Carbon build up around intake valves?

[FirestormFRS]

Seafoam....try taking spark plugs out of a 5.4l 3v ford. After you break 3 or 4 go buy some seafoam and run it in through a vacuum line and take the last 4 or 5 out with ease. The stuff works and works well to break down carbon.

I'll take a picture when I hit 200k with the seafoam rolling out the exhaust for you Poodles!

[Poodles]

Originally Posted by FirestormFRS

Seafoam....try taking spark plugs out of a 5.4l 3v ford. After you break 3 or 4 go buy some seafoam and run it in through a vacuum line and take the last 4 or 5 out with ease. The stuff works and works well to break down carbon.

I'll take a picture when I hit 200k with the seafoam rolling out the exhaust for you Poodles!

Those motors alone should have bankrupted Ford.

Do what you wish with the seafoam though, it's your car...

[stugray]

"Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner SA459 is the only upper engine cleaning product that has been tested and approved by the factory to be used in Subaru vehicles, and included as a factory requirement in the maintenance and service schedule.

It contains a powerful foaming agent to effectively clean the induction system and combustion chamber of the engine.

Product Features & Benefits

Specifically formulated for strong penetrating, dissolving, cleaning and solvent ability helps maintain smooth airflow so that the engine can breathe correctly.
SA459 reduces the build up of deposits such as carbon, varnish, gum etc. in the manifold and combustion chamber, resulting in cleaner exhaust gases.
Spray foaming material penetrates into every small part of the system
Easier starting, smoother idling
Reduces pinging caused by hot spots
Suitable for vehicles with catalytic converters.
Why use Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner?

Only product factory tested and approved
Fully compatible with the alloys and synthetics in a Subaru Boxer Engine
Fulfils factory maintenance and service schedule requirements"

http://www.subaru.com.au/parts/catal...on-maintenance

I would bet that it is the same stuff as seafoam.

Subaru has been around for 60 years Seafoam for 84 years.
Who's engine cleaner is more likely to be the original and which the knockoff?

[Poodles]

Originally Posted by stugray

"Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner SA459 is the only upper engine cleaning product that has been tested and approved by the factory to be used in Subaru vehicles, and included as a factory requirement in the maintenance and service schedule.

It contains a powerful foaming agent to effectively clean the induction system and combustion chamber of the engine.

Product Features & Benefits

Specifically formulated for strong penetrating, dissolving, cleaning and solvent ability helps maintain smooth airflow so that the engine can breathe correctly.
SA459 reduces the build up of deposits such as carbon, varnish, gum etc. in the manifold and combustion chamber, resulting in cleaner exhaust gases.
Spray foaming material penetrates into every small part of the system
Easier starting, smoother idling
Reduces pinging caused by hot spots
Suitable for vehicles with catalytic converters.
Why use Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner?

Only product factory tested and approved
Fully compatible with the alloys and synthetics in a Subaru Boxer Engine
Fulfils factory maintenance and service schedule requirements"

http://www.subaru.com.au/parts/catal...on-maintenance

I would bet that it is the same stuff as seafoam.

Subaru has been around for 60 years Seafoam for 84 years.
Who's engine cleaner is more likely to be the original and which the knockoff?

1) seafoam doesn't actually foam
2) seafoam has aluminum listed as an incompatible material on their MSDS

[stugray]

Originally Posted by Poodles

1) seafoam doesn't actually foam
2) seafoam has aluminum listed as an incompatible material on their MSDS

I understand that.

But i stand by my statement "I BET it is the same stuff".

Some chamicals are considered "incompatible" with certain metals.
That doesnt meant that it will hurt the metl after a quick rinse.

Simple Green is considered "not compatible" with aluminum.
Does that mean it will eat your wheels if you rinse them down with it? - No

[sato]

Originally Posted by Jo_415

I work for Lexus and it's a problem on IS250s because of the D4 injection system that uses only direct injection. The FR-S has the D4S injection which means that the set of injectors in the intake take care of cleaning the intake valves while still using the 4 direct injection injectors for performance.

