[substance B]

Hello guys, I have been wondering if the n54 motors suffer from the carbon build-up around the valves that audi fsi motors apparently suffer from? To those that have, what was the solution? Thanks

[Oulixes]

One hears stories about the Mercedes and Audi high pressure FI engines suffering from carbon build-up. There is no reason to assume that BMW N54 would be immune from it, but most evidence on the Internet is anecdotal, and there is little of it on this forum - most excitement has been focused on the HPFP failures. To a degree, carbon build-up can be alleviated by the composition of fuel. Lately, several fuel blends has been re-formulated, so it is possible that the carbon build-up now is less severe than that in the early FSI engines.

[onefastman]

or you could use meth

[PKumarM3]

use chevron fuel system cleaner every 5k miles. its quite cheap for the benefits. BMW sells this, but just a techron bottle, but seems to be relabled with bmw logo.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...catalogid=4462

[Jake@MOTIV]

This is inherent on direct injection motors as you do not have fuel running over the valves to keep them clean(er). Meth injection is one way of helping to keep them clean. You can also sea foam the motor.

[Kiemyster]

Originally Posted by PKumarM3

use chevron fuel system cleaner every 5k miles. its quite cheap for the benefits. BMW sells this, but just a techron bottle, but seems to be relabled with bmw logo.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...catalogid=4462

would you say this is something that we really should be putting in our cars? is it commonly used? or should i ask if the dealer puts that in our car during servicing?

[PKumarM3]

Originally Posted by Kiemyster

would you say this is something that we really should be putting in our cars? is it commonly used? or should i ask if the dealer puts that in our car during servicing?

they sell these at most gas stations and at autozone.

i have been putting it in my 335 since 5k miles, every 5k miles, and have had no motor issues - car pulls as it did on day 1 - im at 20k miles.

i have been putting this in my e46 m3 for the past 10k miles and the car is tracked often (20 times a year), and i have had no problems.

i wouldn't request the dealer to put it in, unless you want to pay rape prices.

just buy one, drive your car till its practically empty (let it ready in the 20s in miles remaining) , pour it into the gas tank, refill, and repeat in 5-7k miles.

I would use the Chevron Techron - $7+ shipping on amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Chevron-Techro.../dp/B00092893O
maintenance is very important in BMWs. It will cost a few pennies now, in order to avoid a few thousands later on

[Jake@MOTIV]

Fuel system cleaners like that (ones that go into the gas tank) will not really work as they won't flow over the valves being that we are direct injection. Sea foam the car if you want to get a cleaner across the valves - or run meth.

[galahad05]

Originally Posted by FlyLow335i

Fuel system cleaners like that (ones that go into the gas tank) will not really work as they won't flow over the valves being that we are direct injection. Sea foam the car if you want to get a cleaner across the valves - or run meth.

+1

Lots of mechanics use sea foam, on lots of vehicles. I have a can of it in my garage, and I'll be using it come spring---on my bike.

[cotmfk]

What is this "sea foam" you speak of?

[Jake@MOTIV]

Seafoam is a chemical that you use in 3 ways. Pour it in your oil fill (on valve cover), your gas tank, and the most useful for us --> detatch a vacuum line that goes into your intake manifold and allow the car to suck in the sea foam slowly (regulating it with your thumb over the hose to slow and speed up the ingestion) so that the car doesnt stall till the very end of the liquid. Let the car stall. Then let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Start the car up and let it idle till it gets warm-ish. Rev the car to get air flowing over the now broken down carbon deposits on your valves and watch the smoke (carbon burning off) billow out of your exhaust.

The oil fill and fuel tank aren't really needed for us. I wouldn't bother. If you are going to make sure you do it right before you change your oil because you shouldnt drive more than a few miles after you put sea foam in the oil.

[daixloxbmw]

i have reported an issue with heavy carbon buildup on my 335i.

it is documented in this thread:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=326116

this thread tracks a number of issues so skip to post #43 for the part about heavy carbon buildup.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by substance B

Hello guys, I have been wondering if the n54 motors suffer from the carbon build-up around the valves that audi fsi motors apparently suffer from? To those that have, what was the solution? Thanks

I would think all direct injection engines (gas/diesel) suffer from carbon build up on the intake and valves. It's the tradeoff for the increased efficiency and greater power.

I suppose you could try disconnecting your EGR?

[DASHOCKER]

I think it is a good ideal to get a professional fuel injection cleaning
service. I've used runrite service for my other cars
http://www.run-rite.com/industry/fuel_runrite.html

For the engine, nothing beats the Bilstein engine flush.

http://www.redwoodgeneral.com/services/engine-flush.asp

[mercury26]

Unless you are pulling the cleaner/solvent in through a vacuum hose, fuel additives won't clean the valves in a Direct Injected engine. Direct Injection engines spray the fuel directly into the combustion chambers and do not allow fuel (or additives, cleaners, etc) to pass across the valve.

Cheers,

Chuck

[kyleb350]

After how many miles should one get this "sea foam"?

[DASHOCKER]

Originally Posted by mercury26

Unless you are pulling the cleaner/solvent in through a vacuum hose, fuel additives won't clean the valves in a Direct Injected engine. Direct Injection engines spray the fuel directly into the combustion chambers and do not allow fuel (or additives, cleaners, etc) to pass across the valve.

Cheers,

Chuck

The Runrite fuel injection service is a multi step process & includes a detergent that is fed through a vacuum line.

[Frosty]

..I also had my engine "de-carboned" under warranty ~Frost

[bmrm396]

Originally Posted by Frosty

..I also had my engine "de-carboned" under warranty ~Frost

any cost here? explain how u asked for this?

i feel like dealers would tell me to go f*ck myself, haha a lil help here ...

[R1000K3]

Originally Posted by substance B

Hello guys, I have been wondering if the n54 motors suffer from the carbon build-up around the valves that audi fsi motors apparently suffer from? To those that have, what was the solution? Thanks

The best thing is probably to prevent it from happening by using a good Oil Catch Can and an open breather (not legal for road use)) to prevent crankcase fumes under overpressure to enter the intake. If you take a look into the Intercooler fittings and Induction Pipe there is a lot of oil heading to the intake valves Methanol aspirated engines supposedly don’t suffer from carbon built-up.

[raceyBMW]

An OCC still will not catch all the crank vapors. The PCV system on the N54 has two modes, one when at idle/decel (off boost) and one when accelerating (on boost). When on boost, the vapors get diverted to the rear intake, pre-turbo since the intake manifold is pressurized (above atmosphere). This is where your OCC/breather can benefit, as it intercepts these gasses so that the Turbo/Intercooler do not get a coating of oil.

However, when off boost, the intake manifold is under vacuum, so they crank vapors get diverted directly to the intake manifold. The pcv system for this "mode" is built into the valve cover. There is nothing we can do for this unfortunately, other than installing meth. injection or periodically cleaning the valves/intake manifold with Seafoam or some other top engine cleaner.

Meth/water injection would go a long way towards keeping the valves and intake manifold clean.

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by PKumarM3

use chevron fuel system cleaner every 5k miles. its quite cheap for the benefits. BMW sells this, but just a techron bottle, but seems to be relabled with bmw logo.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...catalogid=4462

Be VERY VERY careful about using fuel and oil additives! Most of the fuel additives have negative effect on the quality of the oil due to the blow-by gases from the combustion. I have seen multiple cases where fuel additives (especially fuel system cleaners and carbon buildup removers) will lower the TBN of the oil so drastically that it won't be usable for more than few hundred miles.

If you are determined to use fuel additives, please, make sure you do this on the last tank of fuel BEFORE you do an oil change! You will thank me later!