[335i E92]

Hi

I’ve been reading a few threads on here from the US regarding N54 carbon build up on the intake valves. As my cars now done 50k miles it sounds like it might be worth a go.

In the below US thread they seem to be sucking up Seafoam (Valve Cleaner) through the DV vacuum lines straight in to the intake.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...t=carbon+build

I’ve found a direct UK supplier on eBay for Seafoam as below.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Seafoam-Fuel-I...item4aa54efd5c

Has anyone tried this in the UK, are there any downsides to this practice?

The only other way of cleaning the intake valves I believe is to take the head off and manually clean which is a big expensive pain in the ass

Cheers

H

[creepy coupe]

I don't know of any cleaner that can remove carbon build up, simple by passing it through the intake system. If you take a cylinder head which has carbon build up on it and soak overnight in a cleaning tank, it barely removes anything.

[335i E92]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I don't know of any cleaner that can remove carbon build up, simple by passing it through the intake system. If you take a cylinder head which has carbon build up on it and soak overnight in a cleaning tank, it barely removes anything.

Hi

Here is a link to the Seafoam website explaining how it works:

http://www.seafoamsales.com/how-to-u...treatment.html

A lot of people on the US threads seem to rate this, is it not worth a go for the sake of £20? Unless it could have a negative effect somehow?

It seems to solve many peoples rough idle and report of increased throttle response and smoother running.

Maybe it removes the deposits quickly due to the fact the engine is running at the same time so the heat could possibly help with the removal. It says to switch the engine off half way through for 15 mins to also allow it to loosen things up.

[Yahoo]

Prevention is better then the cure - get an oil catch can (once any current carbon build up is removed obviously)

[335i E92]

Originally Posted by Yahoo

Prevention is better then the cure - get an oil catch can (once any current carbon build up is removed obviously)

Afternoon...

I had the AR Design catch can fitted last week which is why i'm now thinging of how to clear out the previous build up from the last 50k.

Plus my car has a rough idle even after new plugs coils and injectors so unless somone wags a big no no finger on here i might give it a go

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by 335i E92

Hi

Here is a link to the Seafoam website explaining how it works:

http://www.seafoamsales.com/how-to-u...treatment.html

A lot of people on the US threads seem to rate this, is it not worth a go for the sake of £20? Unless it could have a negative effect somehow?

It seems to solve many peoples rough idle and report of increased throttle response and smoother running.

Maybe it removes the deposits quickly due to the fact the engine is running at the same time so the heat could possibly help with the removal. It says to switch the engine off half way through for 15 mins to also allow it to loosen things up.

That vid is pre world war one

Tipping neat solvent into a carb is one thing, we might clean varnish of the carbs internal, but pouring half a pint into a tank of fuel or diluting it at a ratio of 14.1 through a fuel injection system is another.

Still if people what to blow their dosh, so be it.

[335i E92]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

That vid is pre world war one

Tipping neat solvent into a carb is one thing, we might clean varnish of the carbs internal, but pouring half a pint into a tank of fuel or diluting it at a ratio of 14.1 through a fuel injection system is another.

Still if people what to blow their dosh, so be it.

Do you have a reason why you disaprove of putting this through the intake as it has been designed to do so?

As far as if people wanting to blow thier dosh, its £20. From what ive read it can help remove some of the carbon build up which i have now plugged with the catch can.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by 335i E92

Do you have a reason why you disaprove of putting this through the intake as it has been designed to do so?

Yes, as per my first post, I can't see any additive, dialuted to 14-1 and sprayed into and inlet manifold for about a second doing any good.

Even saturating the inlet manifold with solution, might remove some varnish, but that's very different to baked on, built up carbon.

[335i E92]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Yes, as per my first post, I can't see any additive, dialuted to 14-1 and sprayed into and inlet manifold for about a second doing any good.

Even saturating the inlet manifold with solution, might remove some varnish, but that's very different to baked on, built up carbon.

I hear ya, and agree it sounds far fetched!!

