One of the most disgusting and annoying repair jobs on a diesel engine is an intake manifold cleaning due to clogging.  Different models vary in how much clogging occurs, but any diesel with an EGR system will experience some level of intake clogging.  Read more about intake clogging….

One “infamous” way to clean certain intake manifolds is to literally set them on fire.  By using compressed air and a torch the oil & soot residue can be ignited.

VIDEO:

Outside of looking cool this procedure is remarkably effective.  When done properly this will burn off the oil leaving only the ash residue which can easily be blown out of the manifold.  It also avoids the need for harsh (and dangerous) chemical cleaners or expensive professional cleaning tools. 

So should this be the way to go?  Unfortunately…no.  We can’t recommend this procedure because, as you might have guessed, it is very dangerous.  Burning, or setting yourself or your shop on fire is the most pressing concern, but you can ruin your intake manifold as well.  This cannot be done on any manifold that has any plastic or rubber components, nor any manifold which has thin walls.  The manifold in this video is a cast aluminum manifold from an ALH engine, which is pretty thick, but if the heat isn’t controlled properly the manifold can warp or crack, ruining it.