I have heard on other forums about a "Top End" carbon cleaning that can be done by the dealer. It involves solvent being introduced into the intake manifold, allowing it to soak, then running the motor to clean out carbon deposits. Does anyone have any info on this ? Good/bad results ? Cost ?

 

I've done it to my other car, here the write up I used as a baseline. http://members.***.net/94miatam/carbon.html

I also used Seafoam solvent, instead of the GM stuff. Made a slight difference on my Miata with 147,000 miles on it YMMV! ;-)

 

Keeping carbon from building up on valves, pistons, heads, pipes and ports is easy and free. Breaking it loose after it is already there if you get an older used model is also free and easy too. Just once per week on your way home from work or the grocery store, just drop it in low gear, accelerate until you've got at least 4K rpm on the tach, and keep it there for at least a mile. Or out on the freeway drop it into second gear for a mile or so. That's all there is to it. Hot, high pressure gases keep your engine clean or will clean it if it's dirty. Low revs, cold temps, short distances, clog it up. You are not doing your engine or pocket book any favors by babying your engine. Just ask any racer... our car engines never have carbon build up! My Miata street/race car at 30K miles has interior surfaces that are clean enough to eat from because I make every shift at 4K + rpm on the street or the track. I noticed no difference when changing spark plugs on my Expeiditon at the recommended 100K mile interval because I practice what I recommended above.

A million products and services exist out there becasue the chemical industry wants you to believe you need them. You don't, they just want your money!

 

Just go down to your local parts store and pick up a can of SeaFoam. Pull off the vacume line going to your brake booster and put it down in the can. Get in and start it up. You may have to give it a little gas to keep it from shutting off do to lack of vacume pressure. Let it suck in the whole can. It will smoke like crazy and probably smell like rotten eggs but trust me it works wonders. You may even see a check engine light do to all of the carbon burning off and increasing your emissions. While you are at it pick up a can of 3M throttle plate/ intake cleaner and a toothbrush. Follow the directions on the can. I garauntee you will be happy with the results. Hope this helps.

Todd