In this video I go over some new information coming down the pipe from Ford.

 

Thank you so much for posting this. I hope Ford is telling the dealer network NOT to perform this service even if the customer is adamant about it.

 

Great info! Reps sent.

IMO, this should be a sticky.

 

I can't watch videos at work, can anyone post the text version?

 

Here's the cliff's notes version:

Do NOT let someone use an intake cleaner in your engine. It will destroy your turbo.

 

10-4. Good to know.

 

Fixed it for ya

How do you tell if the soot has done permanent damage?

 

Soot doesn't cause permanent damage. The video says that some chemicals that people clean their intake/valve train with can damage the turbos. However, I haven't read about any Ecoboost F150s that suffered from carboned up valves. Even the "Hero" engine didn't have carboned up valves when they tore it down with 162k (simulated) miles.

 

Wow. This is good info. I never realized the consequences if the intake and valves were cleaned.

 

From what I gathered from reading about this in the past, the version used in the F150s does not use an EGR system because these engines have Ti-VCT that's used in its place. Because you're not recycling exhaust gasses the soot doesn't enter the intake. Other variants of the EcoBoost engine, such as the ones found in the SHO Tauri and Flexes don't have the same cam phasing system. So to meet emissions regulations they need to use EGR, which can gum up valves when not washed down with fuel.

At least that's as far as I understand it.

 

Ford has not used EGR valves for years now it is all done by the vct's as far back as 2004 in the 5.4l 3v. None of the Ecoboost engines have egr valves neither as they have twin vct. So as they rolled out vct on all their engine from 2004 gradual roll out the egr valve went bye bye.

 

Thank you for the heads up about the turbo's & upper intake cleaning! I have been researching this problem with gdi engine for a couple of months now. From what i understand the problem stems from the crank case vapors being suck back into the engine through the pcv system. So when you shut down the engine the oil vapors condense down on the back of the intake valve & bake on! As most of you know the gdi engine do not have an injector behind the intake valve so it can not get wash off when the engine is running. Thats why it is so critcal to change the engine oil no later then 5000 in order to keep the the piston rings clean, so they seal good aganist the cylinder walls to prevent excessive blow-by. My too cents worth. p.s great forum everybody here is awsome. I have learned alot from everybody.

 

Not sure the early oil change will help this issue. Also not sure this is much of an issue at all. Unless the build-up prevents the valves from seating, the only downside is how pretty the parts look if you take the engine apart.

Haven't heard a mention of valve problems from this buildup in these engines, not even in this thread. In fact, the video mentions that it HASN'T been an issue.

I plan on making no special efforts to prevent this non-issue.

 

Great tips! added to the Technical Tips and information sticky!

 

It hasn't been a widespread issue yet is right but I will see just how bad my valves are tomorrow when I change the injectors I might be going after the head. If it is going to affect anything it will be these grocery getter engines more than the workhorse 3.5 in the F150 but time will tell.