What are the methods to remove carbon deposits from an engine?
3 Answers
Methods to remove carbon deposits from an engine include: 1. Disassembling and cleaning various engine components; 2. Performing an intravenous cleaning (commonly known as "drip cleaning") for the car; 3. Adding fuel system cleaner to the fuel tank. The causes of carbon deposits in cars are: 1. Long-term poor driving habits of the owner; 2. Mismatch between fuel grade and compression ratio; 3. Aging or damage to the engine carburetor; 4. Prolonged high-load driving; 5. Failure to replace the air filter; 6. Inaccurate ignition timing or fuel supply timing; 7. Low engine temperature; 8. Poor sealing of valves and valve seats; 9. Extended engine idling. Methods to prevent carbon deposits in cars include: 1. Regularly cleaning components prone to carbon buildup; 2. Avoiding prolonged idling; 3. Using appropriate gasoline additives; 4. Using the gasoline specified for the vehicle.
I recently cleaned the carbon deposits from my car using the method of disassembling and cleaning the throttle body and intake manifold. Although it was troublesome, the results were the most direct. First, I sprayed carburetor cleaner on the throttle valve to dissolve the carbon deposits, then used a small brush to scrub them off slowly. Cleaning the intake manifold required removing the entire assembly, and the oily black carbon inside was particularly stubborn—it took a specialized cleaner soaking for half an hour before it could be scrubbed away. After reassembling everything, I immediately noticed the throttle felt much lighter, and fuel consumption dropped by about 0.5 liters. However, doing it yourself requires some mechanical skill, and you need to be extra careful with screws during disassembly and reassembly to avoid missing any vacuum hoses. If you're not confident, I recommend going to a professional repair shop—they can use an endoscope to check carbon buildup in the cylinders and clean more thoroughly.
Last time I went to the maintenance shop for servicing, the mechanic taught me to use fuel additives to remove carbon deposits, which is quite a hassle-free method. Choose a PEA-based cleaner from a major brand, and simply pour it into the fuel tank before refueling. The additive flows with the gasoline, dissolving gum deposits on the fuel injectors and intake valves, and even gradually removes carbon buildup in the combustion chamber. After using it continuously for three tanks of fuel, the idle vibration significantly reduced. However, its effectiveness is limited for severe carbon deposits, and other methods are still needed. Always remember to choose reputable gas stations when refueling, as low-quality gasoline is particularly prone to causing carbon buildup. Regularly driving at high speeds to increase engine RPM can also help prevent it.
