cleaning carbon out with water

Has anyone heard of cleaning carbon out this way from an older gas engine? Someone told me to get the motor running nice and hot, then slip a little water in by the carb. Said it really works. Can the carbon score things up if this is done? Would appreciate your thoughts.

FM

I have a 4 1/2 hp Sandow ( hit & miss) that was acting up- The intake is spring loaded and usually very easy to move with the finger and thumb. It was stuck / sluggish at best. We sprayed wd-40 on it--hooked up a drill on the stem and spun it while spraying wd-40 for 15 min. Still no compression, so we gave up on it and decide it had to have a bent valve. This was with the advise of 8-10 experts.

A young guy bystander asked if he could mess with it, I said heck yes, but the crowd of old guys had failed, and all were very well versed on old gas engines. He asked for starting fluid and with 2 quick sprays and I mean only 2, the stupid thing had compression and was running in less that 2 min. after he sprayed it. Now most of us old guys would claim to know it all, and the first, and loudest is always correct, but they all admited they had never seen that one before. And like a Cowboy in the movies I never got the young guy's name or number, and I swear this is the truth so help me. Dave NE IA

Nolan is right, it won't do anything for carbon on
the intake valve stems.

Bradk, I've used this on many aluminum head engines without damage, yet (?). I see your point that excessive cooling of the valve seats might dislodge them, but so far, I haven't experienced this or any problem with this practice. I do this outside. At half throttle, whatever is in the path of the exhaust will receive a light sandblasting. I've never had the nerve to dribble it in any faster than what it takes to drop maybe 100 rpm. I've also never had the nerve to try it on a diesel, yet.

Mel

Ever opened up an engine with an internal antifreeze leak?

Cleans 'em down to the metal.

Allan