Sea foam and intake valve cleaning

[Beasted]

So I've read a lot on the carbon build up on the intake valves and it looks to be a pita DIY job.

So I've invested in a can of sea foam cleaner.

Hoping that this will eliminate the need for removing anything and instead inserting the cleaner directly into the intake to clean it out.

I have read that Bmw use a sea foam like cleaner when they do it, maybe they do not insert it through the system but instead remove everything and clean by hand/small brushes or something, but there must be a way for us to do this much easier.

Now a few questions firstly before I go ahead.

1) is the sea foam safe to use on the n54 intake system.

2) where is best to insert the sea foam to clean the valves?

3) engine must be running?

4) if anyone has done this with good results I would love to know.

5) does it damage the catalyst?

Many thanks in advance

[ErvGotti]

It won't work, I've been in the N54 community since 09 and there were members back then that tried it with no success. I've had my intake valves cleaned before and was in the shop watching the tech through out the cleaning process and there's no way any chemical is going to clean that stuff off.

If you do insist on doing it I recommend using the vac line that connects the DV's to the intake manifold. If you spray it through the intake, it'll hit the turbo's first which is no bueno.

Search you'll see it won't make a difference.

[Beasted]

Think I'm just going to remove everything and clean them myself with some carb cleaner and brushes, will close of valves as I do it and use a medium wire brush set and syringe to remove the carbon build up.

Also once the valves are clean I'm going to replace the plugs, fill the tank and add some cataclean.

Also im due to do a oil change and is engine flush additive safe?

After everything is cleaned and changed what is the best products to use to avoid such harsh build up? Oil catch can has been mentioned and meth also a few other products which I can't remember

Cheers

[ShocknAwe]

Honestly, just walnut blast it...

[GR1P]

Skip all the products and nonsense.

Walnut blast the valves and get an oil catch can (OCC)

[Dackelone]

I have a friend with an Audi RS4 (B7)... he had pretty bad carbon buildup on his valves. He removed the intake manifold and used picks and brushes(for cleaning rifles/guns) on his vales. One thing he told me that made this job much easier is for two days before it went at the business of picking the carbon off the valves... he would spray down the intake valves with Seafoam. Once in the morning and once at night, for two days. He said the seafoam softened up the carbon where it would come off a lot easier.

I don't think there is any product that will magically remove the carbon.

I also saw on YouTube(for what its worth) that Volkswagen USA has a fuel injector cleaner they say will prevent carbon build up. I've been meaning to swing by my German dealer and see how much they want for a few cans.

VW part number: G001 780 M3

I think also BG Products makes some Direct Injection cleaners for our cars as well.

Bottom line is... the only way to rid your engine of carbon is to remove the intake manifold and have at the carbon with either picks or some sort of media-blasting like Walnut shells or other media shot at the back of the intake valves.

Dackel

[Eyeman]

Install a meth system, that will clean it up after a while.

[Beasted]

Originally Posted by Eyeman

Install a meth system, that will clean it up after a while.

Yea have thought about a meth kit, but... I only use my 35i for daily use really, and not sure on uk roads it would pass m.o.ts and such.

I don't know much about the meth except it runs at about 104 octane and is mainly used for race built engines.

my 135i will only have chargepipe and hks bov, cat back system, dual intake cones, and a stage one remap. Edit- nearly forgot a forge fmic too!

So not sure about meth but I may invest in the walnut blasting kit off ebay.

cheers

[Beasted]

Originally Posted by GR1P

Skip all the products and nonsense.

Walnut blast the valves and get an oil catch can (OCC)

Any link to a decent priced occ complete kit pal? Cheers

[vtl]

Just walnut blast it.

I sourced the tools and it cost less than what people charge to do the service. I blasted my car last week and you certainly don't want to do it by hand. It would be several hours of cleaning bent over the engine bay. Your back will be sore after a few hours and you would have probably only done half the job. After I walnut blasted a port, there were a few small spots that needed scraping and even those bits were very tedious to clean.

Lets pretend you don't get tired after several hours bent over scraping your intake. If you did it by hand, the carbon itself isn't that hard, you can scrape it off rather easily. But all the bits of carbon flakes off and collects at the bottom of the valves. You really need an air duster to get everything out, but that will make a mess.

Oil catch cans catch a bit of oil but you'll still accumulate carbon build up. Personally my opinion is that if a catch can can't prevent carbon build up its not worth buying.

I plan on doing another walnut blast in 1 years time to see how much build up your can get after 10,000kms (just out of curiosity since I have the tools now)

[Beasted]

Originally Posted by vtl

Just walnut blast it.

