RS4: Intake Manifold Carbon Build-Up & Clean Up

[jalas]

Lots of threads on this but decided to document mine anyway since the manifold is going to silverRS4 for a port and polish tomorrow!

On the path to "clean up" my RS4 (DRC replaced by Audi at 40k miles) I am now tackling the carbon build-up issue.

After a good eight hours of work on the manifold I finally got it off. This is not a super easy task and takes a GREAT deal of patience and time. My car has 40,500 miles and is a 2007 for reference. Just as expected the valves are all caked with a thick oily mess. Best way to describe it is sludge like but harder.

I managed to get one set of valves cleaned in 2 hours. Lucky me just 7 more sets to go!!!! I would say don't expect them to come out looking like you could eat off of them but you can remove 95% of the crap on them. FYI, I had Audi "clean" my valves at 38,500 miles using a worthless product in the intake manifold (BG) and I'm 100% certain it did little to nothing.

Like everyone else who owns an RS4, I wish Audi would fix this or give us life time cleanings.

Some pics:

Intake Port Vanes: One is clean and 7 others look like the mess above.


Valves: 2 clean and 14 to go!!


Intake Ports filled with SeaFoam. The stuff works!!


Intake Manifold Runners: