[onefastman]

Ya that is one heck of a deal!

[jworms]

with carbon buildup you could be losing a significant amount of power. to all of those who think you don't have carbon build-up (unless you actually checked the valves yourself), you should read these.

FYI: This affects ALL Direct Injection engines (except for maybe the IS-F with its second set of injectors, but that's to be determined still):

http://www.nagtroc.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=39598
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/9...up-valves.html
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1485741 (you need to be a member to read this one)

an example of an n54:

[._.]

any after seafoam shots?

[raceyBMW]

No matter if you have an OCC either, because that only diverts the blow-by gasses while on boost; however under idle, cruise, or deceleration conditions, the PCV system routes blow-by directly to the intake manifold and there is no way to divert those through and OCC since its built into the valve cover. The OCC will help, but it will not completely prevent carbon valve build-up from blow-by.

[vasillalov]

^^^
True, but it is mostly under boost that the built in oil separation system is overwhelmed. This is especially true if you up the boost. At this point the cyclone oil separator will simply get flooded.

So it seems that the following help reduce the carbon buildup:

* Quality Oil Catch Can
* Annual or even semi-annual treatments with SeaFoam (for those who don't want meth)
* Methanol Injection (for those who want it)

Is that correct?

[onefastman]

Yep that is the best way to minize it but you cant get rid of it 100%. I seafoam every 2-3K and use the whole can in thirds, letting it soak for 20 min, run it off, and repeat.

[vasillalov]

Now, here is a question that I cannot find answer on:

When one is performing the SeaFoam treatment for removing carbon deposits, the smoke that comes out of the tail pipe is it the actual SeaFoam liquid being burnt or is it the dislodged carbon being burnt?

The same question in a different form: will there be heavy smoke coming out of the exhaust as seen above if there is NO carbon buildup and SeaFoam is being introduced into the system?

[zsapphire7]

how many miles was on that n54?

[ar design]

Originally Posted by raceyBMW

No matter if you have an OCC either, because that only diverts the blow-by gasses while on boost; however under idle, cruise, or deceleration conditions, the PCV system routes blow-by directly to the intake manifold and there is no way to divert those through and OCC since its built into the valve cover. The OCC will help, but it will not completely prevent carbon valve build-up from blow-by.

How does the PCV go directly into the intake?

[lyndon_h]

Originally Posted by zsapphire7

how many miles was on that n54?

thats what i want to know also

[scottp999]

Originally Posted by ar design

How does the PCV go directly into the intake?

There is no "V" in the N54. "The lighter blow by gasses are sucked out from the middle of the cyclone. The purified blow by gasses are then fed into the air intake system"

IMHO - the purified blow by gasses are not purified, maybe partially purified.

[jworms]

Originally Posted by zsapphire7

how many miles was on that n54?

Originally Posted by lyndon_h

thats what i want to know also

i'm not sure. it may be in one of the links i included with the picture. it doesn't take much. some people are seeing considerable buildup after only a few thousand miles.

[hun77777]

i love that puff coming out @ 1:22 on that vid

[raceyBMW]

Originally Posted by ar design

How does the PCV go directly into the intake?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38856
The Engine Mechanical document

http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...9&d=1165592709

Pages 10-15 explain

[elim11]

Originally Posted by scottp999

We need a seafoam DIY with pics and/or even video so some of us first timers can see what to expect. Anyone up for it?

I was wondering the same thing.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=407659

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by vasillalov

Now, here is a question that I cannot find answer on:

When one is performing the SeaFoam treatment for removing carbon deposits, the smoke that comes out of the tail pipe is it the actual SeaFoam liquid being burnt or is it the dislodged carbon being burnt?

The same question in a different form: will there be heavy smoke coming out of the exhaust as seen above if there is NO carbon buildup and SeaFoam is being introduced into the system?

Anyone?

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by vasillalov

[u2b]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K0QVYQMb7G0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K0QVYQMb7G0&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/u2b]

Lol @ min 1:22 its shooting halos out the exaust

[blacknbean]

Originally Posted by vasillalov

Now, here is a question that I cannot find answer on:

When one is performing the SeaFoam treatment for removing carbon deposits, the smoke that comes out of the tail pipe is it the actual SeaFoam liquid being burnt or is it the dislodged carbon being burnt?

The same question in a different form: will there be heavy smoke coming out of the exhaust as seen above if there is NO carbon buildup and SeaFoam is being introduced into the system?

http://www.seafoamsales.com/tech-info-gas-engines/

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by blacknbean

http://www.seafoamsales.com/tech-info-gas-engines/

Well, I read through all this including the FAQ's and I still can't find the answer I am looking for!

[JJB]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

So who's got carbon buildup? I was picking up my M3 and saw 2 335is getting serviced for carbon buildup. The mileage ranged from 30k to just over 50k miles (out of warranty) ?

My car with approx 50k on it was running like crap. Stumbling at WOT. They threw all kinds of parts at it, and finally manually scrubbing the carbon deposits off the valves, head, etc made it run smooth again. I ran a can of seafoam through it a week or two before taking it to the shop, and apparently it did nothing - or was too little too late for the amount of buildup in my engine.

As a preventative - I think I'll snag an OCC, and do the semi-annual seafoam treatment.

[Jed]

Originally Posted by JJB

My car with approx 50k on it was running like crap. Stumbling at WOT. They threw all kinds of parts at it, and finally manually scrubbing the carbon deposits off the valves, head, etc made it run smooth again. I ran a can of seafoam through it a week or two before taking it to the shop, and apparently it did nothing - or was too little too late for the amount of buildup in my engine.

As a preventative - I think I'll snag an OCC, and do the semi-annual seafoam treatment.

Taking mine in tomorrow for a cleaning. Mine has 73K miles on it. It stumbles under load at WOT, past 2.5K rpms its fine again.

After this, I am going to pull off the intercooler and clean that, replace the PCV valve, get an OCC and start maintaining a regimen of Seafoam.

How long did the procedure take?

[vasillalov]

Folks, how do we know if SeaFoam really works? Is the smoke coming out of the exhaust an indication of carbon being burnt or is it just smoking because of the additive?