What are the symptoms of carbon buildup in the engine?
2 Answers
The symptoms of carbon buildup in the engine are as follows: 1. Engine acceleration weakness: When carbon deposits accumulate severely, the engine will experience weak and sluggish acceleration, accompanied by abnormal engine shaking and increased fuel consumption. 2. Engine knocking: If carbon buildup in the combustion chamber becomes too severe, it will invisibly increase the compression ratio of the engine cylinders, which may lead to premature combustion of the air-fuel mixture and cause knocking. 3. Cylinder scoring: If carbon deposits accumulate near the piston rings or if carbon from the cylinder head or valves falls onto the piston rings, it can cause scoring of the engine cylinders. In severe cases, it may even lead to a "seized cylinder" phenomenon.
When there's carbon buildup in the engine, the most noticeable issue while driving is the lack of smoothness. For example, when I was driving, acceleration felt particularly weak—stepping on the gas pedal resulted in a delayed response, and fuel consumption increased by 10-20%, costing significantly more per kilometer. Cold starts were the worst; the engine shook like an earthquake, and at idle, you could feel the car wobbling inside. Turning on the AC made it even more uncomfortable, accompanied by strange noises like clanking or gurgling sounds. Long-term carbon buildup also caused the exhaust to emit a burnt smell, and the power dropped noticeably, making daily commutes unpleasant. After inspection and cleaning the carbon deposits, everything returned to normal. Regular maintenance is truly essential.
