Carbon cleaning pics after walnut shell blasting

[Audicoupej]

While I was waiting for the suspension to be rebuilt I decided to do a carbon cleaning on the 2.0T. Car is at 80k miles. I'm not sure when/if it has been done before but I'm guessing it has.

I used the BMW N54 adapter since I had it on hand from when I helped my friend clean his 335. It barely fits the ports but it works and helps keep the shells from going everywhere (they still go everywhere)




Shop vac goes over round end. The blaster wand goes in the tiny hole and the large end goes into the intake ports.

Media:


I used all 25lbs I would buy extra if you've never done it before. You can always return it.

Blaster:


Now on to the fun pics


















I ran out of media since my local harbor freight only had one box of fine shells left. I used some brake clean and rags with picks to clean up the remainder after these pics. If I had more media that would have been unnecessary. The walnut blasting is one way out of several to clean the carbon. Unless you're planning on doing this a lot or have several cars to do I'm not sure if I would bother buying everything. I do think it's much faster and easier to blast it clean though.

Has anyone readapted the intake manifold flap motor after cleaning? I'm guessing it's not needed but it seems like it might be a good idea.

[Okedokey]

Wow that works really well. would this be something you can hire?

[mudd1011]

i second the walnut blasting. I did it as well and it did great. Glad to know the BMW adapter works. I just used a bunch of drop cloths and my shopvac. stuff does get everywhere but it did a great job.

[Avant4me]

The walnut blasting is one way out of several to clean the carbon. Unless you're planning on doing this a lot or have several cars to do I'm not sure if I would bother buying everything. I do think it's much faster and easier to blast it clean though.

Has anyone readapted the intake manifold flap motor after cleaning? I'm guessing it's not needed but it seems like it might be a good idea.

everyone is walnut blasting these days time for me to get off my lazy butt and do the same.
Nice work on yours though, did you tape anything off or cover your engine at all to control the spray?

Glad to see you're still around John ;)

[Guig'z]

Can you do it with a regular sand blasting gun? Like without the pressure tank?

[DaveyDave424]

I have had carbon cleaning done by my mechanic, but I know he didn't use this method with walnut shells and it still came out very clean. I believe they let it soak overnight, and continued to clean the next day.

What's the advantage in doing this method, does it make the process faster, does it get more carbon out, etc ?

[gonemtbiking]

Can you do it with a regular sand blasting gun? Like without the pressure tank?

I was able to do mine with great results using my 60 gallon compressor, and a pickup gun (I soda blasted mine due to its ability to simply dissolve)

[Theiceman]

so outside of the setup equipment is there anything else needed to complete the job ?

ie intake gaskets, orings that need to be replaced once you remove the intake etc ?

what would make the job a thorough project as a "while you are in there" approach ?

[fly300kts]

Yes walnut shells does work but I did both way and soda blast is much more efficient and quicker

Phil

[Guig'z]

Yes walnut shells does work but I did both way and soda blast is much more efficient and quicker

Phil

You used a pressure tank to?
Or only a gun?

Guess i'll try both!

[fly300kts]

You used a pressure tank to?
Or only a gun?

Guess i'll try both!

I used a compressor

Phil

[jerseybrian]

I used a compressor

Phil

Sucks no one has made an Audi adapter head..

[fly300kts]

Sucks no one has made an Audi adapter head..

You don't need one with the soda blaster
Here is my DIY

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ghlight=carbon

Phil

[mudd1011]

I tried to do the soda blasting per Fly, getting the Harbor Freight blaster. Unfortunately it didn't work too good for me and my compressor(Makita MAC5200 3hp/5gallon air compressor). I tested it out and it got clogged quickly (could have been the high August humidity and then a hose broke off the blaster soon after (couldn't repair it). I returned it and got the HF walnut blaster for like $30 and a box of shells. Did awesome and was quick. What I liked was the shells were easy to sweep up and any remainder, I just blew out into the yard. I read that you don't want baking soda to get on your plants but I think walnut shells are ok. I highly recommend it for guys with just your basic home air compressor

[Okedokey]

Baking soda is just sodium bicarbonate which will raise the ph of anything for a short while, but will be diluted very quickly.

[Denio24]

I'd rather prefer to use sodium bicarbonate than walnut media, cause it looks like walnut media gets stuck in between the valve edges and the cylinder head near the mating surface. If i were to do this I'd just spray some solvent in the intake, let it sit there, and clean it out.

[Audicoupej]

Wow that works really well. would this be something you can hire?

Mosy any shop should be able to do a carbon cleaning service for you. You would have to ask what method they use.

i second the walnut blasting. I did it as well and it did great. Glad to know the BMW adapter works. I just used a bunch of drop cloths and my shopvac. stuff does get everywhere but it did a great job.

