Cleaning Combustion Deposits

[SteveD2]

If it's within your abilities to remove the head, you can do it pretty easily. Just unbolt the head, and clean everything you see with carburetor cleaner. Make sure you use a new head gasket...

 

[seotaji]

i don't see why you can't do it with seafoam.

brigs usually reccomends that you take off the head and scrape the deposits off of the affected areas.

zmoz is right, carb cleaner and a toothbrush.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

If you don't want to remove the head, what about running fuel power in the gas for a while? I just ordered some for my car, but plan on running it through my power equipment to clean the combustion chamber and valves. (That is, after I check out the proper amount to use).

 

[countryboy9799_99]

If its a flat head its a piece of cake, just gotta take the covers off to get to the head bolts and get them off. Just be careful if its older so u dont snap the head bolts though. Then after u clean the head find out the pattern to tighten the head bolts and you will need a tourque wrench also.
I have heard about steaming a motor, do a google search and you should find something. I dont know a lot about it but it sounds like it works and is free. Something about taking a tube hooked up to a can of water and slowly feeding it into the motor.
One other thing I dont think the carbon would cause the burning oil, probably have other problems.
Good luck.

 

[SteveD2]

Something like Seafoam or fuel power will help, but it won't have the same effect as taking off the head and cleaning it. Even on the OHV models it's pretty easy to do that, I do it every couple of years to all my small engines.

 

[Roger]

My 3-yr old Toro mower has a 6 hp B&S GTS-XL engine. The owners manual has the following to say in the maintenance section: "We recommend that after every 100-300 hours you have an authorized Briggs & Stratton Service Dealer remove combustion deposits from the cylinder, cylinder head, top of piston, and around valves."

Well golly, that sounds expensive and a tad beyond my saturday mechanic abilities. Can this be done with a chemical? Like Auto RX, Schaeffer's 131, Seafoam, or somehting like that???

I assume it needs it, as the darn thing consumes oil now, and creates a bunch of blue smoke when starting.

 

[Roger]

Hey, thanks for the advice guys. I checked out a "How to repair a B&S engine" at the library tonight. The manual detailed out his job, complete with step by step photos. I think you are right ZmOz. It looks easy. Come Saturday I'll tackle this one.

 

[SteveD2]

Yeah, if you've got a book and a socket set it shouldn't take more than an hour. I can rebuild one of these things with my eyes closed...and I haven't had much training.