Though I have not yet removed my thermostart device I don't think it looks like all the ones I see available. Mine appears longer, but only on the outside. It must be the hose to the thing that is making it look longer. In any case I will order one tonight and when I install it I will once again peer down into the intake manifold to see it operate. And to hear it too. There is some carbon inside the intake manifold. Not copious amounts though. I figure this must be left over from previous uses of the thermostart. I suppose that any blackening of the inside of the intake manifold would remain forever, or until someone takes off the manifold and washes it out. The thermostart not working is no big deal for now, I'll just use starting fluid. Not really, I just wanted to get the reader's heart rate up.
Cheers,
Eric
Cheers,
Eric