Fuel system cleaning. Is this a thing in the UK?
Discussion
The MIL and sista D have both been told they need a "fuel system clean" for just $230 + TAX + 3.5% card fee. When they took their cars in for annual service.
Both are direct injection....
Clearly declined as I'm not sure this is legit.
But is this a thing in the UK? I feel like this egregious charge would be challenged by trading standards..
Both are direct injection....
Clearly declined as I'm not sure this is legit.
But is this a thing in the UK? I feel like this egregious charge would be challenged by trading standards..
In the States they often get DI engines whereas we get port and DI injectors. The 2.0 TSI for example is DI over there but both over here, so in theory the US version would suffer from intake valve carbon buildup at a faster rate than we do. But that says nothing about walnut blasting. I assume they just dump their version of Redex through the intake in a fine mist over the span of about half an hour.
If the car doesn't have any fueling problems I'd say it's a waste of time. Similar to how garages over here peddle engine flushes.
If the car doesn't have any fueling problems I'd say it's a waste of time. Similar to how garages over here peddle engine flushes.
Dog Star said:
I used to see adverts for a thing called terra clean - utter snake oil merchants.
Since when does modern petrol engine suffer carbon buildup to any degree that you’d notice?
I would concede I may be showing my age in considering a ~20y.o engine modern but, but the 4.2 V8 in the B7 RS4 is notorious for seriously coking up.Since when does modern petrol engine suffer carbon buildup to any degree that you’d notice?
Tam_Mullen said:
Dog Star said:
I used to see adverts for a thing called terra clean - utter snake oil merchants.
Since when does modern petrol engine suffer carbon buildup to any degree that you’d notice?
I would concede I may be showing my age in considering a ~20y.o engine modern but, but the 4.2 V8 in the B7 RS4 is notorious for seriously coking up.Since when does modern petrol engine suffer carbon buildup to any degree that you’d notice?
Tam_Mullen said:
Dog Star said:
I used to see adverts for a thing called terra clean - utter snake oil merchants.
Since when does modern petrol engine suffer carbon buildup to any degree that you’d notice?
I would concede I may be showing my age in considering a ~20y.o engine modern but, but the 4.2 V8 in the B7 RS4 is notorious for seriously coking up.Since when does modern petrol engine suffer carbon buildup to any degree that you’d notice?
People do seem to report an improvement after terraclean (isnt there some other stuff you can do yourself called sea foam??)
It was something of a thing here about 10 years ago, particularly when drivers were trying to get marginal engines through emissions tests. There were quite a few on sale at car accessory shops ( remember those?) . Basically, the pour in additives were useless. I have no experience of the magic potions used by garages but remain dubious. The best “cure” or at least the buying of time was to fill up with the highest grade of fuel and go for a good long drive.
Robertb said:
I wonder though if there is no short-cut to cleaning carbon deposits, other than heads off and walnut blast etc.
People do seem to report an improvement after terraclean (isnt there some other stuff you can do yourself called sea foam??)
Terraclean will give marginal improvements. Anything sprayed into the intake will take the path of least resistance. In a typical 4 pot, the closest 1-2 valve ports will get the most cleaning, but the only way to bring them back to as new is a walnut blast and/or chemicals & manual scraping. Around £400ish if you don't DIY it. If I had a DI engine I'd just run it until it starts performing poorly, then pay to have them blasted. So, say £400 every 80,000 miles. You could also go down the route of catch cans etc but they're a faff and can cause more issues than they solve if you don't routinely empty them. People do seem to report an improvement after terraclean (isnt there some other stuff you can do yourself called sea foam??)
As above DI engines can suffer but what amuses me is that I've read various claims from (US) based forums etc. that you can prevent with the use of Seafoam, Redex etc. by mixing it in your fuel tank and running it through the engine - where it would then go directly into the cylinder, bypassing the port that you want to clean - Snakeoil salesmanship at it's finest...
I'm sure such cleaners may have a cleansing effect if used enough but only if they pass through the area that needs cleaning and removing oil from the intake; better PCV/oil separator setup would definitely help.
I'm sure such cleaners may have a cleansing effect if used enough but only if they pass through the area that needs cleaning and removing oil from the intake; better PCV/oil separator setup would definitely help.
In-fuel cleaners are utter snake oil - if you've ever taken a fuel injection system apart you'll know that there's nothing in there to clean. As mentioned a DI engine can't be cleaned up by adding something to the fuel.
DI engines suffer coking issues, the coke itself will be too stubbourn to be removed by something like Seafoam, passed into the inlet, but you will be able to clean some of the oil etc that the inlet gets with OEM PCV. When they get coked up they need the inlet manifold removing and the inlet ports blasting with some soft media (e.g. walnut shell).
On port injected engines there's no coking because the fuel is plenty to wash the ports clean.
DI engines suffer coking issues, the coke itself will be too stubbourn to be removed by something like Seafoam, passed into the inlet, but you will be able to clean some of the oil etc that the inlet gets with OEM PCV. When they get coked up they need the inlet manifold removing and the inlet ports blasting with some soft media (e.g. walnut shell).
On port injected engines there's no coking because the fuel is plenty to wash the ports clean.
Brother D said:
The MIL and sista D have both been told they need a "fuel system clean" for just $230 + TAX + 3.5% card fee. When they took their cars in for annual service.
Both are direct injection....
Clearly declined as I'm not sure this is legit.
But is this a thing in the UK? I feel like this egregious charge would be challenged by trading standards..
You would need them to explain exactly what this involves.Both are direct injection....
Clearly declined as I'm not sure this is legit.
But is this a thing in the UK? I feel like this egregious charge would be challenged by trading standards..
Typically on DI any intake cleaning would involve removing parts of the inlet manifold to allow walnut blasting of the intake and runners etc.
Whether this is what they are claiming a "fuel system" clean is, is another matter. As it isn't really the fuel system at all.
I'd ask them to explain in detail, but do not offer them suggestions
MustangGT said:
Just use some Redex or similar.
Unfortunately, as above, if the engine is DI it won't get anywhere near the valves which would be the issue.I am of course assuming the term "fuel system clean" is actually erroneous & should say something more like "induction system clean" if not then obviously I may equally be wrong.
The precise car model/engine etc would help to confirm which is most accurate.
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