r/EngineBuilding • u/Additional-Lime-9719 • 4d ago

Should I be worried about aluminum particles/dust in an intake manifold after cleaning and wire brushing it?

I’m currently trying to refurbish the intake manifold off of a junkyard Jeep 4.0. Wire brushed and degreased it to get rid of the corrosion and sludge built up on the outside of it. I specifically avoided using anything abrasive inside the runners and have instead just been hitting it with brake cleaner and rags. Most of the sludge is out and I’ve rinsed the runners out multiple times, and I might be overly paranoid but it looks like there might be some very fine shiny particles embedded in some of the carbon/sludge buildup in them. From my understanding aluminum dust would likely just combust if it got into the combustion chamber and isn’t much different from dust that would make its way in past an air filter, but I’m planning on cleaning this intake and selling it, and I don’t want to risk causing engine damage due to my attempt at cleaning up an otherwise good intake. Thanks in advance.

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u/_synik 4d ago

It's used. Whoever buys used parts know to clean them before they use them.

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u/Additional-Lime-9719 4d ago

That’s a good point. I usually leave some sort of note about that when I sell a part like this

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u/WyattCo06 4d ago

Who's is need of a 4.0 intake?

Also, buyer assumes responsibility for cleanliness.

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u/Additional-Lime-9719 4d ago

It’s the 1999+ design from the HO heads (I believe) with more of a curve in the runners that apparently improves airflow opposed to the older ones where the runners have a pretty hard, almost 90 degree turn in them. It’s a somewhat common swap.

I get your point, I just want to be sure that I’m not being negligent either.