Engine Carbon Cleaning....is this a thing??

[racerbruce]

Is this recommended within any BMW scheduled service?
For all engines?
Applies only to direct injected engines?
Has anyone had this done?
Was it by means of chemical, or physical carbon buildup removal?
Can this process damage an engine due to inherent carbon flakes entering the engine?

Snake oil??

[racerbruce]

I just found this....Lang Racing states this service is intended for direct-injection engines and the link lists engines requiring this service:

https://www.langracing.com/walnut-bl...d-x5-35d-535i/

[Roadroach]

Interesting. I wish I knew that this was a thing on DI motors back when I had my Speed3. The carbon buildup on the EGR valve was horrible on that thing - I don't even want to know what an unholy mess the valves looked like when I sold it at the 120k mile mark.

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by Roadroach

Interesting. I wish I knew that this was a thing on DI motors back when I had my Speed3. The carbon buildup on the EGR valve was horrible on that thing - I don't even want to know what an unholy mess the valves looked like when I sold it at the 120k mile mark.

Indeed - my friend has an 07 Audi S4 4.2 V8 producing 414 HP with direct injection and he just had the intake side cleaned; the before pics were unbelievable with MASSIVE carbon buildup and the after pics show a nearly new condition.

From what I've read today, this direct injection issue causes massive carbon buildup, as you experienced. I am presuming your Mazda Speed3 was direct injected??

[kaybat]

it's a "walnut blasting" procedure for DI Bimmers, at around 50-60k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=NnMhNXXawjk

[Roadroach]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

From what I've read today, this direct injection issue causes massive carbon buildup, as you experienced. I am presuming your Mazda Speed3 was direct injected??

Yep. The Mazdaspeed turbo motors were all direct injection. I think I tried cleaning the egr at least 3 times due to carbon buildup starting around the 60k mile mark. Never notice any drop in performance or economy although I'm sure the valves were a mess.

[Roadroach]

Originally Posted by kaybat

it's a "walnut blasting" procedure for DI Bimmers, at around 50-60k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=NnMhNXXawjk

I'm amazed by 3 things:
How much of a PITA is looks like to pull a n54 intake.
How little of a mess the walnut blasting makes.
The before / after pics.

[Punisher3.0si]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

Is this recommended within any BMW scheduled service?
For all engines?
Applies only to direct injected engines?
Has anyone had this done?
Was it by means of chemical, or physical carbon buildup removal?
Can this process damage an engine due to inherent carbon flakes entering the engine?

Snake oil??

Carbon build up is real. I've fixed several misfires with top end cleaner. The old Jeep 4 liters were notorious for it.

[jdoublehcubed]

i've never heard of it being neccessary for BMWs, but I know on turbo charged mini's its basically a requirement if you want to keep them running.

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by jdoublehcubed

i've never heard of it being neccessary for BMWs, but I know on turbo charged mini's its basically a requirement if you want to keep them running.

The S54 is not direct injection....is this still something that should be done to the S54??

[StickMon]

If you have reason to remove the intake, it's a good idea to clean the throttle bodies with some throttle body cleaner.
Especially the edges of the throttle plates and the ring of carbon that builds up in the bodies where the throttle plates hit them.
Common to all cars really. Idles smoother and more consistently.

Other than that I wouldn't worry about it.

[cahme]

I had my intake off at 124k mi on my '07 3.0si and was astonished at how clean it was; I don't know the history of the car. Pic is attached. No reason to clean the Z4.

I also had my intake off of my N55 335 at 115k mi and while it's considerably dirtier than the N52, it wasn't nearly as bad as the N54 ones I've seen pics of. I'm nearing 160k mi now on it and haven't cleaned it since. Also, pic is attached.


Oddly enough, the Z4 had a sticky/stuck intake valve (right one in the pic) keeping that cylinder from firing and making loud lifter noise needing more serious work than cleaning.

[Punisher3.0si]

Originally Posted by cahme

I had my intake off at 124k mi on my '07 3.0si and was astonished at how clean it was; I don't know the history of the car. Pic is attached. No reason to clean the Z4.

I also had my intake off of my N55 335 at 115k mi and while it's considerably dirtier than the N52, it wasn't nearly as bad as the N54 ones I've seen pics of. I'm nearing 160k mi now on it and haven't cleaned it since. Also, pic is attached.


Oddly enough, the Z4 had a sticky/stuck intake valve (right one in the pic) keeping that cylinder from firing and making loud lifter noise needing more serious work than cleaning.

Every N52 intake I've taken off has looked like that. Almost brand new. It's amazing how clean the head stays. Goes to show how well designed and made that engine is.