Is Engine Carbon Cleaner Useful?
3 Answers
Engine carbon cleaner is useful and serves a practical purpose. However, due to its short dwell time inside the engine for cleaning and the inherent limitations of no-disassembly cleaning methods, its cleaning effectiveness is relatively limited. Carbon cleaners are primarily used to remove amorphous carbon deposits and graphite-like carbon deposits from various engine components and workpieces. They can also be applied to clean amorphous and graphite-like carbon deposits from catalysts. Carbon deposits are a coking-like substance formed during engine operation when unsaturated olefins and gums in the fuel undergo high-temperature reactions.
I've used engine carbon cleaner before, and it works decently but isn't a cure-all. During my last maintenance, I tried adding a bottle and noticed the idle vibration of my old car did reduce, and throttle response became more responsive. However, this stuff mainly deals with sludge and mild carbon deposits. If your engine interior is already caked like burnt rice crusts, don't expect it to work miracles. It depends on the vehicle's condition - for cars with over 150,000 km mileage, it's better to have a mechanic check the carbon buildup first. When using it, remember to strictly follow the instructions, especially regarding the oil change timing. Draining the oil prematurely might actually clog the oil passages. If you maintain your car properly on a regular basis, it's far more effective than last-minute additive fixes.
Engine carbon cleaner is effective, but it depends on the situation. Last time at the repair shop, I saw a car that showed noticeable results after using it - the cold start ticking noise was significantly reduced. This is mainly because it can dissolve gum deposits and restore piston ring elasticity. However, be aware that inferior products contain highly corrosive solvents that can easily damage oil seals. It's recommended to choose reputable brands and use it just before an oil change, allowing the dissolved carbon deposits to be flushed out with the old oil. I usually use it every 40,000 kilometers, and it works better when paired with full synthetic oil. Extra caution is needed for older vehicles - last time I saw a car with 200,000 kilometers that started burning oil after using the cleaner.
