Intake Valve Carbon Buildup: how can it be prevented?

[3FTTW8E9XNRA44550]

First Post.
Please excuse my ignorance if there is a specific thread about this subject in existence.
I can't find any info about what causes carbon buildup. Will a catch can prevent carbon buildup?
Starting my education after ordering, shows my level of intelligence, but I am committed so, I would like to start with a great engine foundation.

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[Brostang]

Catch can will possibly reduce/slow the rate of deposit formation, but they will not stop it from happening. Deposits form as a result of contaminated liquid oil (not vapors) that settles on intake tract surfaces and is then heat cycled without being washed away (port injectors) or heated to sufficiently high temps to flash off and self clean (new gen Mazda Skyactiv). This is worsened by start-stop and short trips, which lead to increased fuel dilution and blow-by contaminants.

The oil isn't just coming from PCV flow either. Valve seal weep also coats the poppets and stems.

The only cure is port fuel injection, like the Coyote and 2.7tt, 3.0tt, and 3.5tt Ecoboost engines. Some things that help are:
- Limiting short trips (must get oil to full operating temp) and running hot will reduce the fuel dilution in your oil.
- Frequent changes lessen the contamination from blow-by.
- Chemical cleaning (intake cleaner with PEA, or similar chemistry) before hard deposits are significant can help slow/limit accumulation.
- Using low ash oil, and oil with high quality synthetic base stocks slows accumulation
- Post throttle body water-methanol injection can produce some "washing" to remove oil before it forms deposits, but it contains no detergents and would not break down the existing hard deposits to a significant degree. Pre throttle body (immediately after intercooler) wmi injection typically vaporizes before reaching the valves and would not "wash" the intake.

Hopefully the Maverick gets Cobb access port support, and some tuner offers an aux fuel injection kit. Tune+, Stratified, etc.

TLDR: no cure except port injection, but you can slow/limit deposits with regular maintenance.

 

[bgn]

Got a chuckle out of your username.

 

[Darksider]

Methanol Injection.

 

[3FTTW8E9XNRA44550]

Methanol Injection.

I really like that idea. Nailed it.

 

[Darksider]

Thats one of the main reason that i used meth on my DI engine (bmw). Plus you cant beat the intake temp drop, i go below outside temp under load. I really dont use it as a octane booster like it is traditionally used for and my nozzle spray is on the small side. But if you stated meth from day one with a small spray i wouldnt worry about carbon build up. Of course you have possible warranty issue tapping into the charge pipe.

 

[GaMaverick]

Catch can and water injection will keep the valves as clean as new.

I’ll be adding my boost activated injection kit off my twin turbo mustang , with a solenoid and small nozzle. Going to use it for cooling and cleaning only not fuel. Most likely 70% distilled water/30% methanol.
If you use straight methanol injection or a strong mix of ethanol vs. distilled water you will have to get a tune for the added octane.

 

[3FTTW8E9XNRA44550]

Internal Combustion Engine is a really dirty thing. Catching the dirt in the oil, draining and replacing.
I had a T600 Kenworth with a series 60 Detroit. I installed an oil filter that can only be described a roll of toilet paper roll sized filter in an aluminum container, low flow, meant to polish the oil. I forget to what micron it would filter.
Would love to be able re-refine the oil I drain out!

 

[3FTTW8E9XNRA44550]

Gonna keep a keen eye out for a system for the 2.0 Maverick. A nice dense charge to cool and clean, I like it!

 

[Geep]

How big of an issue is this?

 

[3FTTW8E9XNRA44550]

It is an issue with all Gasoline Direct Injection Engines, not just the EcoBoost.

 

[CZaugg]

First Post.
Please excuse my ignorance if there is a specific thread about this subject in existence.
I can't find any info about what causes carbon buildup. Will a catch can prevent carbon buildup?
Starting my education after ordering, shows my level of intelligence, but I am committed so, I would like to start with a great engine foundation.

I'm also concerned about carbon buildup. Days of old all I did was take my vehicle out on the freeway (back country) where highway patrol usually didn't patrol and put the peddle to the metal. Just needed to get the RPM's up good and high and literally flush out the system. This did a good cleaning job, especially if I just did city driving, stop and go at low speeds. Well, the hybrid system with different transmission, if you want to call it that, prevents high RPM's. So I likewise am concerned about the carbon buildup. I was talking to an acquaintance of mine and he told me about a product he was told about. Called "Archoil AR6200 Fuel Treatment". I went to the web site and was impressed with what I read. So my question is to all those in Maverick Land, anyone have any knowledge or experience with "Archoil AR6200 Fuel Treatment"?

 

[Autonomous]

Not sure how a fuel additive could help when it does not come in contact with the back side of the valve.

 

[Z_ealot]

Not sure how a fuel additive could help when it does not come in contact with the back side of the valve.

Not sure either, but I know B12 chemtool sure as heck turns carbon into a sludge that you can extract out with some suction which is probably what I’ll be doing if the intake valves ever need major cleaning, of course this also means taking the intake manifold off the engine to access the valves and would not be an option for the less mechanically inclined

 

[austinzone]

Probably around the 60k mark you'd want to pull the intake manifold and use a walnut blasting kit with a custom molded/printed vacuum adapter. the intake faces the front so it shouldnt be terribly hard to get off. once every 4 years or so wouldnt be awful.

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