Cleaning around the fuel injector area

**Flip97GTP** · 05-15-2013

Hello all,

I am new here and I have a question or need some advice. Pleasebe easy on me lol.

I have 97 grand prix gtp and the area around the fuel injectors are dirty a lot of gunk. What would be the best way to clean this area and also how?

Thanks
Flip

**Slick2500** · 05-15-2013

Get some purple power and a brush of some sort that will fit into the little spaces, soak the area with purple power for about 10-15 min then give it a good one over with the brush and wash it off with a garden hose. Should get rid of most of the junk. You could use a pressure washer if you wanted.

**Bluemagic** · 05-15-2013

Simple green or some degreaser. Let it sit and then wash it out with a water hose.

**Flip97GTP** · 05-15-2013

Ok sounds good. Can I use heavy duty degreaser that's in the can? For example gunk degreaser etc....

**GTP89** · 05-15-2013

Yes you can, use degreaser, a paint brush to loosen it up a bit and if you have a air pressure hose that would work great as well.

**machinegunsquid** · 05-15-2013

Use an air hose if you can, if not, use a can of air duster. I always keep one handy in the car for detailing, or if I need to pull the injectors/LIM i always use it to blow off all the sand/gunk.

**FordMan77** · 05-15-2013

And before you use air or water or both to otherwise remove the grime that you have now loosened, take a second to get some safety glasses on. You really don't want that junk coming back into your eyes as you clean it off.

Yes it sounds like common sense, but I've seen it happen far too many times.

**SlowNA06** · 05-15-2013

I'm stupid and I squint. Eye protection's a good idea.

**BillBoost37** · 05-16-2013

Bathing suit can be helpful too.. Cause when the water hits that one spot on the LIM.. you are gonna get soaked.

**Flip97GTP** · 05-16-2013

Originally Posted by machinegunsquid

Use an air hose if you can, if not, use a can of air duster. I always keep one handy in the car for detailing, or if I need to pull the injectors/LIM i always use it to blow off all the sand/gunk.

I don't think this idea will work in my situation lol because it is gunked up really bad. That might be 1 of the reasons my car is running like crap.

Thank you all for your replies!
Flip

**TEK310** · 05-16-2013

sounds like your LIM gasket is leaking

**Flip97GTP** · 05-17-2013

Originally Posted by TEK310

sounds like your LIM gasket is leaking

I was thinking the same thing! I am going to have to check on that.

Thanks

**TLSheff** · 05-17-2013

Did you have issues with gunk pooling up in the holes and around the intake manifold like this?

This was my 99 GTP at 75,000 miles, had a trashed Lower Intake Manifold gasket, due to previous owners lack of maintenance on the coolant. If this is the case, you will want to look between where the head and the LIM meet and see if the gasket is black or aluminum. Some cleaning would be needed, but if it's black and looks like its made of plastic, then its the old style and you will want to replace it regardless.

**Flip97GTP** · 06-12-2013

no I didn't notice none of that! Its just real gunky around the fuel injectors.

Thanks for your reply and the pics though! good job!

**sco77** · 06-12-2013

Originally Posted by Flip97GTP

I don't think this idea will work in my situation lol because it is gunked up really bad. That might be 1 of the reasons my car is running like crap.

Thank you all for your replies!
Flip

The outside will have no effect on the performance.

**Flip97GTP** · 10-28-2014

Originally Posted by TLSheff

Did you have issues with gunk pooling up in the holes and around the intake manifold like this?

This was my 99 GTP at 75,000 miles, had a trashed Lower Intake Manifold gasket, due to previous owners lack of maintenance on the coolant. If this is the case, you will want to look between where the head and the LIM meet and see if the gasket is black or aluminum. Some cleaning would be needed, but if it's black and looks like its made of plastic, then its the old style and you will want to replace it regardless.

Well, now that I look at it a little closer it does look like this. I have those crappy plastic LIM gasket on there right now. I'm going to do a LIM gasket replacement and I'm going to use the aluminum one.

**BillBoost37** · 10-28-2014

Pooling in those area's isn't from the LIM gaskets. It's from the sealant on the bolts breaking down over time.

**Flip97GTP** · 10-28-2014

So, what do you suggest should be done, BillBoost?

**BillBoost37** · 10-28-2014

Sounds like you need to do LIM gaskets anyhow. Do your lims, coolant elbows, etc etc and clean the bolts. Then use a pipe sealant with ptfe/teflon when you reassemble. That'll do the trick.

**Turbocharged400sbc** · 10-29-2014

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Pooling in those area's isn't from the LIM gaskets. It's from the sealant on the bolts breaking down over time.

its coolant, the crankcase is not under enough pressure to force oil up the bolt threads. its coagulated dehydrated coolant. tastes like it too if you try it.

cooling system is under pressure almost constantly, plenty to allow slow coolant creep. it can get to the point you refill the resevoir due to a mysterious "leak" you cant find...which is usually the sc tb gasket/lim gaskets.

keep in mind what you see outside the engine is roughly 1/3rd of the coolant thats leaking, the rest is going into the intake ports on either side of the coolant passage, and into yer oil pan letting the acids eat away at your bearings (engine oil will taste bitter)