water trick - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GREASEMONKEY72 · 12-31-2006, 01:12 AM

if i do the water trick since its cheaper which is lightly pouring water into the carb to clean out the engine, will i notice a difference in performance at all??? or will it not matter??? will there be a decrease in power or an increase and am i crazy to think that the carbon build up would actually increase the comp enough to make a difference???

-steven

krue · 12-31-2006, 01:16 AM

I personally would try seafoam. You can get it at any parts store and I've heard no complaints about it.

72armyswbtruck · 12-31-2006, 01:20 AM

Krue,
Seafoam?
Never heard of this stuff what exactly is it?

84_4x4 · 12-31-2006, 01:28 AM

seafoam is a thin liquid almost like paint thinner and it is highly toxic ive used it before to clean out oil passage ways before and it did a great job you can put it in your gas oil and even suck some up into some vaccum lines will smoke like a freight train but will clean the engine to almost perfect

ETsC10 · 12-31-2006, 01:32 AM

Is this the same concept as using Kerosene to quiet noisy lifters? Or using trany fluid to wash out sludge? Wouldn't this flood the bearings down with crud?

brak · 12-31-2006, 01:44 AM

Seafoam is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and Naptha (a solvent used in Zippo lighter fluid), it's like WD40 in the fact that it has a million uses, and i always keep a can or ten on hand.

as per the can, it:
* Cleans fuel injectors
* Cleans carburetor jets
* Cleans carbon
* Stabilizes fuels
* Upper cylinder lube
* Removes moisture in fuel
* De-icer
* Frees sticky lifters
* Frees sticky rings
* Removes moisture in oil
* Cleans P.C.V. systems
* Cleans catalytic converter odors
* Oxygen sensor safe

I use it in all my vehicles (and lawnmower) as a fuel stabilizer, when they will sit for an extended period of time, which means that the whole shebang gets a thourough cleaning when they are driven again.

you can buy it at most auto parts stores and gas stations. costs a couple bucks a can.

**truckdude239** · 12-31-2006, 02:20 AM

I second seafoam. or some kinda of cleaner. in my opinion the only place water has the right to be in a motor is in the water jackets. nowhere near the carbs or inside the cyliders

Longhorn Man · 12-31-2006, 03:57 AM

water in the carb is fine... use a spray bottle set on stream, jack the idle up to 2000 RPM... your fingers can't pump it fast enough to cause damage. This is an old trick that is still used today at emissions testing places that really works.

*trkklr77* · 12-31-2006, 04:00 AM

im with the no water crowd on this one, you put a nut hair tomouch wtaer and youll hydro lock your motor and wind up with bent rod or explode a piston.

heard alot of good about seafoam but never used it.

Longhorn Man · 12-31-2006, 04:11 AM

at 2000 RPM with a squirt bottle.... like a windex bottle.... it is literally imposible to do.
They've only been doing it for 50 years or so.

70GMCer · 12-31-2006, 07:39 AM

I agree with Longhorn on this one. I've been doing this for over 30 years and never had any problems.

Sweet72 · 12-31-2006, 08:44 AM

I have done the water trick and noticed an improvement in how the engine runs. When I pulled the ramshorn manifolds off a couple years ago I noticed what appears to be ash in the exhaust runners on the exhaust valves. There was at least a heaping tablespoon of this stuff in each runner????? What the heck!

**Boog** · 12-31-2006, 08:59 AM

I believe that would be the remains of burned oil getting past the valve seals and or piston rings.

PanelDeland · 12-31-2006, 09:05 AM

I can't see water hurting the engine.It's a small amount.Also water injection has been used for years.It helps control detonation by cooling the incoming airflow.The seafoam is probably better.

Aarons72s · 12-31-2006, 10:54 AM

My former employer, the repo guy did the water trick on his 97 dodge ram with 360. Worked like a charm. He reved the engine up, not sure rpm. Had a cup of water that he was pouring down the intake. Seemed to work great, no more missies from the carbon.

chipflyer · 12-31-2006, 11:11 AM

I learned the water trick from a vo tech instructor over 20 years ago and have been doing it ever since. Slowly poor it in at a high idle and it will basically high pressure steam clean the combustion chamber. I have used sea foam also and I think it works well also.

Jeff

DMX84 · 12-31-2006, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREASEMONKEY72

if i do the water trick since its cheaper which is lightly pouring water into the carb to clean out the engine, will i notice a difference in performance at all??? or will it not matter??? will there be a decrease in power or an increase and am i crazy to think that the carbon build up would actually increase the comp enough to make a difference???

-steven

Carbon build up will hurt performance, but to what degree has several factors. High compression & lower compressions engines. Also the amount of carbon build up has a lot to do with it.
DMX

73stepside · 12-31-2006, 11:54 AM

if you don't feel like pouring water in the intake, set the sprayer to mist and mist the water above the carb. it will get sucked into the carb and do the same thing, but it takes longer. works just as well. water in the combustion chambers isn't going to hurt anything. you're not going to hydro lock anything with a spray mist or stream from a spray bottle

masterbeavis · 01-01-2007, 09:33 PM

A friend of mine took a garden hose to an old ford I-6 with a brick on the gas pedal runnin WOT. It took 20 minutes at full bore to kill that motor.

