simple engine work

[kubtastic]

I have to remove the fuel injector rail to remove a big part (intake on my car).

How do I drain the fuel up front without expensive tools?

in other words, release the fuel pressure from the system?

 

[87manche]

what kind of car?

 

[kubtastic]

This is a buick park ave, 2000. 3.8L V6, naturally aspirated.

The directions are to attach a fuel pressure gauge and then drain. Not very verbose. Also includes opening the fuel filler cap and disconnecting battery, and oh yeah open the hood. They'll include that step but then just say "dain" like its no big deal.

 

[joshv98xj]

but then just say "dain" like its no big deal.

That's almost priceless......:laugh:

Well, I guess my advice would differ, depending on whether you want to "dain" the system or if you want to "drain" the system. Those are two very different procedures. Daining the system does require a number of very expensive tools that are hard to find. However, lucky for you, draining the system only requires a cheapo fuel line disconnect tool. Harbor Freight or even most of your chain auto parts stores should have something that will do that for you for around the modest $5 mark.

I'd just disconnect it with a good sized rag underneath it, and that should catch most of your drips. Just don't forget to disconnect the battery too. I pulled my intake manifold on my Jeep last week and then like an idiot opened the door and turned on the key to listen to the radio. The fuel pump kicked on to pressurize the system and sprayed gas all over the place. Worst thing was that I did it twice before I realized what I did.:looser:

 

[kubtastic]

That's almost priceless......:laugh:
I'd just disconnect it with a good sized rag underneath it, and that should catch most of your drips. Just don't forget to disconnect the battery too. I pulled my intake manifold on my Jeep last week and then like an idiot opened the door and turned on the key to listen to the radio. The fuel pump kicked on to pressurize the system and sprayed gas all over the place. Worst thing was that I did it twice before I realized what I did.:looser:

I'll give that a shot when the sun comes back up tomorrow.

 

[joshv98xj]

Here's a few:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=disconnect

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96834

 

[kubtastic]

I've successfully removed the fuel lines and such from the engine and now the intake manifold has been removed.

Is it normal to find oily residue on the inside of the intake manifold?

How should I clean out the intake manifold (the lower portion, directly over the cylinders) of any moisture that has built up while the upper plastic portion was removed?

I'd love to post more photo's but I have misplaced the dang usb cable for my camera. !

 

[Matthew Currie]

I've successfully removed the fuel lines and such from the engine and now the intake manifold has been removed.

Is it normal to find oily residue on the inside of the intake manifold?

How should I clean out the intake manifold (the lower portion, directly over the cylinders) of any moisture that has built up while the upper plastic portion was removed?

I'd love to post more photo's but I have misplaced the dang usb cable for my camera. !

A certain amount of oily residue is normal, owing to the crankcase ventilation being sent through the intake. I would not worry much about it. Clean it off with rag, but otherwise, it will not impede anything, and any moisture will evaporate off. It's more important to make sure no dirt or solids get sucked in, so make sure whatever you use to clean it is clean itself, and doesn't shed lint or dirt, or loosen bits of carbon to float around.

 

[kubtastic]

To what tolerance must the inside be clean of debris?

There's a very fine black oily soot in most places that has turned itself into "dirt" after quite a bit of cleaning. I know there's trace amounts of cotton and such in there in between the roughness of the iron lower intake...

One of the manifold bolts was bent over from the apparent explosion... more delays.

And, correct me if I am wrong, but I think all this soot is mostly from the EGR valve operation. If this is the case, should the EGR be replaced now too?

 

[Matthew Currie]

I would do my best to blow out anything loose, and not to dislodge too much other crud unless you intend to take more parts off and dip them or something. On an old engine, I'd leave alone anything that requires scraping or wire brushing, as long as it isn't in the way.

EGR will cause soot and crud, but replacing the valve probably won't stop it, since it is, after all, recirculating exhaust gas. As long as the egr valve is working properly and closing tight, I'd leave it. Do, however, make sure it's not clogged up with carbon, or worn in some way that will cause it to hang open. That will louse up your idle.

 

[kubtastic]

I replaced the intake manifold and fuel pressure regulator.

20 miles, 1 one oil change, and 1 battery later, I sold the car. Good riddance. Don't buy a used Buick in GWO, Mississippi if you want to avoid this one.

 

[5-90]

Some of the more common applications (Chevvy, Ford, Dodge) have "EGR Filters" available that are supposed to keep that crap out of the intake. I'd sooner just ditch the EGR valve entirely, but we're stuck with them.

Ask at better parts houses, and you may be able to find something. They would essentially be EGR gaskets with a bowl/strainer in them over where the intake port on the EGR valve is.