How Should I Clean These Rockers??? If At All..
06-21-2012, 08:29 PM
#1
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline 6
How Should I Clean These Rockers??? If At All..
my searches have shown Seafoam to help but can i scrape some of this stuff and blow it off with the compressor? or Vacuum it out? I also need to scrape the top so the gasket can sit flat. gotta find me a plastic tool of some sort that won't scratch it... thanks in advance!!!
06-21-2012, 09:39 PM
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With that much crud you may just want to leave it alone, sure sign it's been run hard and never had an oil change.
Scrape what "top"? the valve cover? Just use a gasket scraper / putty knife and don't go nuts and leave a bunch of deep gouges.
Scrape what "top"? the valve cover? Just use a gasket scraper / putty knife and don't go nuts and leave a bunch of deep gouges.
06-21-2012, 09:46 PM
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What I've done in the past was to use a wire brush on that stuff while vacuuming at the same time. Then I put in cheap(er) oil an ran it for a day or two... Then changed the oil and filter again... of course with the good stuff.
I don't see how it can hurt... Also clean the pi$$ out of the inside of the cover... Just be really careful. It's better to get it off now than have it break loose later and clog a passage.
I don't see how it can hurt... Also clean the pi$$ out of the inside of the cover... Just be really careful. It's better to get it off now than have it break loose later and clog a passage.
Last edited by Whutdidyousay; 06-21-2012 at 09:48 PM.
06-21-2012, 10:46 PM
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well i bought it at 75,000 miles and i've used full synthetic oil ever since. i do my own oil changes every 4000 miles or so. maybe they dogged it before i got. it was a young kid who had it before me.
06-21-2012, 11:14 PM
#5
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If it only has 75000, there may not be that much gunked up in the motor. I don't think there's a whole lot of pressure/friction in the rocker cover to really push out and clean up that gunk.
I would use an old toothbrush or buy a cheap one. With a solvent, like Seafoam, use the toothbrush and scrub out all the stuck gunk. Lay a rag down under and around the rockers to catch the sludge. If you own a dremel tool, get a soft brush attachment. Don't use metal or wire brushes. This will make the job much faster.
When you're clear of thick sludge, or anything that may find itself inside your engine. Run some cheap clean oil through it. You can run Seafoam in it at this point. Then change the oil with a quality oil/filter.
If it were me, and the oil already drained... I'd pull the oil pan and take a look. Just in case.
I would use an old toothbrush or buy a cheap one. With a solvent, like Seafoam, use the toothbrush and scrub out all the stuck gunk. Lay a rag down under and around the rockers to catch the sludge. If you own a dremel tool, get a soft brush attachment. Don't use metal or wire brushes. This will make the job much faster.
When you're clear of thick sludge, or anything that may find itself inside your engine. Run some cheap clean oil through it. You can run Seafoam in it at this point. Then change the oil with a quality oil/filter.
If it were me, and the oil already drained... I'd pull the oil pan and take a look. Just in case.
Last edited by KJamesJR; 06-21-2012 at 11:17 PM.
06-21-2012, 11:32 PM
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If it only has 75000, there may not be that much gunked up in the motor. I don't think there's a whole lot of pressure/friction in the rocker cover to really push out and clean up that gunk.
I would use an old toothbrush or buy a cheap one. With a solvent, like Seafoam, use the toothbrush and scrub out all the stuck gunk. Lay a rag down under and around the rockers to catch the sludge. If you own a dremel tool, get a soft brush attachment. Don't use metal or wire brushes. This will make the job much faster.
When you're clear of thick sludge, or anything that may find itself inside your engine. Run some cheap clean oil through it. You can run Seafoam in it at this point. Then change the oil with a quality oil/filter.
If it were me, and the oil already drained... I'd pull the oil pan and take a look. Just in case.
I would use an old toothbrush or buy a cheap one. With a solvent, like Seafoam, use the toothbrush and scrub out all the stuck gunk. Lay a rag down under and around the rockers to catch the sludge. If you own a dremel tool, get a soft brush attachment. Don't use metal or wire brushes. This will make the job much faster.
When you're clear of thick sludge, or anything that may find itself inside your engine. Run some cheap clean oil through it. You can run Seafoam in it at this point. Then change the oil with a quality oil/filter.
If it were me, and the oil already drained... I'd pull the oil pan and take a look. Just in case.
no, it has 105,000 miles on it now. i've put 30,000miles on it in about 5 years... but thanks for the advice, thats great info right there. i will try that... you're saying pour (or dip) the toothbrush in the Seafoam?? and then scrub...
Last edited by udownwitk; 06-21-2012 at 11:34 PM.
06-22-2012, 12:16 AM
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Originally Posted by KJamesJR
If it only has 75000, there may not be that much gunked up in the motor. I don't think there's a whole lot of pressure/friction in the rocker cover to really push out and clean up that gunk.
I would use an old toothbrush or buy a cheap one. With a solvent, like Seafoam, use the toothbrush and scrub out all the stuck gunk. Lay a rag down under and around the rockers to catch the sludge. If you own a dremel tool, get a soft brush attachment. Don't use metal or wire brushes. This will make the job much faster.
When you're clear of thick sludge, or anything that may find itself inside your engine. Run some cheap clean oil through it. You can run Seafoam in it at this point. Then change the oil with a quality oil/filter.
If it were me, and the oil already drained... I'd pull the oil pan and take a look. Just in case.
I would use an old toothbrush or buy a cheap one. With a solvent, like Seafoam, use the toothbrush and scrub out all the stuck gunk. Lay a rag down under and around the rockers to catch the sludge. If you own a dremel tool, get a soft brush attachment. Don't use metal or wire brushes. This will make the job much faster.
When you're clear of thick sludge, or anything that may find itself inside your engine. Run some cheap clean oil through it. You can run Seafoam in it at this point. Then change the oil with a quality oil/filter.
If it were me, and the oil already drained... I'd pull the oil pan and take a look. Just in case.
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06-22-2012, 12:32 AM
#8
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Just dip the brush in the solvent (Seafoam). No need to pour it on heavy.
Yes you can saturate a cloth with it, and lay it down around your rockers. Even put the cover back down on top of it and let it sit overnight.
Seafoam will carry carbon build-up out with it. Even the residual. So again, make sure the chunks are gone before starting her up. If you see white smoke, completely normal.
Yes you can saturate a cloth with it, and lay it down around your rockers. Even put the cover back down on top of it and let it sit overnight.
Seafoam will carry carbon build-up out with it. Even the residual. So again, make sure the chunks are gone before starting her up. If you see white smoke, completely normal.
Last edited by KJamesJR; 06-22-2012 at 12:37 AM.
06-22-2012, 12:46 AM
#10
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Synthetic will definitely help restore the cleanliness of you motor. Without a good filter however, the gunk is just going to get cycled back in.
06-22-2012, 11:04 AM
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06-22-2012, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by udownwitk
I use purolator gold. The mustard looking one, lol. Only oil filter I use... What do yall prefer?
06-22-2012, 06:24 PM
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EDIT** i see This One at O'Reilly... $6.69... do yall mind telling whats so great about them?
Last edited by udownwitk; 06-22-2012 at 06:31 PM.
06-22-2012, 06:42 PM
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so i cleaned the buildup as best as i could and vacuumed it out... also painted the valve cover... looks much better. not show quality but perfect for me...
