[SHATX]

So I have read mixed reviews on cleaning the intake of carbon build up on our cars. Some people see huge improvements while others do not.

I was thinking of dropping my car off at the dealership to have it cleaned out since I have an AT and dont want to mess with trying to get every valvle to PDC plus the price is only $700 and I have seen qoutes for $1300.

But has anyone cleaned their intake and really noticed a difference?

BTW my car is tuned - has 62k miles and all plugs/coils/injectors replaced.

Grateful for any valid input or experience with cleaning the carbon buildup.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

MR.5 picked up about 15 HP after he cleaned his supposedly. The higher the mileage the more beneficial.

[SHATX]

Originally Posted by Jeff@topgearsolutions

MR.5 picked up about 15 HP after he cleaned his supposedly. The higher the mileage the more beneficial.

Thanks Jeff . I have read all of Mr.5's threads over the past year and that really got me motivated. But i have come across a few more recent threads that performed the DIY and noticed no difference.

Hence why I am really hoping for some justification on this versus continueing with some more cosmetic mods. :-)

[B_davis]

I've cleaned my valves 4 times over the last 30k miles. I laugh at people who have 40k+ miles and have never taken their manifold off. The last 20k has been with meth, and the buildup is still the same.

[JamesM3M5]

Mine had so much carbon that I instantly noticed much better power above 6000 RPM after cleaning.

[ttbmer]

Mine is going in on monday!! 300$ looks like im getting a deal! Will report back

[Rotorocious]

Originally Posted by ttbmer

Mine is going in on monday!! 300$ looks like im getting a deal! Will report back

be sure they just aren't seafoaming your car and sticking additives in your gas

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by SHATX

Thanks Jeff . I have read all of Mr.5's threads over the past year and that really got me motivated. But i have come across a few more recent threads that performed the DIY and noticed no difference.

Hence why I am really hoping for some justification on this versus continueing with some more cosmetic mods. :-)

I personally wouldnt bother unless your running into idle problems or chronic misfires. Especially for that price tag.

[samchoi604]

I wouldn't look at cleaning the intake as a performance enhancement, but as a necessary maintenance item for the life of the engine if you plan to keep the car. Having that much gunk and crap caked along the wall and on top of the valves can't be good in the long run, right?

[tibra1]

+1..a manual clean of the intake valves at the 50K mark (especially if you are tuned) is called for... the intake valves b/c of the DI engine get extremely caked up w/ carbon and rob power.. cause rough idles..etc

[ttbmer]

Originally Posted by Rotorocious

be sure they just aren't seafoaming your car and sticking additives in your gas

Oh no!! I'm sure they r not. Plus I'm gonna be there to take pics of before and after. They r hand scrubbing the gunk out

[Island Road]

I had this done from BMW, made a write up about here you can read here. Def noticed a difference after this was done to my car.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=549660

[._.]

the ticking noise was a result of the carbon buildup?

[Syndicategt]

I was told that BMW Dealerships are starting to get some walnut shell blasters in. I'll be waiting for that.

[prelude2perfect]

This was a very easy DIY and I definitely noticed a difference along with much better gas mileage as well. $700 is way too much, bring it to me and I'll do it for 200

If you can install an intake yourself then you're capable of doing this yourself as well. It just takes some time to scrub them but, it's very simple to remove the IM and clean them.

[ttbmer]

Originally Posted by prelude2perfect

This was a very easy DIY and I definitely noticed a difference along with much better gas mileage as well. $700 is way too much, bring it to me and I'll do it for 200

If you can install an intake yourself then you're capable of doing this yourself as well. It just takes some time to scrub them but, it's very simple to remove the IM and clean them.

I rather pay 200 and have someone do this. Messy job, 4hr labor. Great deal here, do it!!

[OpenFlash]

One easy cleaning option is running a can of Seafoam through your engine. Takes 5 minutes and requires no tools. But makes quite a smokey mess so definitely don't do it in your driveway.

[tibra1]

No way seafoam will clean the intake valves as well as a manual clean ..and also has risk..chunks of carbon being burned thru engine isnt exactly great or worst getting lodged somewhere vital (valve stem etc)

[R1000K3]

Seafoam is Flintstone technology and there is no reason at all to pay for it when you get modern products like e.g. BG 44K and BG ISC for just a little more money. The smoke from Seafoam is when it burns in the engine, it is not the removal of carbon and soot. This takes longer time and requires hours of using the right treatment to have effect and it is still not as effective as a manual clean.

I've treated the N54 engine with BK 44K in the gasoline and BG ISC in the intake before the throttle body. The power last year was 435 whp and this year 455 whp (336 kW) so I believe it works OK. I've increased the boost with 1 PSI too so the power increase is not just by the cleaning, but 1 PSI is about 10 horses only on a 400+ level so the other ten horses may (or may not) come from the cleaning. The off-throttle sputter disappeared after the cleaning procedure.

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by shiv@vishnu

One easy cleaning option is running a can of Seafoam through your engine. Takes 5 minutes and requires no tools. But makes quite a smokey mess so definitely don't do it in your driveway.

We are yet to see ANY before and after shots of N54 engines treated with seafoam. My money is on Seafoam not working for DI engines at all! All the smoke that comes out when you use Seafoam is just that, seafoam burning and not the carbon build up being removed.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

I would think with DI that seafoam gets burned before it gets to the backside of the valves.

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

I would think with DI that seafoam gets burned before it gets to the backside of the valves.

This has been discussed before. You can use a vacuum hose (brake booster line usually) to let the engine injest seafoam through the intake tract.

However, in order to remove caked up carbon build up, you need to let it sit submerged into some sort of a chemical to get it loosened.

Think of it this way: imagine a cereal bowl with caked up milk, sugar and some cheerios. No matter what you do, you won't get that grime come off unless you let it sit in water for a few hours....