Off topic, but what would the solution be for a IS250 owner?

Originally Posted by teamturbo

Anyone brave enough to use that Sea Foam cleaner? Supposedly works, but looks kinda scary...not sure I'd want to put that in my baby's engine!

I have used it several times (as instructed) on my current ride, along with the italian tune-up... 190k on a 2AZ-FE manual tranny without any issues. Still runs like a champ.

[SomeoneWhoIsntMe]

^^FWIW thinning the oil with a bunch of solvents and detergents then doing WOT runs might not be the best idea. I'd only do the italian tune up after changing the oil to get rid of the seafoam. Just drive on the highway for 15-20 minutes with seafoam in the sump.

[Jo_415]

Originally Posted by sato

Off topic, but what would the solution be for a IS250 owner?

An oil catch can should prevent the oil from going through the intake and cooking on the valves.

[Silverspeed]

There is this option....


http://crcindustries.com/auto/intake-valve-cleaner.php

[Poodles]

Originally Posted by stugray

I understand that.

But i stand by my statement "I BET it is the same stuff".

Some chamicals are considered "incompatible" with certain metals.
That doesnt meant that it will hurt the metl after a quick rinse.

Simple Green is considered "not compatible" with aluminum.
Does that mean it will eat your wheels if you rinse them down with it? - No

As someone who's been around this stuff for years, Simple Green will sure as hell etch aluminum. Aluminum wheels are usually clear coated, but if they aren't, you're in for a bad day... Well, unless you like your nice polished aluminum wheels looking like dull cast aluminum.


Don't get me started on Super Clean. Shit will eat paint...

Originally Posted by sato

Off topic, but what would the solution be for a IS250 owner?

CRC makes a product, as do many of the OEMs. It's a pretty well known issue now so there are valid (non-snake oil) products on the market.

Originally Posted by SomeoneWhoIsntMe

^^FWIW thinning the oil with a bunch of solvents and detergents then doing WOT runs might not be the best idea. I'd only do the italian tune up after changing the oil to get rid of the seafoam. Just drive on the highway for 15-20 minutes with seafoam in the sump.

I'd NEVER drive a car with seafoam in the sump. Hell, I would never use it in the oil period. A modern synthetic oil will clean just as well without the risks...

Originally Posted by Jo_415

An oil catch can should prevent the oil from going through the intake and cooking on the valves.

Still doesn't fix the issue of EGR on some DI motors. Though the combination of EGR and PCV make the issue far worse.

Originally Posted by Silverspeed

There is this option....


http://crcindustries.com/auto/intake-valve-cleaner.php

Yep, stuff that actually works...

[slowandcurious05]

Some food for thought...Master BMW mechanic by trade. 02'-up 760 (v12) were naturally aspirated and Direct injected (only)-these are notorious for carbon build up on valves. Then they decided to start turdbocharging things in conjunction with DI-nothing changed-carbon build up around 40k miles basically causing poor performance and misfires that were hard to pinpoint. Fix is removing intakes and walnut blasting. This happened because...that happens. Take your injectors out of your intake ports-and that happens. Every other engine that has port injection has very clean intake valves upon disassembly. From an in-the-field perspective, I feel that injector cleaners are a waste of time and money, and that you will not have any carbon build-up issues that would inhibit performance or cause reliability issues with the DI/port injection combo.

[slowandcurious05]

...O I Forgot. I can't remember when BMW used EGR. I read a post on this thread stating all DI engines use EGR systems. BMW has not. It's gotten away without using it based on their cam phasing (VANOS). Not so sure of other manufacturers' approaches. Almost all engines these days, including the FA20, use variable cam phasing.

[blown]

http://crcindustries.com/auto/?s=05319

[RD1428]

I used seafoam at 30k for just in case... 32k now and still going strong