I sourced the tools and it cost less than what people charge to do the service. I blasted my car last week and you certainly don't want to do it by hand. It would be several hours of cleaning bent over the engine bay. Your back will be sore after a few hours and you would have probably only done half the job. After I walnut blasted a port, there were a few small spots that needed scraping and even those bits were very tedious to clean.

Lets pretend you don't get tired after several hours bent over scraping your intake. If you did it by hand, the carbon itself isn't that hard, you can scrape it off rather easily. But all the bits of carbon flakes off and collects at the bottom of the valves. You really need an air duster to get everything out, but that will make a mess.

Oil catch cans catch a bit of oil but you'll still accumulate carbon build up. Personally my opinion is that if a catch can can't prevent carbon build up its not worth buying.

I plan on doing another walnut blast in 1 years time to see how much build up your can get after 10,000kms (just out of curiosity since I have the tools now)

Totally agree and I don't need more back pain, a quick easy job will be better.
As mine has just hit 43.5k i assume it needs to be done.

As far as I am aware all I need is this, http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/371421529429
And a Hoover.

Plus the tools to remove and refit the intake parts.

I will probably fit a catch can even if I collects small amounts, at least it's something. Like you will do it yearly too but will check with a scope too which I can get form work which is good.

[vtl]

Originally Posted by Beasted

Totally agree and I don't need more back pain, a quick easy job will be better.
As mine has just hit 43.5k i assume it needs to be done.

As far as I am aware all I need is this, http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/371421529429
And a Hoover.

Plus the tools to remove and refit the intake parts.

I will probably fit a catch can even if I collects small amounts, at least it's something. Like you will do it yearly too but will check with a scope too which I can get form work which is good.

Don't forget a decent compressor + various air fittings if you don't already have one. You'll also need to get intake and throttle body gaskets.

I am from Australia so the overseas shipping for that gear would have been extremely expensive. I bought the cylinder head intake adapter from ECS tuning and bought everything else separately locally

Adapter:
https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/81292208037/ES2165972/

Took me a while to get everything going:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1161290

Make sure you get a shop vac and not a household hoover. Basically your 10KG bag of shells will end up in your vacuum cleaner

[Beasted]

Originally Posted by vtl

Don't forget a decent compressor + various air fittings if you don't already have one. You'll also need to get intake and throttle body gaskets.

I am from Australia so the overseas shipping for that gear would have been extremely expensive. I bought the cylinder head intake adapter from ECS tuning and bought everything else separately locally

Adapter:
https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/81292208037/ES2165972/

Took me a while to get everything going:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1161290

Make sure you get a shop vac and not a household hoover. Basically your 10KG bag of shells will end up in your vacuum cleaner

Yea the eBay kit comes with everything apart from a compressor, airline dryer and filter.

Also will buy from Bmw throttle and intake gaskets.

I can source a vacuum and a compressor pretty easily.

I'm getting a endoscope from work today to check the valves, any suggestions where to insert this to view the valves?


Love your write up and how you did yours. Must admit I'm not looking forward to it at all.

[vtl]

Originally Posted by Beasted

Yea the eBay kit comes with everything apart from a compressor, airline dryer and filter.

Also will buy from Bmw throttle and intake gaskets.

I can source a vacuum and a compressor pretty easily.

I'm getting a endoscope from work today to check the valves, any suggestions where to insert this to view the valves?


Love your write up and how you did yours. Must admit I'm not looking forward to it at all.

Here are the part numbers:

BMW Engine Intake Manifold Gasket (pack of 6) - Genuine BMW 11617547242
BMW Fuel Injection Throttle Body Mounting Gasket - Genuine BMW 13547522361

Not strictly necessary but good idea if you are on the original charge pipe gasket:
BMW Charge Pipe O-Ring - Genuine BMW 13717568031

People have suggested using an oil filter gasket as a substitute but I have found it to be a bad fit (too big, requires too much force to be able to get the clip back in)

Unfortunately you can't look at the valves without removing the intake manifold. There's no holes big enough in the manifold to poke a small camera through. You could inspect the cylinders though but they'll probably be pretty clean anyway.

To be honest, for me it was more stress sourcing all the parts and stuff than doing the procedure.

Here in Australia there are not many shops who can do the walnut blasting procedure. A lot of the BMW dealerships give you a blank stare if you ask about it. So the few shops that can do the service charge a buttload of money >$500. Is this the same case in the UK?

[Beasted]

Thanks ever so much mate, I'll start off by getting the correct o rings and gasket sets, then I will buy the kit off eBay, then source the compressor and shop vacuum.

Then should be good to go, if I cannot inspect the valve themselves I will just go ahead and do the procedure.

I haven't got a clue what Bmw charge here in the UK but I assume it will be over priced anyway.

I'll give them a call and let you know.

Thanks pal