Is Engine Carbon Deposit Cleaning Necessary?

[DelGabriella]

Engine carbon deposit cleaning is necessary. The following are the hazards caused by carbon deposits: 1. Decreased engine power: After carbon deposits form inside the engine, the engine's power will decrease. When driving, you may feel that the car is not as powerful as before, with a sensation of not moving without pressing the accelerator. This leads to a decline in both the engine's performance and fuel efficiency, making it harder to drive and more fuel-consuming. Additionally, it significantly impacts vehicle emissions. 2. Exhaust valve blockage: When carbon deposits form in the engine's intake and exhaust areas, especially at the exhaust valve, it can easily cause "secondary valve" issues. The carbon deposits attached to the exhaust valve hinder heat dissipation. Although the exhaust valve is treated with special processes, excessive carbon deposits and high temperatures without proper heat dissipation can still cause problems. 3. Cylinder scoring: Carbon deposits on the piston head can easily create multiple ignition points during engine combustion, leading to incomplete combustion and knocking. This also results in decreased engine power, and in severe cases, may cause cylinder scoring. 4. Fuel injector clogging: In direct-injection engines, carbon deposits in the cylinder can easily clog the fuel injectors. Clogged fuel injectors cause engine shaking and weak acceleration.

[AshlynAnn]

As a veteran driver with 15 years of experience, let me share my thoughts. Engine carbon cleaning really depends on the specific situation. If you're constantly driving short distances in city traffic with low speeds, stuck at red lights for half an hour, carbon buildup will definitely accumulate faster. That's exactly what happened with our first family car - after 30,000 kilometers, acceleration became noticeably weaker and fuel consumption increased by more than one liter. After cleaning, the car would zoom forward with just a light press on the accelerator, proving it really works. Even with today's advanced automotive technology, prolonged idling still leads to carbon deposits. I recommend older vehicles get checked every 20,000-30,000 kilometers, especially if you experience difficulties with cold starts or notice foul-smelling exhaust. However, cars that frequently drive on highways can wait longer since the engine's high temperatures naturally burn off some carbon deposits. Spending 400-500 yuan on cleaning is much cheaper than a major engine overhaul down the road.

[Elle]

As a car owner who values maintenance, I believe preventive cleaning is quite important. Carbon deposits are like garbage in the engine's blood vessels, gradually clogging the fuel injectors and throttle body. From my experience, it's best to do it regularly, especially for direct injection engines. During maintenance every two years or 30,000 kilometers, have the mechanic check the carbon buildup with an endoscope. If there's a significant amount, opt for walnut blasting cleaning. Occasionally using fuel additives when refueling can also slow down carbon deposit formation. Over-maintenance isn't necessary, but long-term neglect can lead to idle shaking, reduced power, and ultimately more expensive repairs. The key is driving habits – if you often drive on highways, cleaning once every five years might suffice.

[VanCamila]

From a technical perspective, carbon buildup is formed by deposits from gasoline combustion residues. Whether cleaning is necessary depends on the vehicle's condition. New cars generally don't require attention for the first five years, but after driving 80,000 kilometers, especially for turbocharged models, the back of intake valves tends to develop coking. There are two cleaning methods: fuel additives for routine maintenance, and disassembly cleaning of the intake tract for severe cases. It's recommended to check cylinder pressure when experiencing symptoms like sluggish acceleration or unexplained fuel consumption increases. Carbon deposits exceeding 2mm in thickness should be addressed. However, vehicles frequently driven on highways benefit from higher engine temperatures that provide self-cleaning effects.