Carbon Cleaning ?

[I Stung U]

Hello,
I just remembered I should be doing a carbon clean out being a GDI engine. at 42K kms.
Dealership offers this for $140, and I can do the CRC spray way myself I guess.
Any feedback and results on doing it myself or if the dealerships chemical spray way (one is thru valves part two is thru the intakes) on their way.

Manually cleaning and nutshell are their 2nd and 3rd options, which costs $500 and $400.

I don't mind doing it myself with the crc type spray, but if their dealerships way for $140, really is better at getting the carbon cleaned off, and safer, but could go that route.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

At 42k kms, spraying anything through intake, will do nothing! Dont waste 140$. Remove the manifold and clean it manually.

 

[I Stung U]

At 42k kms, spraying anything through intake, will do nothing! Dont waste 140$. Remove the manifold and clean it manually.

majority of the kms is hwy driving. Would that make a difference ? I know in general hwy mileage is better for engines.

 

[Yeti]

Carbon cleaning reminded me of my earlier career as engineer on cargo ships. Huge 2 stroke Diesel engines. Had a big portable pressure pot like a sandblaster. to clean exhaust side of a turbo charger I would dump 2 50 pound bags of walnut shell or long grain rice into the pot. Add a bit of compressed air, connect to the cleaning port, open valves and watch flames exit the stack. Sorry reminiscing

 

[RM7]

Yeah, true intake manifold cleaning is done with walnut blasting.

Make sure they are doing that for $140, and putting it all back together clean.

Otherwise, let them know you are own to their scam.

 

[AusStinger]

I've used Seafoam in the past with good results.



With that said, install a good catch can and you probably won't need to do carbon cleaning.

The ONLY contributor to carbon buildup in the inlet manifold ( and the back of the inlet valves ) on a GDI engine is from crankcase breather input/s. A good OCC eliminates this by ~95%.

The Seafoam treatment is good for carbon buildup on the piston tops, but again, a good OCC will prevent that from happening.

If you do the Seafoam treatment, do it properly and carefully.

 

[I Stung U]

Yeah, true intake manifold cleaning is done with walnut blasting.

Make sure they are doing that for $140, and putting it all back together clean.

Otherwise, let them know you are own to their scam.

$140, which I mis-quoted, its $160, is for the 2 step spray. Basically what I could do myself with CRC or Seafoam, kinda, as they have some machine that tells them the amount and pressure or something while they're spraying, so they don't over spray and cause any engine issues.

Local oil place offers something similar (likely with no machine concected) for $100.
I'm just gonna buy the CRC spray and follow the instructions from their video carefully not to spray too much too fast and do it myself.
And then I'll install the catch can sitting on my desk for almost a year.. doh

 

[LordShadow]

Here you go, literally just got posted a few days ago. he cleans the engine and tries with the shop machine you discuss as well. Ends up doing it manually.

 

[I Stung U]

didn't watch it all, but I didn't see the mileage mentioned, as I know the spray will not help when it's been neglected for too long.. at 26K miles, I'm hoping it's not too late. I've seen other videos show they're doing this on cars with 100K Mile on it... For $16 spray and my free time, I'm gonna try that way first... and will go to manual cleaning if need be.

Here you go, literally just got posted a few days ago. he cleans the engine and tries with the shop machine you discuss as well. Ends up doing it manually.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

I sad it before, and will say it again. If you own di engine car, consider manual cleaning of the valves, as a maintenance item every 40-50k miles. Stop wasting money on all those intake injected snake oils. That shit DOES NOT WORK!!!!

 

[JSolo]

On the 2022 models, the 3.3 is gdi only? I understand the 2.5 is mpi and gdi...?

 

[I Stung U]

PS. I'm doing a carbon cleaning of my engine this weekend, and making before and after video of it, including removing my manifold to get a good look.
Anyone not subscribed yet, please do so and look out for more content.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4QgreLJlg6C9QCgdSxPGLQ/featured

 

[7Andrei7]

What are usual symptoms of carbon build-up? Anyone felt any degradation in their engine?
I'm reaching 100k miles any week now and have never done a carbon cleanup. I was thinking of taking it to a shop because every time I mention it to the kia dealership they keep saying it's not needed if there are no symptoms.
I have the 2.0 engine.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

What are usual symptoms of carbon build-up? Anyone felt any degradation in their engine?
I'm reaching 100k miles any week now and have never done a carbon cleanup. I was thinking of taking it to a shop because every time I mention it to the kia dealership they keep saying it's not needed if there are no symptoms.
I have the 2.0 engine.

Cold engine misfire is a good symptom for that. With 100k miles, most likely, you have a lot of that shit on the valves.

 

[Herb_Remington]

How much does the catch can help? I have one on Stinger so I am hoping that keeps a good amount of crap off the valves.

Had my Passat apart for maintenance and the intake valves were caked with junk, ended up manually removing it all because I was afraid of the walnut blasting. They cleaned up nice, but they were gross, the PCV valve had been clogged a while so oil, not just off-gas was getting in there. Would really like to avoid (or limit) that with this car.