It doesn't sound like it should work, as you mentioned even submerged in a tank it is apparently tricky to remove. I'm not just going by what it says on the tin though, there are many posts on here from the states that claim to have used it with success.

By the way i think it goes in neat not diluted

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by 335i E92

I hear ya, and agree it sounds far fetched!!

It doesn't sound like it should work, as you mentioned even submerged in a tank it is apparently tricky to remove. I'm not just going by what it says on the tin though, there are many posts on here from the states that claim to have used it with success.

By the way i think it goes in neat not diluted

I'd like to see before and after shots of the internals and yes on a closer look at the another video, it showed the engine drawing in the Seafoam and stalling, I assume leaving the fluid on top of the pistons at various stages of their cycle, can't see much actually staying on the valves and or in the plenum chamber, to do any lasting good.

But I’m a cynical old Git and can’t help harking back to my appreticeship days, when I had to remove carbon build up with a wire wheel

[willhollin]

Try some Cillit Bang!

[dxb335d]

I'm with C-C all day long!

Hilarious products like that!

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by willhollin

Try some Cillit Bang!

For what..? Anal bleaching?!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by willhollin

Try some Cillit Bang!

Same sort of hype IMO

[335i E92]

I'm guessing by the direction this thread seems to be going that this a cilit bang / chocolate tea pot product?

I've just had a catch can fitted and was looking for a way to clean out some of the last 50ks worth of build up that didn't involve taking the head off.

Still don't understand why so many in the states are claiming to have success with this.

Are we saying that there is no other way other than the expensive one?

[jaybe]

Finally a topic to which I can add something useful.

There may be some science behind this product. Oxygen injection is used to remove carbon deposition on the gas side of the boilers fitted to carbon dioxide cooled nuclear reactors. The degree of catalytic reaction depends on the parent material, its temperature and oxygen concentration. If the later is produced when the fluid is heated, then it's a plausible outcome.

I'm the safety case engineer not the chemist and the chance of me getting him to test valves with this product in the autoclave is nil. Unless, of course, someone has got £30k burning a hole in their pocket.

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by jaybe

Oxygen injection is used to remove carbon deposition on the gas side of the boilers fitted to carbon dioxide cooled nuclear reactors.
The degree of catalytic reaction depends on the parent material, its temperature and oxygen concentration.
If the later is produced when the fluid is heated, then it's a plausible outcome.

But the carbon deposition to which you refer is largely an unwanted product of Methane injection in Co2 cooled reactors,
and not some burned on oily crap of dubious chemical composition as found in a car engine.

It's just not the same thing....and neither are the temperatures or pressures.

[335i E92]

I’ve spoken to my local Indy BMW dealer and their opinion is much the same as most on this thread.

They can see that the valve faces possibly being cleared of carbon deposits due to high temps in the cylinder burning them but really can’t see this cleaning the valve stems or valves seats effectively.

They also said they would be dubious as there don’t seem to be any before and after shots available.

Their advice would be if you suspect carbon build to take off the inlet manifold to visually inspect the inlet valves & inlet ports for it rather than just chancing this stuff.

So, this thread seems to be concluding that there isn’t an easy solution quick fix to carbon build up.

Just though it was worth a quick thread, but it looks like the old theory of too good to be true is very much present here

Thanks for your input anyway guys.

Howard

[creepy coupe]

If I were the manufacturer, I'd set up an experiment showing the product on a removed cylinder, spray the warm combustion chamber with Seafoam and leave it for the time suggested, then wash off, if it really is that good, enough said.

[m1bjr]

If I were an Engineer, I would demonstrate that the carbon build up had a measurable detrimantal effect in the first place.

If nobody has removed it, how do they know its an issue?

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

If I were an Engineer, I would demonstrate that the carbon build up had a measurable detrimantal effect in the first place.

If nobody has removed it, how do they know its an issue?

When it is done correctly, head off, valves lapped, it can make a clagged up engine run better, but the build up isn’t anything like as bad as 20 years ago

[WingZeroX5]

SLIP2000 CARBON KILLER

http://www.slip2000.com/carbonkiller.html