68GMC454 · 01-01-2007, 10:12 PM

well glad im not the only one who has done the water trick..kinda intersting to do to..

DMX84 · 01-01-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masterbeavis

A friend of mine took a garden hose to an old ford I-6 with a brick on the gas pedal runnin WOT. It took 20 minutes at full bore to kill that motor.

I would think just running it WOT alone would kill an engine in 20 min.

*wolfthing2000* · 01-01-2007, 10:31 PM

Masterbeavis,
That is the best thing I have heard done to a Ford in a long time......

........perfect end to the piece o' ****!!!!

arkracing · 01-01-2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMX84

I would think just running it WOT alone would kill an engine in 20 min.

Unfortuantly Ford I6's are hard to kill - they will run knocking forever. Most of the 250's and 292's GM's will do the same.

as far as the topic @ hand - I would "mist" the bottle over the carb - it will take longer as stated but you certainly won't Hydro-Lock the motor.

Longhorn Man · 01-01-2007, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkracing

as far as the topic @ hand - I would "mist" the bottle over the carb - it will take longer as stated but you certainly won't Hydro-Lock the motor.

I'll buy you a 502 if you can kill your motor with a spray bottle with the RPMs up at 2 grand-ish.

lilpup69chevy · 01-02-2007, 01:10 AM

wow the chevy 250 in my dad's old 81 didn't last me long it didn't even get a chance to knock of course it had a 3 spd on the column and no tach with quiet exhaust and i was young dumb and stupid chunked a rod right through the block but it did leave one nice long black mark before it puked the rod and by the way i actually drove it home about 3 or 4 miles with the rod broke it would still start up and run

12-31-2006, 01:12 AM	#1
GREASEMONKEY72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bakersfield,CA Posts: 7,893	water trick if i do the water trick since its cheaper which is lightly pouring water into the carb to clean out the engine, will i notice a difference in performance at all??? or will it not matter??? will there be a decrease in power or an increase and am i crazy to think that the carbon build up would actually increase the comp enough to make a difference??? -steven __________________ -steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME

12-31-2006, 01:16 AM	#2
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	Re: water trick I personally would try seafoam. You can get it at any parts store and I've heard no complaints about it. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

12-31-2006, 01:20 AM	#3
72armyswbtruck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,033	Re: water trick Krue, Seafoam? Never heard of this stuff what exactly is it? __________________ "Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!"

12-31-2006, 01:28 AM	#4
84_4x4 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville Ky Posts: 179	Re: water trick seafoam is a thin liquid almost like paint thinner and it is highly toxic ive used it before to clean out oil passage ways before and it did a great job you can put it in your gas oil and even suck some up into some vaccum lines will smoke like a freight train but will clean the engine to almost perfect

12-31-2006, 01:32 AM	#5
ETsC10 Hand Crafted C-10 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Burien, WA Posts: 5,180	Re: water trick Is this the same concept as using Kerosene to quiet noisy lifters? Or using trany fluid to wash out sludge? Wouldn't this flood the bearings down with crud? __________________ . Forum Guidelines and Rules Buying and Selling Code of Conduct Become a Board Supporter! Truck FAQ Ellen... the boards artsy-fartsy, eclectic, truck-lovin' gal-member...

12-31-2006, 01:44 AM	#6
brak Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MinneSNOWta Posts: 1,381	Re: water trick Seafoam is a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and Naptha (a solvent used in Zippo lighter fluid), it's like WD40 in the fact that it has a million uses, and i always keep a can or ten on hand. as per the can, it: * Cleans fuel injectors * Cleans carburetor jets * Cleans carbon * Stabilizes fuels * Upper cylinder lube * Removes moisture in fuel * De-icer * Frees sticky lifters * Frees sticky rings * Removes moisture in oil * Cleans P.C.V. systems * Cleans catalytic converter odors * Oxygen sensor safe I use it in all my vehicles (and lawnmower) as a fuel stabilizer, when they will sit for an extended period of time, which means that the whole shebang gets a thourough cleaning when they are driven again. you can buy it at most auto parts stores and gas stations. costs a couple bucks a can. __________________ 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 WT 1995 Nissan Hardbody 2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo DC2 (SW/AW) Clyde W. Harvey USN "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery" Winston Churchill Last edited by brak; 12-31-2006 at 01:48 AM.

12-31-2006, 02:20 AM	#7
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,238	Re: water trick I second seafoam. or some kinda of cleaner. in my opinion the only place water has the right to be in a motor is in the water jackets. nowhere near the carbs or inside the cyliders __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

12-31-2006, 03:57 AM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: water trick water in the carb is fine... use a spray bottle set on stream, jack the idle up to 2000 RPM... your fingers can't pump it fast enough to cause damage. This is an old trick that is still used today at emissions testing places that really works.

