removing carbon build-up
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake VA
removing carbon build-up
My car has about 80,000 miles on it and I suspect there is a fair amount of carbon deposits on the heads and pistons from years of the previous owner lugging it around town and with everything operating properly, including the EGR valve. a 192 degreee thermostat, timing set at 6degrees BTDC, all sensors within spec and using 93 octane gas, I am getting pinging (detonation) under heavy acceleration. I heard that BG-42 fuel system cleaner claims to remove carbon build-up. Does this work and if so, how effective is it or should I just bite the bullet and pull the heads? Help!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: corvallis or
Re: removing carbon build-up (C4or54me)
dont pull the heads, the BG 44 K does a good job but more towards maintenance than real cleanup. Take the car in have it run on a Motorvac machine for about an hour that will clean most of it out and soften the rest for the BG 44k to clean out while you drive. I also like the seafoam product for cleaning and maintaining the whole intake/fuel system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Re: removing carbon build-up (C4or54me)
Call around, most repair shops have the MotoVac machines that uses the BG products. You won't find one at a local NAPA store to rent or anything like that. Repair shops buy these machines to sell maintenance work to their customers and not only does it work, its a great money maker for the shop. It takes the tech about 10 minutes or less to hook it up, start the engine, let it run and walk away from it. The engine runs on the chemicals that are injected into the intake track or via the fuel rail, the engine running does all the work.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: corvallis or
Re: removing carbon build-up (C4or54me)
Motorvac is a complete fuel/induction sytstem cleaning machine used by shops and dealerships worldwide. Seafoam is an excellent product for doing the same thing without going to a shop, its about 5 bucks at Napa and other parts stores. Do a search on Seafoam or go to motorvac.com for more info. If you decide to do the Seafom thing yourself just becarefull its a liquid going into the cylinders and too much will cause damage. You can IM me for a step by step I use it all the time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota FL
Re: removing carbon build-up (SJLJ)
I always use GM top engine cleaner. The car always feels better afterwards. It's a two man procedure of slowly pouring a can down the throttle body and applying throttle to keep it from stalling.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 10
From: Nashville TN
Re: removing carbon build-up (Sam Lam)
Go to a Mopar parts dealer and get some Mopar Combustion Chamber Cleaner. This stuff works awesome. Don't follow the instructions though. You want to use it right before an oil change. First remove your spark plugs. Then empty the bottle into the holes evenly. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and then try and suck most of it out with a hose/bulb. If you don't mind the mess, you can turn the motor over with the plugs out. It'll get most of it out. Replace the plugs and run it. After a few minutes, it will smoke like it blew a head gasket. Allow the smoke to clear from the engine and then change your oil. The car will run almost new again. :)
