Valve cleaners

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Onne
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Valve cleaners

Post by Onne »

What are your experiences with Valve cleaners? I would like to clean my valves, but don't want to make my engine use more oil, as in stories I heard. BTW, the engine doesn't use that much oil, it leaks away via the sump gasket...

Onne
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2dr 1971 White DAF 55 (with hopefully a 1600cc engine soon)
2dr 1973 Bergina (DAF 44)
2dr Estate 1975 DAF 46 in red
2dr saloon 1972 DAF 44 in Mimosa
Cam
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Post by Cam »

Why do you want to clean your valves? If you want to remove carbon deposits then whip the head off and de-coke it.

I have never used cleaners. I don't think they are as effective as some people might make out, but that's NOT speaking from experience, just hearsay.
Alec
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Post by Alec »

Hello all,

I worked in a garge part time as a school boy in the early sixties and the Redex 'de-coke' was quite common. Dribble a half pint of Redex upper cylinder lubricant into the carburettor while the engine was idling then give it a good old revving. With hindsight I don't believe that it did more than move soft carbon and is not an effective repair. The other method is the 'Italian tune up', which meant taking the car out on the road and really giving it some welly.
Onne, as I suggested in an earlier post, get a spare head which can be overhauled and then a swop is a relatively small job. I, also, don't think that chemical cleaning is effective on a worn head.

Alec
Kevin
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Post by Kevin »

I am with Cam on this point, if you have ever decoked a head and seen how hard the deposits are there is no way a cleaner can realistically work, and the problem with you head is with the valve guides from the sounds of it and the only cure is replacement, if you dont wont the car of the road long do as alec suggests.
Cheers

Kevin
Lovejoy 1968 Smoke Grey Traveller (gone to a new home after13 years)

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Onne
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Post by Onne »

Will do. problem is not so much there anymore though, I added JB Oil Treatment to the oil, she doesn't smoke anymore. I will get a head, maybe I can swop it over during the National or something. She is running like a dream now
Onne van der S. MMOCno 60520 Moderator
2dr 1971 White DAF 55 (with hopefully a 1600cc engine soon)
2dr 1973 Bergina (DAF 44)
2dr Estate 1975 DAF 46 in red
2dr saloon 1972 DAF 44 in Mimosa
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