12-31-2006, 04:00 AM	#9
trkklr77 Account Suspended Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: vacaville ca, because it as far from indy as i can be Posts: 775	Re: water trick im with the no water crowd on this one, you put a nut hair tomouch wtaer and youll hydro lock your motor and wind up with bent rod or explode a piston. heard alot of good about seafoam but never used it.

12-31-2006, 04:11 AM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: water trick at 2000 RPM with a squirt bottle.... like a windex bottle.... it is literally imposible to do. They've only been doing it for 50 years or so.

12-31-2006, 07:39 AM	#11
70GMCer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joppa, Maryland Posts: 4,408	Re: water trick I agree with Longhorn on this one. I've been doing this for over 30 years and never had any problems. __________________ 1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang

12-31-2006, 08:44 AM	#12
Sweet72 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 1,534	Re: water trick I have done the water trick and noticed an improvement in how the engine runs. When I pulled the ramshorn manifolds off a couple years ago I noticed what appears to be ash in the exhaust runners on the exhaust valves. There was at least a heaping tablespoon of this stuff in each runner????? What the heck! __________________ '72 GMC SWB C1500 Custom, frame-off in progress. 383 SBC, 9:1CR, Comp Cams XE262H, Scat internal balanced crank, Eagle SIR 6" rods, Keith Black dish pistons, Dart Iron Eagle 72/180 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, Stewart stage I water pump, Holley 4bbl vac sec, TH350 with B&M Shift Improver Kit. 12 bolt positraction. Last edited by Sweet72; 12-31-2006 at 08:45 AM.

12-31-2006, 08:59 AM	#13
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,666	Re: water trick I believe that would be the remains of burned oil getting past the valve seals and or piston rings. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

12-31-2006, 09:05 AM	#14
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: water trick I can't see water hurting the engine.It's a small amount.Also water injection has been used for years.It helps control detonation by cooling the incoming airflow.The seafoam is probably better. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

12-31-2006, 10:54 AM	#15
Aarons72s Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: oklahoma Posts: 10,669	Re: water trick My former employer, the repo guy did the water trick on his 97 dodge ram with 360. Worked like a charm. He reved the engine up, not sure rpm. Had a cup of water that he was pouring down the intake. Seemed to work great, no more missies from the carbon.



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12-31-2006, 11:11 AM	#16
chipflyer Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Topeka, Ks Posts: 2,293	Re: water trick I learned the water trick from a vo tech instructor over 20 years ago and have been doing it ever since. Slowly poor it in at a high idle and it will basically high pressure steam clean the combustion chamber. I have used sea foam also and I think it works well also. Jeff __________________ I'm not a pessimist, I'm just optimistic that bad things are going to happen. 1971 Cheyenne Super K10 - tilt, cruise, air, am/fm, tow hooks, factory buckets! 1986 Jeep J10 pickup, - 5.3L Vortec with 4L60e and NP241.

12-31-2006, 11:54 AM	#18
73stepside Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Moore OK 73160 Posts: 974	Re: water trick if you don't feel like pouring water in the intake, set the sprayer to mist and mist the water above the carb. it will get sucked into the carb and do the same thing, but it takes longer. works just as well. water in the combustion chambers isn't going to hurt anything. you're not going to hydro lock anything with a spray mist or stream from a spray bottle __________________ 04 GMC Sierra RCSS 70 CST LWB 04 HD Sportster 1200 Custom

01-01-2007, 09:33 PM	#19
masterbeavis Having issues Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eldorado Ca, an hour east of sacramento Posts: 696	Re: water trick A friend of mine took a garden hose to an old ford I-6 with a brick on the gas pedal runnin WOT. It took 20 minutes at full bore to kill that motor.

01-01-2007, 10:12 PM	#20
68GMC454 THE VILLIAGE IDIOT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tooele, Utah Posts: 1,405	Re: water trick well glad im not the only one who has done the water trick..kinda intersting to do to.. __________________ honestly honey,,i have no idea how that truck got here.

01-01-2007, 10:31 PM	#22
wolfthing2000 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,276	Re: water trick Masterbeavis, That is the best thing I have heard done to a Ford in a long time...... ........perfect end to the piece o' ****!!!!

01-02-2007, 01:10 AM	#25
lilpup69chevy 67-72 parts finder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: southeast mo Posts: 788	Re: water trick wow the chevy 250 in my dad's old 81 didn't last me long it didn't even get a chance to knock of course it had a 3 spd on the column and no tach with quiet exhaust and i was young dumb and stupid chunked a rod right through the block but it did leave one nice long black mark before it puked the rod and by the way i actually drove it home about 3 or 4 miles with the rod broke it would still start up and run __________________ 1969 chevy shortstep 2wd (under construction) 1981 chevy scottsdale lwb 2wd (parts chaser) 2004 pontiac gto (daily driver) 2004 pontiac grand prix gt (the ol ladys car) 1985 chevy short wide 1970 chevy c10 lwb (another parts rig) 1969 gmc lwb (rainy day project) 1968 chevy lwb c10 250 I6 3 spd (soon to be swb)

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