Carbon cleaner's

Philz0r · 2 Feb 2016 at 08:15

Keep seeing the same ad on my facebook wall for a engine carbon clean.

Do these things even make any difference?, its not something i've really Looked into.

robj20 · 2 Feb 2016 at 08:19

Yes they work. They are not a cure all though. BG44k is a good one, Archoil products as well.

I like to use a turbo cleaner one through the A3 tdi once a year to help keep the variable veins clear, must be doing its thing not had a limp home mode since using it.

Si105 · 2 Feb 2016 at 10:02

Depends on the engine, on some it would be beneficial to others.

Armageus · 2 Feb 2016 at 10:13

Si105 said:
Depends on the engine, on some it would be beneficial to others.

+1

On older engines, then maybe there is some benefit, but on most of the newer direct injection engines there is little to no benefit.

Jonnycoupe · 2 Feb 2016 at 10:51

Armageus said:
+1

On older engines, then maybe there is some benefit, but on most of the newer direct injection engines there is little to no benefit.

You mean on older cars, generally no issues.

On newer direct injection carbon cleaning can be done with walnut shell blasting to clean the back of the inlet valve that doesnt get fuel washing over it like a 'normal' port injection engine?

Hello Audi RS4.

Armageus · 2 Feb 2016 at 11:31

Jonnycoupe said:
You mean on older cars, generally no issues.

No I should have clarified - I meant on modern engines there is no benefit to the fuel additive style cleaners (e.g. the BG44k mentioned) for the reason you mentioned (fuel not washing over the back of the inlet valves)

Jonnycoupe said:
On newer direct injection carbon cleaning can be done with walnut shell blasting to clean the back of the inlet valve that doesnt get fuel washing over it like a 'normal' port injection engine?

Hello Audi RS4.

VAG FSI engines seem to be the most reported engines to suffer from it - the only other one I've heard of being R56 Mini Cooper S's. Not sure if any other manufacturer's engines suffer, or whether it is just a case of their direct injections haven't been around or aren't common enough for there to be much feedback yet.

Minstadave · 2 Feb 2016 at 11:41

All direct injection engines will suffer to some extent.

Jonnycoupe · 2 Feb 2016 at 18:35

Yeah mini is another. Depends how good the breather works in terms of crankcase ventilation and getting oil droplets out of suspension prior to being returned to the inlet tract.

Rainmaker · 2 Feb 2016 at 19:50

Armageus said:
VAG FSI engines seem to be the most reported engines to suffer from it - the only other one I've heard of being R56 Mini Cooper S's. Not sure if any other manufacturer's engines suffer, or whether it is just a case of their direct injections haven't been around or aren't common enough for there to be much feedback yet.

The newer TSI engines have a secondary port injector to keep the inlet valves sprayed (and thus clean). The old ones were bad for it though. Mazda have an interesting solution on the SkyActiv G engines. They noted that carbon only built up at temps below 400oC, so they modified the manifold to keep temps up to avoid it ever forming.