88 4Runner, I took apart the intake to get to the valve cover gaskets.

[VTISC007]

It's like open heart surgery. I have half the engine ripped apart. I took apart the intake to get to the valve cover gaskets on my '88 4Runner V6 3.0. I noticed that inside the intake plenum it looks black and dirty. Should I take the intake plenum somewhere and have it cleaned? Should I replace the fuel injectors? Is there anything else I could do since I have it all apart right now? I get around 13-15 MPG. I hear that's pretty normal. It use to get much better fuel economy back in the day.

Downey Off Road offers an intake set up which is basically someone elses core that is ported, balanced and polished. They claim that performance and economy is greatly improved. It also runs about $450. They also offer performance injectors ($35 each X 6).

This all started because my alternator belt snapped. So then I checked the timing belt and so on and so forth.

Any ideas will help................Thanks

[Brian R.]

The black and dirty is probably from your PCV valve doing its job (you could replace your PCV valve if it doesn't flow or is stuck).

You can clean your intake plenum, but I doubt it will affect your performance. That trick manifold is not going to help you much unless you have a serious set of cams and other racing parts, as well as the oportunity to use them. Porting and polishing is not the place to invest money in for a stock engine.

Try cleaning your current injectors. Best bang for the buck.

For power, nothing beats a set of headers. Could be more work than you want.

Check your compression. If any of the cylinders is out of spec, fixing that should be your first concern.

[VTISC007]

What's a good method for cleaning the injectors. Do I need to take them off or do I flush them through the fuel rail. I've never done such a thing. It sounds pretty easy.

[Brian R.]

There are more than one way to do this.
http://www.diynet.com/diy/ab_auto_fu...276265,00.html

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ic/ic30336.htm