The adapter works but barely. If I was smart enough I'd try to prototype one for VAG cars. The kit BAVauto sells for the N54's has a drop cloth to cover the whole bay besides the intake valve area. I didn't bother as I just sucked up what I could after then once it was together I blew it out.

everyone is walnut blasting these days time for me to get off my lazy butt and do the same.
Nice work on yours though, did you tape anything off or cover your engine at all to control the spray?

Glad to see you're still around John ;)

I did use tape and clean rags to cover anything that was open (i.e. injectors, intake manifold, vacuum lines, dip stick hole, coolant lines, etc.)
Thanks, this is Mark? I recognize the user name but cannot remember your name for certain.

Can you do it with a regular sand blasting gun? Like without the pressure tank?

I'm sure you could as long as you have a compressor to blow the blasting media.

I have had carbon cleaning done by my mechanic, but I know he didn't use this method with walnut shells and it still came out very clean. I believe they let it soak overnight, and continued to clean the next day.

What's the advantage in doing this method, does it make the process faster, does it get more carbon out, etc ?

Clean is clean, I did this because I had access to the equipment so I only had to buy media. It's also easier than using chemicals and scraping.

so outside of the setup equipment is there anything else needed to complete the job ?

ie intake gaskets, orings that need to be replaced once you remove the intake etc ?

what would make the job a thorough project as a "while you are in there" approach ?

You should change the intake manifold gasket. Nothing else has to be changed. I did the cam follower because you remove the HPFP. If your intake manifold flap control motor is shot this also would make changing that very easy.

[Audicoupej]

I'd rather prefer to use sodium bicarbonate than walnut media, cause it looks like walnut media gets stuck in between the valve edges and the cylinder head near the mating surface. If i were to do this I'd just spray some solvent in the intake, let it sit there, and clean it out.

The few pieces you see that appear stuck in the pictures are easily removed by running a pick around the perimeter and then vacuuming out. It's no big deal really. What ever method works best for you. Cleaning them is the important part.

[Avant4me]

Thanks, this is Mark? I recognize the user name but cannot remember your name for certain.

Nope. Daniel...You don't know me from this screen name though.

[aluthman]

Baking soda is just sodium bicarbonate which will raise the ph of anything for a short while, but will be diluted very quickly.

I managed to kill a large portion of my grass using my soda blaster. I now do all my blasting in the gravel driveway and not the yard.

[Okedokey]

Yeah, its probably the hydrocarbons etc that killed it. Sodium bicarbonate is used in fish aquariums and other water systems to increase kH and pH. Its a weak base so watering it in would stop it killing grass. I would suggest though, avoidance is better ;)

[esandes]

apparently if the valves are polished it helps to curb carbon build up on the valves. if so, a good port and polish of the heads should also reduce carbon buildup in the intake ducts.

[Audicoupej]

apparently if the valves are polished it helps to curb carbon build up on the valves. if so, a good port and polish of the heads should also reduce carbon buildup in the intake ducts.

It makes sense, a smoother surface should have less sticking to it.

[Theiceman]

this has been big on the Porsche forums also and someone mentioned something that may help us. The guy who did it used a piece of rad hose it formed easily to fit just inside the port and hooked it right up to the vacuum, then drilled a hole in it for the cleaner nozzle. I thought it was quite innovative.

[Audicoupej]

this has been big on the Porsche forums also and someone mentioned something that may help us. The guy who did it used a piece of rad hose it formed easily to fit just inside the port and hooked it right up to the vacuum, then drilled a hole in it for the cleaner nozzle. I thought it was quite innovative.

That's a great easy and cheap solution! Thanks for posting it.

[Charles.waite]

this has been big on the Porsche forums also and someone mentioned something that may help us. The guy who did it used a piece of rad hose it formed easily to fit just inside the port and hooked it right up to the vacuum, then drilled a hole in it for the cleaner nozzle. I thought it was quite innovative.

That's clever. Also one of those "why the hell hasn't anyone thought of that before" solutions.

[marlboro]

this has been big on the Porsche forums also and someone mentioned something that may help us. The guy who did it used a piece of rad hose it formed easily to fit just inside the port and hooked it right up to the vacuum, then drilled a hole in it for the cleaner nozzle. I thought it was quite innovative.

Do you have a picture or link to the thread?

[marstery]

I used the BMW N54 adapter since I had it on hand from when I helped my friend clean his 335. It barely fits the ports but it works and helps keep the shells from going everywhere (they still go everywhere)

Thanks for the post. What do you mean when you say the adapter barely fits? Wrong shape? Needs to be sanded down? Could be better with some layers of tape or something?

[BrianVan]

Sucks no one has made an Audi adapter head..

Search for Ford Prefect member. He has created a custom adapter. check out this thread
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...me-w-92k-miles

There is also a good you tube vid showing its usage from member Jroyalty7
https://youtu.be/ffAQU2tckVs