Is Carbon Deposit Cleaning Useful?
2 Answers
Carbon deposit cleaning is useful. The methods for cleaning carbon deposits are: 1. Adding fuel additives when refueling; 2. Engine disassembly and cleaning; 3. Using a car drip cleaning method. The causes of carbon deposit formation include: 1. Metal debris from engine friction and wear; 2. Dust from the air; 3. Oxidation, thickening, and acidification of engine oil under high temperatures forming sticky substances; 4. Varnish film produced by the oxidation and concentration of lubricating oil. The impacts of increased carbon deposits in a car are: 1. Difficulty in starting; 2. Insufficient horsepower, unstable acceleration, and shaking; 3. Air-fuel ratio imbalance; 4. Failure to meet emission standards; 5. Reduced combustion efficiency. Methods to prevent carbon deposits in cars include: 1. Waiting for 1 minute or 30 seconds after reaching the destination before turning off the engine; 2. Increasing the shift RPM for manual transmission vehicles.
My old car noticeably lost acceleration power after driving 70,000-80,000 kilometers, and it often idled roughly. When taken to the repair shop and opened up, the piston tops were completely covered in a layer of black carbon deposits. The mechanic spent a full three hours soaking them in chemical solution and manually scraping them clean. The most obvious improvement afterward was that the cold starts no longer shook, and the throttle felt much lighter. Actual testing showed a reduction in fuel consumption of about 0.8 liters per 100 kilometers. Of course, new cars don’t need this treatment, but for older cars like mine, regular cleaning can genuinely restore performance. However, be cautious about those so-called "no-disassembly cleaning" drip methods—their effectiveness is limited. For a thorough job, the cylinder head really needs to be removed and cleaned properly.
