So I'm cleaning out my shed/workshop at my parents farm, (I was beginning to fear being the star on the next episode of "Hoarders"), when lo, I discover two cans of Seafoam, Two cans of B-12 Chemtool and some ancient MMO. None of the cans are full and I can't remember when I opened them last. Problem, what to do with this stuff?
Solution, "Luv" Machine decarbonization!
For those uninformed few, "Luv" machine is a 1986 Chevy Astro Van, 4.3 V-6, miles unknown, used as farm mule which lately has been running on five cylinders and back firing quite a bit, (I was thinking I might have a clogged fuel filter or a dead cylinder).
I start by removing brake booster vacuum line. I run a 30 inch tube from vacuum fitting into cab of Luv Machine.
I then pour all Seafoam into a 9 oz glass bottle, (old starbucks bottle - it's almost filled).I crank motor and proceed to "suck" Seafoam through line, into engine while engine is running. Large cloud of white smoke. Engine coughs and sputters like an old man who has smoked three packs a day for 40 years.
When all Seafoam is gone, I shut engine off and allow to sit for 30 minutes.
Next, I repeat same proceedure only this time using B-12 Chemtool. About 8 oz go through motor. Engine coughs and sputters like an Army recruit on gas mask testing day. When all B-12 is gone, I shut engine off and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Oddly enough, during this test, no smoke comes from tail pipe.
I now pour about six oz of MMO in starbucks jar. I start engine, insert tube into jar and quickly suck all MMO into engine. Massive cloud of white smoke. I turn ignition key off to allow MMO to soak pistons and valves. EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING FOR A GOOD TWO MINUTES.
When engine finally died, I allowed MMO to soak for five minutes, I then restarted engine, (mainly to see if it would start again - which it did). More massive smoke. I noticed engine actually seems to be running better.
While engine was still running and white cloud was clearing, I ran 3 liters of water through tube and into engine. (I know it was 3 liters because I used an empty wine bottle that happened to be 1.5 liters and I filled it twice).
Engine coughed and sputtered to the point of almost dying a number of times, but it hung in there like James Woods in "Citizen Cohn." When the last of the water was gone, I revved the motor a number of times and was amazed at the power and throttle response, (really).
The results of this insanity is that this tired old engine now has more power than it has in years. It starts immediately and requires no warm up time like it did before AND it runs now on all six cylinders, (I do need to mention I had changed the spark plug on this cylinder a number of times with no luck - I was thinking either fuel filter or bad valve) - but this cleared it up wonderfully.
If you do decide to do this, be very careful of hydrolocking engine - using the brake booster line really sucks the fluid and the way I did it was to hold the tube far enough above the fluid so as to create a mist rather than solid fluid, (my tube was clear).
Solution, "Luv" Machine decarbonization!
For those uninformed few, "Luv" machine is a 1986 Chevy Astro Van, 4.3 V-6, miles unknown, used as farm mule which lately has been running on five cylinders and back firing quite a bit, (I was thinking I might have a clogged fuel filter or a dead cylinder).
I start by removing brake booster vacuum line. I run a 30 inch tube from vacuum fitting into cab of Luv Machine.
I then pour all Seafoam into a 9 oz glass bottle, (old starbucks bottle - it's almost filled).I crank motor and proceed to "suck" Seafoam through line, into engine while engine is running. Large cloud of white smoke. Engine coughs and sputters like an old man who has smoked three packs a day for 40 years.
When all Seafoam is gone, I shut engine off and allow to sit for 30 minutes.
Next, I repeat same proceedure only this time using B-12 Chemtool. About 8 oz go through motor. Engine coughs and sputters like an Army recruit on gas mask testing day. When all B-12 is gone, I shut engine off and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Oddly enough, during this test, no smoke comes from tail pipe.
I now pour about six oz of MMO in starbucks jar. I start engine, insert tube into jar and quickly suck all MMO into engine. Massive cloud of white smoke. I turn ignition key off to allow MMO to soak pistons and valves. EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING FOR A GOOD TWO MINUTES.
When engine finally died, I allowed MMO to soak for five minutes, I then restarted engine, (mainly to see if it would start again - which it did). More massive smoke. I noticed engine actually seems to be running better.
While engine was still running and white cloud was clearing, I ran 3 liters of water through tube and into engine. (I know it was 3 liters because I used an empty wine bottle that happened to be 1.5 liters and I filled it twice).
Engine coughed and sputtered to the point of almost dying a number of times, but it hung in there like James Woods in "Citizen Cohn." When the last of the water was gone, I revved the motor a number of times and was amazed at the power and throttle response, (really).
The results of this insanity is that this tired old engine now has more power than it has in years. It starts immediately and requires no warm up time like it did before AND it runs now on all six cylinders, (I do need to mention I had changed the spark plug on this cylinder a number of times with no luck - I was thinking either fuel filter or bad valve) - but this cleared it up wonderfully.
If you do decide to do this, be very careful of hydrolocking engine - using the brake booster line really sucks the fluid and the way I did it was to hold the tube far enough above the fluid so as to create a mist rather than solid fluid, (my tube was clear).
