Carbon cleaning?

[Dirtyylicous]

After seeing draklores carbon cleaning post, I want to get it done.

I got a couple quotes from shops from 650 to 800 dollars to manually clean the valves just like the diy.

I also got quotes from shops from 200 to 300 dollars but them using a machi ne method to clean it.

Now im sure the manual method gets the job done better but it is expensive. Does anyone know if the machine method works well? This is something that i would like to get done but dont wanna blow 300 if it isnt that effective, if anyone has had it done or knows anything about it id appreciate any input. Thanks

[ericpaulyoung]

If by "the machine method" they mean spraying the buildup with cleaner for 10 minutes then charging your $300 for doing nothing, then I would say sure as granny's pies are good, DO NOT DO THIS. It simply doesn't work.

Now if by machine method you mean that you are going to install a water/meth injection system for $300 and slowly eat away at the buildup over the next 10,000 miles, then I say sure as grandpa can shoot squirrels, DO THIS. This will work.

Now if by manually cleaning like the diy, then you are guaranteed that it will work, as you can just not buckle the thing back up till all the carbon is verified as gone. But I would just nut up and do it yourself. It is a great learning experience.
- Eric

[stevegasm]

Save yourself the $600 and do it yourself. Once you get to know your engine it's not as intimidating as it looks. Just use common sense and read the DIYs over and over again before digging into your engine.

[Dirtyylicous]

Thanks for the replies, the machine is a decarbonizing machine is what the shop said in the email. I would love to do the manual method but in no way would i attempt it because i would most likely mess something up. Ill try posting in the regionals if anyone would be down to help me try it, ill obviously pay them

[mr shickadance]

there is another option....but i haven't come across a shop that does it....but essentially they sandblast with walnut shells to get rid of the carbon buoildup

[Dirtyylicous]

^^^ I saw that too, its gonna be tough to find a shop that does that tho (btw i decided on the st coils, thanks for the help)

[bman005]

there is another option....but i haven't come across a shop that does it....but essentially they sandblast with walnut shells to get rid of the carbon buoildup

We tried it at my dealer, same results as scrubbing down by hand with the BG 2 step

[SykoraA4]

anyone try GM Top engine cleaner?

[Jay-Bee]

anyone try GM Top engine cleaner?

Someone on BITOG said this about the GM stuff

Agreed. The original GM Top Engine Cleaner was a 100% VOC, not-for-sale-in-California, don't use if pregnant, wear gloves when handling, cancer causing eco-terror. It was also the best [censored] top engine cleaner on the market and would likely strip carbon right out of the periodic table if it was possible.

The new environmentally friendly stuff performs about the same as anything else.

I want some, i'm sure some die hard Chevy fan has got a couple cans kicking around.

[bman005]

anyone try GM Top engine cleaner?

Yes, it works pretty well. The BG is better though IMO

[SykoraA4]

using bg for physically scrubbing it or 'injecting' it?

[ericpaulyoung]

I want to see someone inject walnut shells! ;-) The exhaust would smell like a hazelnut pancake. Kinda like the hippies around here that run used deep frier oil in their VW jetta diesels; smell like fries!
- Eric

[Whats4dinner]

Is this a common problem in the b7?? How often should one get this done? I'm at 40,000 miles at the moment and noticing a slight hesitation in acceleration.

[Dirtyylicous]

Whats4dinner, i think its common for direct injection cars. After seeing the diy the valves were pretty caked with the carbon.

[DRAKLORE]

The walnut shells work ok at best, it's much easier to blast the carbon off but our carbon seems to bee extremely gunky...

It would probably be much faster still than physically scraping, but don't forget how messy it is!!!! You'll have debris in your bay forever

[Whats4dinner]

Whats4dinner, i think its common for direct injection cars. After seeing the diy the valves were pretty caked with the carbon.

Damn! What mileage did you clean them at??

[fordyoz]

had mine done at around 80k

[GA42.0T]

The walnut shells work ok at best, ... , but don't forget how messy it is!!!! You'll have debris in your bay forever

Then squirrels looking for dem nuts.

[p1nk50ck]

I had mine done at RAI. plumes of black smoke were coming out of the exhaust at idle. I assume that this means that something was getting cleaned out.

I also had the PRV installed at the same time, so i can't really attribute any increase in performance due to the cleaning, but i'm sure it didn't hurt.