Piston Soak Help, Catalyst Issues?

[firebladegsxr1000]

Hi All I have a 2009 Acura TSX 2.4L i4 that was burning oil so I tried to do piston soak. I made a mix of Berryman B12, STP Treatment, PB Blaster & lots of ATF fluid. Since my car was on incline and the engine is angled, I wanted to put in lots of fluid mix to get full coverage.

I accidentally ended up pouring like 500 ml or 17 oz per cylinder or maybe more. Didn’t measure lol. When I was rotating the crank by hand to get fluid past the rings etc. a lot of fluid mix shot up from one of the cylinder. So I thought of pouring in more, like I think poured in 20-25 oz of ATF per cylinder so far.

Then I realized, the cylinder where the fluid didn’t shoot up, probably went through the valves into exhaust or intake. If it went into exhaust, then it must have gone to the catalyst. Then I realized how stupid I was.

Now the problem is, the catalyst bolts are rusted to hell and seized and impossible to take off to drain or flush, I live in Canada and its so rusted and I dont have power tools or torch. So I want to ask you guys, can I crank the engine a lot without sparkplugs, and hope the fluid mix makes it past the catalyst? And then after I have evacuated all fluid, I drive it normally? Will the catalyst be OK after this messed up attempt? Will the ATF or other things damage the catalyst?

 

[eljefino]

It's gonna smoke, LOL.

Scotty Kilmer (shudder) used to remove his cat and wash it in laundry detergent. If it can take that sort of abuse the ATF will be fine.

 

[Hirev]

You might want to get that puppy out on the highway with a good 30 min drive very soon so it will get the catalytic converter nice and hot and perhaps burn out some of the junk.

 

[SC Maintenance]

My goodness what kind of home brew soak is that? There are commercial products designed by chemists for that task?

Hopefully it doesn't leak out of the week hole and light something on fire.

 

[Brian123]

My goodness what kind of home brew soak is that? There are commercial products designed by chemists for that task?

Hopefully it doesn't leak out of the week hole and light something on fire.

Don't you mean Weep Hole?

 

[CharBaby]

Yes, take it on a long drive. Catalytic converters plug/get contaminated over periods of time. The mixture that you made may have gotten into the converter and just needs to be blown-out. Oil blow-by & ZINC are generally the enemy of catalytic converters. Not saying that there aren't other factors. If your converter does in fact plug-up then, it could have been caused mostly from your previous oil burning issue. Just my take on the subject!

Best of luck,

 

[MParr]

I don’t know if Canada has emissions inspection or not. If so, you may as well spring for a new converter.
If not, there are things that you can do to remedy the situation.

 

[Cujet]

Despite legendary claims, ATF is not a strong solvent and will not help dissolve carbon or deposits.

As for ruining the cat, it is unlikely, as the solvents and oils will simply pass through when cold and have not have been subject to thousands of miles (km in your case) of forming deposits on top of the active catalyst metals at scorching temps.

Crank it up, and drive right away.

It is a very good idea to change the oil after a piston soak. Those solvents are strong enough to damage some gaskets and seals.

 

[kschachn]

That entire post is reminiscent of the PowerBait episode.

 

[MolaKule]

Hi All I have a 2009 Acura TSX 2.4L i4 that was burning oil so I tried to do piston soak. I made a mix of Berryman B12, STP Treatment, PB Blaster & lots of ATF fluid. Since my car was on incline and the engine is angled, I wanted to put in lots of fluid mix to get full coverage.

I accidentally ended up pouring like 500 ml or 17 oz per cylinder or maybe more. Didn’t measure lol. When I was rotating the crank by hand to get fluid past the rings etc. a lot of fluid mix shot up from one of the cylinder. So I thought of pouring in more, like I think poured in 20-25 oz of ATF per cylinder so far.

Then I realized, the cylinder where the fluid didn’t shoot up, probably went through the valves into exhaust or intake. If it went into exhaust, then it must have gone to the catalyst. Then I realized how stupid I was.

Now the problem is, the catalyst bolts are rusted to hell and seized and impossible to take off to drain or flush, I live in Canada and its so rusted and I dont have power tools or torch. So I want to ask you guys, can I crank the engine a lot without sparkplugs, and hope the fluid mix makes it past the catalyst? And then after I have evacuated all fluid, I drive it normally? Will the catalyst be OK after this messed up attempt? Will the ATF or other things damage the catalyst?

Well, you could have come on here and asked the members the procedure and what fluid should have been added before you poured a witches brew into the cylinders and how much per cylinder should be added. Now you want us to solve a problem you created?

As others have stated ATF is NOT a good carbon solvent. This is an uninformed myth.

I have always recommended placing the vehicle on a level surface and removing the plugs and adding about 5oz. or 150mL per cylinder of HPL EC and let it creep across the piston face before turning the crank by hand. Letting it soak for about 2-3 days and turn crank often before inserting plugs.

Always shine a bright light down into each cylinder and see how much fluid has soaked down past the rings; this will let you know when to re-insert plugs.

As others have suggested, unless you can remove the CC, your only alternative is to light it up and smoke it down the highway.

Addendum: Replace filter and engine oil after any piston soak.

 

[KrisZ]

Film the smoke show, should be quite epic with the amount of ATF you poured in.