Audi S5 4.2 Carbon build up issue?

[Yell_M3]

Hi, had pretty much decided my new car was going to be S5 4.2. However googling issues shows up a major concern over carbon build up of FSI engines in general, but the 4.2 in particular. Mainly on US forms, so wondering if using high octane fuel in UK means less of an issue? Any owners out there care to share their thoughts?

Cheers

[5harp3y]

pretty sure the fuel isn't the issue, just that they buy more V8s in the USA.

Problem with FSI is that the fuel is directed in the cylinder rather than the inlet, which in non-fsi engines 'cleans' the valves.

Heard that routine cleaning with generic additives can help

[Msportman]

APS, AmD, Awesome, MTM (Kim Collins) sa all report same issues with 4.2 units particularly RS4.....R8's seem to cope better.

RS4's suffer badly.....power down to 350 ish......RS4 in Swindon Audi having de coke recently.....over a grand to remedy.

[Yell_M3]

Oh, crap, the search continues...

[Adam B]

had my B7 RS4 done after 5 years of ownership - cost £450 (anyone who takes it to Audi for doing is a mug or is not paying)

I see it as a regular maintenance item that needs to be done every 3-4 years, as rest of car has been so cheap to run (fuel aside) i can live with it

Edited by Adam B on Tuesday 22 July 10:22

[Mr Roper]

Adam B said:

had my B7 RS4 done after 5 years of wonership - cost £450 (anyone who takes it to Audi for doing is a mug or is not paying)

I see it as a regular maintenance item that needs to be done every 3-4 years, as rest of car has been so cheap to run (fuel aside) i can live with it

Hi Adam,

Are there any tell tell signs that it needs doing? Aside from loss of power?

[shtu]

I've no specific knowledge oon this engine, but I would expect that disabling the EGR system would help significantly with this sort of problem. Never been a fan of the idea of dragging exhaust gases back into the engine to be re-burnt.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Lots of blow by gases and oil vapour end up coating the intake valves and ports. Common to many performance German engines.

http://www.mrctuning.com/index.php?option=com_cont...

The fix would be to re-route PCV gases into a decent oil seperator and ditch all the SAI and EGR nonsense. Just need to make sure you leave their respective relays in place otherwise the ECU will complain and not give you any long term adaptations.

[Yell_M3]

Yell_M3 said:

Oh, crap, the search continues...

Well decided to get one anyway, so now have my first Audi after years of Merc, BMW, and Porche ownership. Fingers crossed!

[Adam B]

Mr Roper said:

Hi Adam,

Are there any tell tell signs that it needs doing? Aside from loss of power?

Not really in my case, and the loss of power is so gradual I am not sure that is conclusive. I live in London so knew after 4/5 years with a fair bit of urban driving mine would benefit from it, got before and after pics from the garage I used and the difference is clear, but I would be lying if I said it made a huge difference to real world performance.

[ljtt]

Adam B said:

had my B7 RS4 done after 5 years of wonership - cost £450 (anyone who takes it to Audi for doing is a mug or is not paying)

I see it as a regular maintenance item that needs to be done every 3-4 years, as rest of car has been so cheap to run (fuel aside) i can live with it

Adam - you say you paid £450 in the london area to have your carbon cleaned.

Audi price is currently north of 2.5k for the job. I am in the London area. Could you reccomend the garage where you got yours done? Could you pm if your not happy posting on the forum.

cheers

[Adam B]

voila

Dan Mayo
MMS Technik
Unit 1d Summit Business Park, Hanworth Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex TW16 5DB
01932 788326
[e-mail]

[seadragon]

I am not an expert but would a Terraclean not help? (google it)

I am getting mine down tomorrow and my partners car on Thursday. About £110 incl vat

[dele]

seadragon said:

I am not an expert but would a Terraclean not help? (google it)

I am getting mine down tomorrow and my partners car on Thursday. About £110 incl vat

Dont think so, Terraclean is really only for the fuel/injection system whereas the carbon build up is more of an inlet/intake issue

[Adrian E]

apparently they have a process that will work on an FSI, but someone commented recently that the dealers offering Terraclean didn't have the kit

The crushed nut blasting method seems pretty effective

[ManOpener]

Adrian E said:

apparently they have a process that will work on an FSI, but someone commented recently that the dealers offering Terraclean didn't have the kit

The crushed nut blasting method seems pretty effective

That was me I think. My local garage has a Terraclean system and told me about the special attachment for direct injection engines/valve washing but commented they didn't have it, (unfortunately) had no intention of getting it and didn't know anyone who did. I've called a few other places in the Glos/Ox/Wits/Bristol area to see if they offer it but not luck so far. YMMV and I'd be keen to hear from anyone who did find one.

I may give the standard £110 Terraclean a try at some point but then again the European EA113 TFSI engines don't seem to suffer from the coking issue as badly as the US ones.

[S6 AJC]

ManOpener said:

I may give the standard £110 Terraclean a try at some point but then again the European EA113 TFSI engines don't seem to suffer from the coking issue as badly as the US ones.

Coking up is still an issue on pretty much all direct injection cars, I've seen a fair few in recent months, I have both the std petrol terraclean machine, s-tool adapter and pressurized induction tool and can safely say that even using the s-tool adapter alongside the std terraclean service helps dramatically improve the situation with carbon build up on inlet valves and inlet manifolds, my personal opinion would be to wait until you can get the full service I'm sure it wont be long till they change their minds its still relatively new equipment so may take a little time for all agents to get on board!! As good as the std terraclean service is, it wont make a dramatic impact on inlet valves and manifold build up without the physical wash from the s-tool or induction tool on direct injection engines.

[Chopper2017]

There is a new to the market engine carbon clean system based on hydrogen technology.
In a 30 mins service it will dramatically reduce the carbon build up from the air intake right through the system and out the exhaust.
It allows the engine to breath again and the results are pretty impressive.
Improved performance, engine idle, emissions and power increase resulting in increased fuel efficiency.
No chemicals used and very simple process.

[jimmyjimjim]

Hydrogen technology? Would this be di-hydrogen monoxide?

[ManOpener]

S6 AJC said:

ManOpener said:

I may give the standard £110 Terraclean a try at some point but then again the European EA113 TFSI engines don't seem to suffer from the coking issue as badly as the US ones.

Coking up is still an issue on pretty much all direct injection cars, I've seen a fair few in recent months, I have both the std petrol terraclean machine, s-tool adapter and pressurized induction tool and can safely say that even using the s-tool adapter alongside the std terraclean service helps dramatically improve the situation with carbon build up on inlet valves and inlet manifolds, my personal opinion would be to wait until you can get the full service I'm sure it wont be long till they change their minds its still relatively new equipment so may take a little time for all agents to get on board!! As good as the std terraclean service is, it wont make a dramatic impact on inlet valves and manifold build up without the physical wash from the s-tool or induction tool on direct injection engines.

Where are you located? I've been looking for a specialist in the the South West with the full set of attachments for direct injection engines as my local specialist only has the base kit and they aren't looking to expand.