How to remove Carbon Buildup in Intake Manifold: 10 Easy Steps

When it comes to the concern of your vehicle, the engine comes first. Yes, you cannot let the engine stay fine if you don’t take care of it. And so, to keep it away from any sort of difficulties, you have to be very careful. When it is time to keep your engine safe, the first thing that comes on your mind is the chemical buildup. It can make your engine less efficient.

You must know that the carbon usually builds up on the throttle body butterfly, plenum chamber, combustion chamber, and especially in the intake manifold. Here, we will discuss how to remove carbon buildup in intake manifold.

Is Carbon Buildup Dangerous?

Carbon buildup can reduce the efficiency of your engine. This can cause severe harm to your engine. Any deposit along with the carbon buildup can affect airflow. If there is carbon in the throttle body, it can easily trim down the amount of airflow through the idle bypass circuit.

As a result, this can also affect the quality of the idle along with the smoothness of your engine. Generally, the reason behind all the deposit is fuel vapors.
The fuel vapors can easily rise through the intake manifold of your engine and can cause deposit buildup including the carbon buildup.

Learn How to remove Carbon Buildup in Intake Manifold

From carbon deposits to sludge, varnish to gum, anything that builds up on your engine can harm the efficiency of your engine. We are going to discuss the method of removing the carbon buildup in the intake manifold. This method will amazingly work for modern engines that include direct fuel injection and have an emission control system.

Gears and Chemicals

  • Nulon Foaming Intake Cleaner
  • Screwdrivers
  • Spanners
  • Additional Mechanical Tools

Step 1: Spacious Place

You must take your vehicle in an area where you can do the work with peace. It must be a spacious place. You have to keep all your children away from you.
Also, do it in a well-ventilated area so that air can get in and keep the situation cool. Do not keep other chemicals beside. It can create a reaction and turn into unwanted accidents.

Step 2: Disconnecting the Air Intake Duct

Now that you are done taking your car in a well-ventilated area, you are ready to start your work. After this, you have to make sure that you have turned off your engine. If the engine is on, you have to turn off the engine first.

Then, you have to go through the Air Intake Duct. Now, disconnect it from the Throttle Body to make sure it is ready to work with the engine.

You may also read: How to Clean Cold Air Intake Filter

Step 3: Start Spraying

Now, your Air Intake Duct is disconnected. You can start the spraying process. Take the Nulon Foam in your hand. You have to start spraying onto the Throttle plate. Make sure while spraying. As this is a chemical, you have to care about the application of its work.

Step 4: Wiping it down

After spraying, you have to clean the Throttle plate. For this, get a cotton cloth. Now, you have to wipe your Throttle plate with the help of the cloth. Be gentle while you are doing the work. All you have to do is remove all the additional liquid on the Throttle plate slowly.

Step 5: Reattaching

Now, you are done with the Air Intake Duct. All you have to do is reattach the intake manifold carefully.

Step 6: Start Cleaning Intake Manifold

After you are done with the Air Intake Duct, you have to move to the Intake Manifold. Now, from the Inlet Manifold, you have to disconnect a vacuum hose. When you are done, start the engine.

Step 7: Spray and Spray

After you have started the engine, let it run properly. You have to make sure that you are letting your engine run fast. Take the spray and all you have to do is spray it on it. Here, you will need a lot of sprays. Try to use half of the can for the spraying purpose. Start spraying into the vacuum line carefully.

Step 8: Give it a Break

We all need a break and so does your engine. After spraying, you have to give it a break. After you are done spraying, you have to turn the engine off. Now, you have to take some time and leave the spray there. It will soak the spray in. It will not take more than 5-7 minutes. For this period, let it cool down.

Step 9: Reattach the Vacuum

After you are done spraying the engine and let it soak, you are ready. Your engine is now ready for it. The carbon buildup in the intake manifold is removed carefully. In this last stage, you have to take the vacuum hose in your hands and then reattach it. Your work is completed.

Step 10: Care is the Key

Removing the carbon intake manifold takes time. However, some people are so busy that they cannot emphasize going through this process. If you are one of them, taking your engine to an expert is the best option.

We always say that prevention is better than cure. If you try to prevent the carbon buildup in the intake manifold, all you need to do is a little care. In most cases, if you add detergent-dispersants to gasoline, most of the harmful deposits can be easily controlled.

On the other side, try to go for detergent-dispersant combined with a petroleum carrier oil. This is very useful for keeping the intake manifold clean. This can also keep the ports clean and away from different sorts of deposits.

Final Verdict

In a world full of fast-running vehicles, why would you let your car run slow? If you want your car to run fast, you must have a great engine. On the other hand, even if you don’t care about the speed, you must care about engine longevity. If your engine keeps getting carbon buildups, it cannot last long!

When it comes to removing carbon buildup, we are here to help you. We have told how to remove carbon buildup in intake manifold. All you need to do is go through the methods and run a car that is faster than your friend’s car!