73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: Skunksmash on December 15, 2009, 08:19:54 am

Title: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Skunksmash on December 15, 2009, 08:19:54 am
There are probly hundreds of products out there that clean the engine (or something) by being sucked up through one of the vacuum lines. You just buy the product and put it in a bottle, (if necessary) and then unhook the proper vacuum line from your truck and feed it down into the bottle with the liquid in it. Seafoam comes to mind as one of these. Anyway, which vacuum line do you use for all this stuff? Please be specific on the line's location as I am a noob. Also keep in mind I have a TBI truck so it may be different than the carb'd ones.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Captkaos on December 15, 2009, 11:20:13 am
Use the hose that goes to the vaccum booster.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Skunksmash on December 15, 2009, 11:25:15 am
The vacuum booster is not that little carbon canister thing is it? Like I said I have little experience with all this vacuum stuff. Perhaps someone has a picture with the line shown in it?
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Layne on December 15, 2009, 02:44:39 pm
No picture, but that big round thing behind where you put in your brake fluid is the booster. It has a one-way check valve connected to a vac. line usually leading to the carb or intake manifold.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: VileZambonie on December 15, 2009, 05:28:18 pm
You need a very small vacuum line. Use one directly off the carb and sip it in
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Captkaos on December 15, 2009, 05:38:48 pm
It's TBI Vile, Booster won't work as it goes into the manifold

You could pull it of EVAP or PVC on the front of the TBI.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Layne on December 15, 2009, 05:40:28 pm
So you'd want to go through the tbi unit as well to clean that, right?
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: VileZambonie on December 15, 2009, 05:49:14 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D11ZVYwj62w&feature=player_embedded
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Captkaos on December 15, 2009, 06:13:42 pm
The TBI isn't as complicated as you might think.  The body where the shafts are is basically just an empty void where vacuum is drawn either manifold (under the blades) or ported (above blades)
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Layne on December 15, 2009, 06:19:11 pm
It looks like that guy used the brake booster line, then killed the motor though the tbi. I think it'd be hard to get 1/3 into everything. I suppose you wouldn't have to be exact tho.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: 84ramcharger on December 15, 2009, 06:29:44 pm
It looks like that guy used the brake booster line, then killed the motor though the tbi. I think it'd be hard to get 1/3 into everything. I suppose you wouldn't have to be exact tho.
It's pretty easy to get it all in , Some guys I used to work with loved seafoaming anything they could get there hands on . I've done it a few times myself and I used the brake booster liner to pour it in then start it and quickly dump a 1/3 down the carb , let it stall then let it sit for a hr . I don't throw it in the oil though
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Layne on December 15, 2009, 06:35:19 pm
I seafoam my citation all the time, but I just dump it down the tbi unit and the gas tank at the gas station. After I'm filled I'll crank for a minute and then drive off. I'm guessing I do it wrong ::)
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: 84ramcharger on December 15, 2009, 06:41:34 pm
I seafoam my citation all the time, but I just dump it down the tbi unit and the gas tank at the gas station. After I'm filled I'll crank for a minute and then drive off. I'm guessing I do it wrong ::)
I would say what your doing isn't wrong , might not be as effective as going down a vacuum line though .
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Captkaos on December 15, 2009, 11:28:00 pm
I would drain the oil after I put it in there.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: VileZambonie on December 16, 2009, 07:53:55 pm
I used to use GM top engine cleaner all the time. Seafoam does the same but I don't think it's as strong. If you have a Carb or TBI system get the engine hot and pour it slowly into the tbi or carb at about 800RPM. Use about 1/2 the can and then pour it in quicker to stall the engine (not hydrolock it!). Let it soak for about 15 minutes. Start it up and run the rest through it. When you're done drive it til it burns off and do an oil change.

If you have a port fuel system use a small vacuum hose and let it sip it in. Vary the engine speed from about 800-1000RPM.

Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: SUX2BU99 on December 17, 2009, 02:05:03 pm
Has anybody seen a noticeable benefit after putting Seafoam in? What benefit did you see?
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: VileZambonie on December 17, 2009, 03:24:44 pm
You won't notice much other than a smoke show. It can help break down the carbon build up if you're heavily carboned up. It is a good to do every once in a great while but as far as noticing any great driveability increase it won't happen. Where it can be most beneficial is if you are experiencing pinging or cold start stalls.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Skunksmash on January 03, 2010, 03:44:39 am
I'm getting both pinging, and cold start stalls heh. I'll try it and report back on any noticeable results. I am thinking of using a few other products besides seafoam, as well. You know, over time.

And yeah whoever said they are just leaving it in their oil... that's bad. You have to change the oil after you run it in your engine for... how long? Maybe 15 minutes?
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 03, 2010, 07:46:20 am
I recommend changing the oil after the treatment. GM top engine cleaner is good.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Skunksmash on January 04, 2010, 08:40:18 pm
But uh.. so you use 1/3 of the bottle in the engine oil, 1/3 in the gas tank, and you suck up the last 1/3 into the intake manifold? I never actually read the directions on the side of the bottle of seafoam.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Layne on January 04, 2010, 08:43:34 pm
Their instructions aren't very clear imo. But yea, that's the jist of it. Look them up on the tube too.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: 70fastback on January 07, 2010, 07:25:04 am
Doing the SeaFoam trick doesn't always produce desireable results.  After doing it to my S-10, carbon kept breaking loose and jamming between the EGR valve pintle and seat.  While the carbon removal is one of the desired results, taking the EGR valve off and cleaning it out sometimes more than once a day and several times a week isn't.  And, if the EGR valve would have been damaged and required replacement, it would be nearly $200 just for the part.  The truck was running fine before I did SeaFoam and I haven't seen any great benefit from using it.  It has been over 1 year and a couple of months since I had to remove the EGR valve to remove chunks of carbon...so hopefully that's over with.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 07, 2010, 08:11:23 am
you know there is a programming update on your S-10 to prevent the EGR pintle from getting hung up right?
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: 70fastback on January 07, 2010, 11:49:55 am
Did not know that.  Post or PM me with more info if/when you have time.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Skunksmash on January 08, 2010, 01:15:00 am
Any other programming updates for the rest of these trucks that you know of, Vile?
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: VileZambonie on January 08, 2010, 04:32:43 pm
Did not know that.  Post or PM me with more info if/when you have time.  Thanks!

Specify YMM

Skunk he was referring to an S10

Yes there are some updates but may not be applicable to you

Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Skunksmash on January 08, 2010, 09:27:18 pm
That's interesting. I will call my local chevy dealer and see if they have any info on updates that may be applicable to me.
Title: Re: Which vacuum line do you use to suck stuff up?
Post by: Skunksmash on January 23, 2010, 02:45:51 pm
Well, my local chevy dealer went out of business. So I called not one, but two other towns, and they are out of business too. Nice.