[MiniXP]

I'm planning to do a blasting on my intake valves next month. I had spoken to a couple shops for quotes before deciding to do it my self. Some of them said they switched to a different media than walnuts that works better, I think soda blasting.

Anyone know what I would buy for this alternative? I see harbor freight does sell soda blasting media, but I don't really want to buy something random without being sure it won't do any damage.

[jt335i]

I talked to my trusted mechanic about walnut blasting and he said I don't need to do that and that he knows other methods using chemicals to clean the intake valves should I need to do it. Don’t remember what specific chemical he said he uses, but as of now I haven’t had it done. Haven’t had any strange power loss, CELs, misfires, hesitation, strange vibrations, etc, etc. My ride has been running fine just as it has been since the first day I drove it home brand new 7+ years ago.

[YoungBlood]

Just stick to the tried and true, and go with walnuts. They're cheap, and you can get them at harbor freight

[OP3NAIR]

The reason to use walnuts is that if anything gets in the cylinders, they burn up. Other media may not, and you don't want abrasives in, on or near your cylinder walls.

[nsjames]

or to fill the cylinder with fluids and bend a rod when you start it.

[Manual Transmission]

Originally Posted by nsjames

or to fill the cylinder with fluids and bend a rod when you start it.

If I'm not mistaken water is fairly special in that it's incompressible. Are there other fluids we need to worry about being in cylinders?

I don't dissagree with you though, I only want gasoline, air and a bit of oil in my cylinders.

[nsjames]

go ahead and fill a cylinder up with cleaning solvents and then start the motor.

you'll get a bent rod.

For the purposes of being in a combustion chamber, most every fluid, that's not a gas, can be considered incompressible.

there's a reason BMW uses walnuts, because it's the least risk to the motor if someone does a sloppy job and some of it gets into the cylinder.

[Boland01]

I've walnut blasted two of our cars now. As others have said walnuts are cheap, they do a good job quickly and the risk is low.