| Author | Message | ||
     George Constantine New User Username: theo Post Number: 39 Registered: 06-2012 |
Hi all. Need a little advice. Can I use STP PRO-SERIES CAR INTAKE VALVE CLEANER to clean the sparkplugs/combustion chamber on a 1979 Corniche? I don't use the car very often and the plugs get fouled up. I don't want to keep removing the plugs as some of the plug holes were fitted with tread sleeves and it's a job to keep removing them. Any advice on the best way to clean the plugs without removing them would be appreciated. | ||
| Larry Kavanagh Frequent User Username: shadow_11 Post Number: 857 Registered: 05-2016 |
A good Italian tune up when the engine is fully warmed up is probably the best method. Take her for a good fast spin down a long highway. The more they're driven the better they go. | ||
| Jeff Martin Frequent User Username: jeff_r_1 Post Number: 699 Registered: 07-2018 |
Agree, all this combustion cleaner crap is just that. | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 883 Registered: 10-2008 |
I agree with the others, nice gentle warm up, then 30 miles down the motorway third lane at 70mph. It works on my cars and after a motorway run, the improvement is noticeable. | ||
| George Constantine New User Username: theo Post Number: 40 Registered: 06-2012 |
Thank you all for the advice. I was hoping for a "miracle cure" Larry, what's an Italian tune-up"? | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 3387 Registered: 06-2009 |
George, Larry described the "Italian Tune-Up" pretty exactly. It's taking the car out for a long drive where you get it going at highway speeds and/or up steep grades for "a period of time exceeding 45 minutes" after it has reached full operating temperature. Think of it as a long, briskly paced drive where the engine gets put under some stress as opposed to just ambling down city streets. The phrase "burning the carbon off" also gets used. Brian | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 2597 Registered: 09-2004 |
so carbon build up is another posting! so replying to this thread with copy. So pleased to see the replies to the posting above have been removed or so i thought, driving the car at high engine speed to clear plug fouling with carbon build up is a short term fix with possible damage resulting. As for the question on adding intake valve cleaner it is a big no. IMO First fill up and use E5 super unleaded rather than the E10 if you don't already, it can cause many fuelling problems. Book the car in for c/o emission check and make sure the car up to operating temp. If the car is running the Opus ignition they can give misfiring on start up etc. A scope set up will show plug kv firing lines. Ignition timing etc etc with the correct procedure. | ||
| Mark Aldridge Frequent User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 885 Registered: 10-2008 |
George, are you using either platinum or Iridium plugs, these are a vast improvement over standard plugs and cured my fouling problems on my S1, Shadow and Austin Healey. My storage is such that I have to shunt cars about to get cars out which cokes them hence a nice brisk motorway run occasionally. Use E5 fuel and I use Tetraboost additive. I used my Shadow as a daily driver for 11 years and heavy traffic and local use would give rise to poor running, all cured by a good run and a change to platinum plugs back in the early 2000's !I pensioned it off from daily use 15 years ago and kept it. Now using SZ seies as daily transport. These also foul if carb engined, but the injection cars are much better in this respect. Mark |
