media<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Media \u2013 You will want to pick up some of the 24 Grit Walnut. Do not get the 12 Grit as this is too large, and you will continue to jam up your gun where the media falls from the hopper into the barrel. The 24 will have \u201cFine\u201d In the top right corner. <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Link:<\/strong> Purchase Walnut Media<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Long Picks \u2013 You won\u2019t want to start blasting right off the bat. You will want to soak the valves for a little bit and get in there with some long picks to really start softening up that initially built layer. You order the picks online and these are a lot easier to use than the little scribes at Harbor Freight which have always felt too short to me. <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Link:<\/strong> Purchase Long Picks\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Carb Clean \u2013 Over the years people testing different <\/span>
<\/span>chemicals. The one still in the lead is B-12 Chemtool. You\u2019ll use<\/span>
<\/span>this to soak the valves and let them soften up the carbon. \u00a0Be sure you get the sprayable can. <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Link: Purchase B-12 Chemtool<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Miscellaneous Items<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

*You must also have all the normal tools required to remove your intake manifold<\/a>. <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n