I've read about the importance of ensuring the valves are closed before doing the actual blasting. I read about the two methods of accomplishing this (using a socket wrench on the pulley vs. disconnecting the battery after starting engine).

The car in question is a 2010 MCS with automatic transmission. The fact that it's an automatic, does that play a role in which method I should use to close the valves?

Thanks in advance for your expert opinions!

 

No, the trans does change the fact that the valves *must* be closed on the cylinders which are currently being blasted.

I'd say to go by the crank pulley- its far more fool proof.

 

When I did mine, I pulled the valve cover to ensure that the cam lobes were pointing up for the set of intake valves I was blasting. Takes about 5-10 minutes to pull the cover off. Either way you choose to turn the motor, at least you know the valves are closed. Mine is a manual trans so I left it in 4th gear and pushed it back and forth to close the correct valves while looking at them. For an auto I'd use the crank pulley and have a helper watch to make sure the lobes are pointing up.

 

if your going to turn the engine by hand with the crank pulley, remove the spark plugs. It won't build compression and will turn very easy