How to Remove Carbon Deposits?
4 Answers
Methods to remove carbon deposits are as follows: 1. Engine drip cleaning method: Cut off the fuel supply, connect the carbon deposit cleaner to the engine fuel injector, and use the cleaner to soften the carbon deposits inside the engine, which are then burned and emitted. 2. Direct disassembly cleaning method: Remove the engine intake manifold, scrape off the stubborn carbon deposits, clean them, and then reassemble the vehicle. 3. Hydrogen-oxygen carbon removal machine: The hydrogen-oxygen carbon removal machine uses machine atomization to simultaneously clean the air intake and the gasoline engine cylinder. 4. Fuel additives: Using fuel additives can effectively prevent carbon deposits and slowly remove carbon particles. However, the chemical components in the additives have certain corrosiveness. Pay attention to the product's normality and usage cycle when using it.
My previous car also frequently encountered carbon deposit issues, but I later figured out a few solutions. The most convenient method is using fuel additives – pour a bottle into the fuel tank before refueling, and you can feel the engine running smoother when accelerating after burning half a tank of fuel. Using it every six months prevents severe carbon buildup. If the car is mainly used for short trips, I recommend taking a monthly highway drive, maintaining a speed around 100 km/h with engine RPM above 3000 for half an hour. The high temperature helps burn off some carbon deposits. For throttle valve carbon buildup, you can remove and clean it yourself using carburetor cleaner spray. If there's significant carbon buildup on piston tops, you'll need to visit a repair shop for walnut shell blasting cleaning – a specialized machine sprays walnut shell particles into the cylinders for polishing, which shows immediate results but is slightly more expensive. When refueling, always choose reputable gas stations as low-quality gasoline tends to cause more carbon deposits.
I pay special attention to carbon deposit issues in car maintenance, believing prevention is far more important than cleaning. I adhere to several daily habits: only filling up with 95-octane fuel from reputable gas stations, and adding a well-known brand fuel additive every 5,000 kilometers to reduce carbon buildup in the fuel system. I avoid prolonged idling with the AC on, as carbon deposits form fastest when engine RPM drops below 800. Every week, I schedule a half-hour of medium-high speed driving, specifically taking expressways to keep RPM above 2,500. For existing mild carbon deposits, I've used the fuel injector cleaning method where repair shops inject cleaner into the intake manifold – this cleans intake valve deposits without engine disassembly. The newer dry ice cleaning method is also good, using -78°C dry ice particles to blast carbon layers without damaging precision components. Remember to change engine oil after carbon cleaning to prevent dislodged deposits from clogging oil passages.
I've dealt with carbon deposits multiple times myself. For simple cases, just buy a bottle of gasoline additive. Pour it into the fuel tank and drive normally—it will dissolve carbon buildup in the fuel lines and injectors. For visible components in the engine bay, like the throttle body, remove it and scrub with carburetor cleaner and a toothbrush. If there's severe carbon buildup inside the cylinders, you'll need to remove the spark plugs, inspect with a borescope, and soak with specialized cleaner for removal. Repair shops have hydrogen-oxygen decarbonization machines, which use active oxygen from water electrolysis to break down carbon deposits. The most troublesome is carbon buildup on the back of the valves—it requires removing the intake manifold to clean. A useful tip is to let the car idle for 15 minutes after cleaning to give the oxygen sensor time to adapt. To prevent carbon buildup, avoid prolonged low-RPM driving, and use manual mode to downshift and rev higher when driving on mountain roads on weekends.
