Bring your old intake back to life.
The intake on your car, also known as the intake manifold, carefully balances the air/fuel mixture to the engine’s cylinders. Although it performs an important duty in a fuel injection engine, it can become dirty and gather greasy residue. While grease won’t hurt your intake manifold, it isn’t very becoming. If you enjoy caring for your car and want to show off what’s under the hood, you can polish the intake to keep it looking new.
Instructions
1. Start by removing the intake manifold from the engine. Consult your owner's manual for the correct tools needed. While you can leave the intake in place, it’s much more difficult to reach the underneath side.
2. Place the intake on a thick layer of newspapers on a table or work bench and make sure you have all the items you need to polish it within arm’s reach. Put on the gloves and protective eyewear before you handle the chemical products.
3. Spray the intake manifold with the degreaser and allow it to absorb for a few minutes before wiping the excess off. Your manifold will still be grungy looking, but most of the grease will be gone.
4. Apply the degreasing spray again, but this time begin sanding the intake with the largest grit wet sandpaper. It’s important to choose wet sandpaper. Regular sandpaper will disintegrate when sanding with degreaser.
5. Sand the intake thoroughly, spraying more degreaser on as needed to keep the surface slightly wet. Make sure you reach all the areas on the intake before wiping the excess degreaser off with a clean rag.
6. Switch to a slightly smaller grit of sandpaper and repeat the process, spraying and sanding. Continue in this manner, going over the intake manifold each time with a smaller grit of sandpaper until you reach the smallest grit. By this time, the intake will be very clean and smooth.
7. Clean all the degreaser from the intake with the rags, making sure to clean the small ridges and indentations.
8. Spread the aluminum polish on the intake manifold thinly in a 3-inch-by-3-inch area. Gently buff the polish into the metal with the finest grit sandpaper. This step produces the shiniest finish possible on your intake manifold. Repeat the polishing/sanding process on the entire manifold, wiping each small section clean as you go.
