that funky burnt orange color is normal.
the black goo inside the IM is...well, I think it's inevitable, but not desirable. My guess is it just looks like a smoker's lungs because it's been inhaling trace bits of oil from the PCV system for X years/miles. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

The same carbon build-up in the intake manifold that Phil pointed out is also within your plenum. You can spend time with various chemicals trying to clean it up and who knows??...you may have some success.

If you go this route; on first start-up you'll likely see tons of white smoke that some would identify as a blown head gasket. Not to fear. It's just all of the intake cleaner that's exiting the engine. It will take awhile for it all to burn off.

Be sure to remove the IAC(idle air control) valve - Haynes manual - page 4B-12 photo 9.48 from the throttle body after the TB has been reinstalled and cleaned. Lots of the same stuff you're seeing in the intake manifold. This effort may make for a smoother idling motor.

The o-ring gasket parts numbers are:

1-09623-130-0 & 9-09561338-0

The big water pipe has 2 connections at the back of the motor - 2 gaskets needed here. The part number is:

8-94364-756-0

These part numbers are from a 95.0. Suspect yours will be the same.

That said, the engines I have transitioned over to synthetic have never had it. Those that started with dino juice had that laquered buildup, but putting synth in dissolved it away. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Randii (who likes synthetic)

Anyone ever experiment with the self-clean cycle of the kitchen oven?? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

I'd spare the oven(and my intestines) and take it to a machine shop that's setup to do a good chemical cleaning.
Trying to battle with this at home is time consuming and not likely to be all that successful. It's hard to get down deep inside the plenum.

My 2 cents.

Or just get as much out as I can with brake cleaner and then bolt the sucker back on... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

So I picked up the gaskets referenced by Phil and others - looking at Phil's handy pictures it appears I'm right on top of where they go. That said, they look like a royal pain to replace, and if they are not leaking, is it REALLY worth digging them out? I've got maybe 130k miles on the thing.

You've already learned how much fun it is to get to these gaskets.

Do you want to have to do this again in 6 months or a year?

You have it torn down. Do it now.

my 97 3.2 looks a lot like yours and i had the same orange color when i replaced the valve cover gaskets. i've been running mobil 1 for about two years and if that doesn't clean stuff up, nothing will. "Bob, i'm going to bet $250 and go with 'normal' for the win."

More dumb questions - I was in poking around thinking "man those last couple of pipes are going to be a pain to get off to put those O-Rings in" and started tugging on other stuff I have no business messing with. I noticed that one of the lifters appears to have a good amount of play in it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Here's the video.

Is this a problem, or am I having a fit of Smiley-esque paranoia here? If it's not right (none of the others are that loose) is it worth me doing something about, or should I (could I) write it off as old age and ignore it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

That play could be because the cam lobe isn't putting pressure on the lifter....but then again there would be others that do it too. Are you sure no others are moving like that? Even on the other side?



Madcat <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />