Removing carbon buildup from exhaust port - 2 cycle

[LwnmwnMan2]

Is there a spray or other "lube" that I can pour into the exhaust port of a weed trimmer or other that has carbon buildup to the point where the piece of equipment won't run?

Right now I just scrape it all down and dump it out, running the engine with the exhaust port pointed down.

I know some will cringe at what I do, but it's worked for plenty of years, just wondering if there's something I could put in there to loosen that carbon up before I start chiseling?

[Shane May]

Try Amsoil power foam. It will break down any carbon build up. You can find it at most places that sell it. Good luck

[IFallsRon]

Do a search for decarbonizing. Most threads are for marine applications but you can modify the mixture and hope not to burn out the trimmer.

[theoilman]

The AMSOIL Power Foam will remove the carbon.

Have the engine warmed up first, remove the cover and air filter so you can spray it directly down the carburetor - with the engine running (keep it a just high enough throttle to not stall the engine). After running some through, shut off, and spray some more down the intake; also some in the carboned exhaust port. Wait 5 to 10 minutes to let it soak, replace the filter and cover, crank it and run it full throttle to finish blowing it out.

Second, Prevent future carbon! Change to using AMSOIL Saber Professional 2-cycle oil and you will eliminate almost all smoke and future carbon buildup. (The same oil that is the favorite on FM for augers.)

Third, how do you run the machine? 2-cycle engines are built to be run a full - wide-open throttle. If you putz around at just above idle the engine will never get hot enough to run as designed, and any oil (including AMSOIL Saber Professional) will carbon. The solution, "Go to work," run it a full throttle and work as fast as the machine will go.

[theoilman]

LawnMowerMan - another lawn rule: If it is green and I mow it, it is grass.

[Ed Carlson]

You can also add the Sta-Bil Marine Blue to your fuel, or fuel/oil mix....1 oz per gallon. That will eliminate the carbon issue and clean it. Will also prevent further future build up.

[LwnmwnMan2]

I already use the Sabre, as I'm also a dealer.

We can't run them at full throttle all the time, due to damage to trees, siding, fencing, etc.

I'd rather remove carbon buildup once every year than start to replace trees, siding, fencing, etc.

Also, we take the little cutter off the trimmer so we can run the line out longer. We run fairly big Echo trimmers and run 20-24" of trimmer line, which doesn't allow the motor to run as fast as the 14-16" of trimmer line it's supposed to run.

As I said in my first statement, there will be guys here that will disagree with how these are run, but that's just the way it is. I'm just looking for something that will make getting rid of the carbon easier.

When I get my next order of oil (Sept. 1) I'll get some power foam and try it.

Thanks guys.

[LwnmwnMan2]

One other thing I was thinking about today.

We run these trimmers about 35-40 hours per week, 20 weeks per year.

Most homeowners will run a trimmer 1 hour per week, if that.

These trimmers are getting used about 30 years worth for a homeowner in a years' span.

I just wanted to make the point that it's taken that long to get carbon buildup using the Sabre. With the Echo brand oil, we get carbon buildup after about 2 weeks.