Carbon Removal

AshD93

AshD93

AshD93

Associate
Joined
21 Oct 2009
Posts
1,613
Hi guys,

Just took the EGR and anti-shudder vale off the Audi. EGR was caked in carbon along with the intake manifold so thought 'sod it' and took the intake manifold off it.

Now the manifold and valve ports are just as bad but with no easy access to clean.

What would you recommend to literally dissolve/make the removal of the carbon very easy ?

I've googled and Seafoam keeps popping up but it appears to be used with a running engine. And tbh, it sounds like Terraclean (I haven't researched much on these though). Would steam work?

Thanks in advance as always.

Ash
 
NoNameNoNumber said:
Mr muscle foaming oven cleaner doesn't to a bad job for £3 but I found paint stripper to be theist effective in old Aircooled VW cylinder heads
Click to expand...

Paint stripper as in white spirit? It's sitting in a bath of it as I speak but after the long session with the EGR, I'm not confident.

Matter of leaving it overnight?
 
Is it some sort of FSI engine?
I was reading up about this just yesterday as i have a TFSI which likely has the same problem (not taken the manifold off it yet though). Most people say that the only way to get it properly clean is to pick/scrape it out manually. There are reports of mixed results from seafoam but i couldnt find any definitive before/after pictures.
Obviously none of the carbon-cleaning fuel additives will work.
 
I've worked on a few 1.6 HDI engines before, which often get very badly coked up, to the point where you can't even fit your little finder down the inlet port.

Only way I've found is to scrape the worst off that you can get to, and plenty of carb cleaner.

There must be something that will break it down properly though I'm sure.
 
touch said:
Is it some sort of FSI engine?
I was reading up about this just yesterday as i have a TFSI which likely has the same problem (not taken the manifold off it yet though). Most people say that the only way to get it properly clean is to pick/scrape it out manually. There are reports of mixed results from seafoam but i couldnt find any definitive before/after pictures.
Obviously none of the carbon-cleaning fuel additives will work.
Click to expand...

2.0 TDI Multitronic (BLB Engine Code). The Multitronic part means it's never really pushed up the rev range past 3k.

andy_mk3 said:
I've worked on a few 1.6 HDI engines before, which often get very badly coked up, to the point where you can't even fit your little finder down the inlet port.

Only way I've found is to scrape the worst off that you can get to, and plenty of carb cleaner.

There must be something that will break it down properly though I'm sure.
Click to expand...

Mine was as bad as the first poster on this page:

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/audi-s...-valve-cleaning-thread-before-after-pics.html

I've also got a mis fire when cold, a shuddering shut down and it's flagging up faults to do with the intake on VAGCOM.
 
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Caustic Soda is usually best (as found in mr muscle oven cleaner) however, you don't wanna be using that on Aluminium parts as it reacts quite violently and produces hydrogen gas!

For alloy I would use Carb/Brake cleaner and a wooden scraper.
 
So the overnight bath in White Spirit didn't do much good.

It's been pressure washed cleaned and there are solid lumps of carbon coating it.

The manifold is aluminium so I'm mega worried about it pitting the gasket surfaces (which oven cleaner and this Nitro mors seems like it will).

And I can't scrape it because there is no access.

I'm thinking it may be best to get it cleaned by a garage instead using their stuff?
 
AshD93 said:
What would you recommend to literally dissolve/make the removal of the carbon very easy ?
Click to expand...
I don't think there is anything that makes it 'really' easy, you always have to get the elbow grease out to clean off the stubborn bits.

When I looked at doing this on my Mondeo the recommended method was carb cleaner and wire wool.
 
What you need is "Cold Carbon Remover". ask any engine reconditioning workshop, they should be able to point you in the right direction or do the job for you for a couple of beers! (They might charge £40 quid or so, but will do a better job quicker than faffing around yourself!)
 
What about petrol?

*Insert usual warnings about no naked lights, well ventilated area and allowing all residue to evaporate before re-assembly*
 
I tried brake cleaner and caburettor cleaner and degreaser and mucoff....while they worked up to a point.....mr muscle foaming oven cleaner was much better......need gloves if use it
 
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