[TX88EB]

today while changing my valve cover gaskets I noticed a lot of build up inside my valve covers. Mostly carbon build up, my question is if I clean this to the best of my ability, will it hurt my engine, planning to add some seafoam to the engine, then changing my oil again.

 

[RLKBOB]

Nope, why would cleaning it hurt it?

 

[Blue'87GT]

Nope, cleaning the inside of the valve covers won't hurt a thing unless the carbon is covering a rusty pinhole in them.

 

[Seabronc]

Just make sure you don't clog up the oil drain holes in the head with the crap. Put something in to plug the holes while you are doing it and then don't forget to take the plugs back out. I had the same problem the first time I removed my valve covers about 3 years ago, it looked like someone had thrown a bucket of sand in there. I cleaned it up real good and flushed the system and haven't had a problem since.

 

[F1rocco]

Ive used Seafoam through the brake booster hose while running...Can surely see it working to clean carbon deposit......

 

[Seabronc]

Ive used Seafoam through the brake booster hose while running...Can surely see it working to clean carbon deposit......

That is a good way to clean up the path from the intake to the exhaust but that doesn't cover the area under the valve covers. It is much better to clean it by hand first and then flush the oil system. The only thing to consider is, if the engine is high milage flushing the oil system may cause problems to show up like low oil pressure and burning oil. The moral to that story is: if you have a good low milage engine, start maintaining the oil system then.

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