Carbon Cleaning: Walnut Blasting vs. Chemicals?

[flipstah]

Anyone done TerraClean to carbon clean their engine? Is it as good as media blasting?

Got quoted ~$500 to get TerraClean done on the S3 and walnut blasting is at least double that because they have to remove the intake manifold.

https://www.terraclean.net/ This is what Sheni's is using

[dj_rice]

We were using that product at my dealership for the longest time for both Diesel and Gas engines. Then we just stopped. I believe it was cause it wasn't MB approved to be done so we stopped.

[flipstah]

Was it effective when you used it at the dealership @dj_rice ?

[dj_rice]

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Was it effective when you used it at the dealership @dj_rice ?

We stopped using it because it wasn't effective, barely did anything so no advantage to keep using. In fact, when done on the gasoline engines, we had lots of vehicles come back with Check Engine light failures. Take that info how you will.

[flipstah]

Media blasting it is! Thanks

[flipstah]

Had the walnut blasting done at TuneDub and holy shit did it make a difference. Granted this is butt dyno but it felt way more responsive.

I’ve never had to deal with this before but is this preventable? Apologies for potato cam

[BerserkerCatSplat]

There's really no preventing it as far as I know. On port injected engines the fuel wash keeps the carbon down but early GDI engines just cake up. Some manufacturers added a small port injection system to the GDI just to deal with the problem.

[flipstah]

I'll also assume these over-the-counter fuel additives are snake oil too. I've never had to deal with this before so not sure if this is common, which I guess it is?

[Tik-Tok]

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I'll also assume these over-the-counter fuel additives are snake oil too. I've never had to deal with this before so not sure if this is common, which I guess it is?

The only thing I've heard that actual helps is Seafoam sprayed into the intake manifold, but I sure as hell wouldn't if you still have a cat on your exhaust system.

[XylathaneGTR]

I've also heard that frequent shorter trips can lead to greater carbon buildup as the engine is not operating at "ideal" temperatures. Not really useful if you have a short commute, but food for thought.

[flipstah]

Fair points. It's my daily commuter so I rarely hit Deerfoot for highway driving and when I do, it's not long enough. I do take it for roadtrips to BC or Pacific NW, but that's only once a year.

So far seems like it's just part of life and gotta pay to play. I guess all Japanese cars are multi-port then? I don't hear this to be a common thing on a Corolla or a Civic.

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The only thing I've heard that actual helps is Seafoam sprayed into the intake manifold, but I sure as hell wouldn't if you still have a cat on your exhaust system.

Does Seafoam foul up the catalytic converters?

[Tik-Tok]

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Does Seafoam foul up the catalytic converters?

Seafoam says no, and there's no evidence to suggest it does, but I just personally wouldn't judging by the amount of shit that came out of the exhaust on the few vehicles I've used it for (old school non-emission engines)

[BerserkerCatSplat]

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I'll also assume these over-the-counter fuel additives are snake oil too. I've never had to deal with this before so not sure if this is common, which I guess it is?

"Injection cleaning" additives may clean the injectors, but since your injectors are in the combustion chamber those additives will never get into the intake side of the valves where the carbon lives. Nothing you put in the fuel will meaningfully help with carbon buildup.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Water meth would help, basically anything flowing over the valves. My dad usually mists water into his intake with the engine running and hot once a year to try and break up any carbon deposits, then soaks the cylinders in sea foam for a half day and immediately changes the oil without starting the car. It’s a lot of work but it cuts it down.

[flipstah]

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Water meth would help, basically anything flowing over the valves. My dad usually mists water into his intake with the engine running and hot once a year to try and break up any carbon deposits, then soaks the cylinders in sea foam for a half day and immediately changes the oil without starting the car. It’s a lot of work but it cuts it down.

That seems like a lot of work for a daily vehicle... Hm, apparently a catch can also helps but it'll be an issue in our cold weather.

Best is just PCV delete and dump it on the road

[ShermanEF9]

Catchcans are apparently a good option as well.

[ThePenIsMightier]

Easy DiY... Or not.

[danno]

What’s peoples opinion on carbon cleaning do it as a maintenance item, or do it if an issue arises?? My Audi rs4 has been notorious for carbon build up but I have no issues. Symptoms are typically loss of power and misfires.

I’m not a fan of opening something up and allowing human error to break my expensive engine, but maybe I’m wrong.

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

Isn't it supposed to be done like every 80k or something?

[dj_rice]

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What’s peoples opinion on carbon cleaning do it as a maintenance item, or do it if an issue arises?? My Audi rs4 has been notorious for carbon build up but I have no issues. Symptoms are typically loss of power and misfires.

I’m not a fan of opening something up and allowing human error to break my expensive engine, but maybe I’m wrong.

Read my post above. If your doing it every week, maybe it might slightly remove loose deposits MAYBE, but if your doing it every 50K or etc, its probably doing nothing and just snake oil and an upsell profit maker for whatever place your getting it done at. I think there is a ChrixFix youtube video out there on this topic and basically same end result, if done every 50K no advantage. I might be thinking of fuel injector cleaner but same deal