Engine carbon cleaning is a growing trend in the auto industry. This procedure involves the cleaning of the built-up deposits inside the engine. In this guide, you will learn about this procedure in detail.
What Is Engine Carbon Cleaning?
A well-maintained vehicle should cover almost six-figure mileages without any drop in performance. But it is reasonable to expect the need for major attention as a car gets older and components start to wear. In the UK, many garages recommend Engine carbon cleaning to restore the lost performance. Engine carbon cleaning is the procedure that removes the carbon deposits from your vehicle’s engine.
The Diesel Particulate Filter DPF in modern cars keeps this build-up to reach the atmosphere. However, there is still some deposited on the components in the exhaust system and engine, which needs to be cleaned through engine carbon cleaning.
The main aim of the procedure is to remove the sooty carbon deposits completely from the car’s engine. These services are mostly provided by mobile technicians who perform the treatment at your home or place of work. However, you will find plenty of garages as well.
What Is the Engine Carbon Deposits?
Power in vehicles is produced by burning fuel inside the combustion chamber. This combustion produces sooty exhaust gases as these gases contain some unburnt fuel particles. When the exhaust gases are fed back into the combustion chamber to be burned again, this movement is bound to build up more deposits over time. When not treated on time, these deposits can also clog the catalyst and diesel particulate filter. Therefore, carbon cleaning is important for preventing the car from severe damage.
What Are the Types of Carbon Cleaning?
Several garages and mobile operators have special equipment used for carbon cleaning. The network of garages uses three common methods for carbon cleaning. The first type of carbon cleaning uses special chemicals. The chemical is mixed with the fuel using a simple pour-in treatment. The second, advanced method uses super-refined fuel or gases in the engine. The fuel is burned very hot to clean the carbon build-up and clean the components. Several car owners have had a great experience with this type of carbon cleaning as there is visible soot being expelled from the exhaust.
The third method is the invasive and traditional method. This method involves the removal of components from the engine and cleaning them. These components are cleaned either through the blasting technique or with solvents. A specialist performs this process. In this technique, crushed walnut shells are often used as abrasive. These shells won’t harm the engine components and are hard enough to clean the carbon.
Step by Step Procedure of Engine Carbon Deposits Cleaning
Many technicians use the same methods for carbon cleaning. The equipment used by technicians produces concentration levels of hydrogen gas. The greater concentration cleans the engine effectively. Some carbon cleaning solutions use distilled water combined with some chemicals. Here are the steps involved in engine carbon cleaning.
- Through electrolysis, distilled water molecules are separated into two gases, hydrogen and oxygen.
- The mixture of gas is injected into the engine beyond the airflow meter.
- The gaseous mixture arrives in the cylinders through the inlet valves and air intake.
- The combustion takes place during which the piston rises while compressing the mixture.
- The compressed mixture of fuel, hydrogen-air, and oxygen explodes by self-ignition or spark plug firing.
- The temperature rises to 2500 degrees with a pressure of up to 80 bars at Top Dead Centre.
- At the combustion stage, the hydrogen and oxygen recombine at a greater pressure and higher temperature, which creates a natural solvent.
- The solvent begins to dilute the carbon deposits built in the engine.
- The recombination of the oxygen and hydrogen during the cycle enables carbon cleaning and eliminates the carbon deposits found in pistons rings, cylinders, valves and fuel injector tips.
- The gaseous mixture is expelled through the exhaust valves before entering the turbo system.
- The mixture is injected into the manifold to address and eliminate the carbon deposits found in the manifold, EGR, turbo and intake valves.
- The diluted mixture reaches the catalytic converter and cleans the DPF.
Hydrogen is used for carbon cleaning as it is an abundant gas. It is usually found in combination with other elements. Hydrogen is mainly used in chemicals for many purposes. In the auto mechanic industry, hydrogen has a lot of potential. It reduces the combustion duration, increases thermal efficiency and burns off/ removes the carbon deposits from the engine’s components.
How the Diesel Particulate Filter Is Carbon Cleaned?
DPF is cleaned by removing it from the vehicle. It is soaked in a chemical solution for 20 minutes to loosen the hard soot. DPF is then connected to the DPF cleaning machine using the special accessories. The engine pumps high-pressure air and water during the machine operation while cleaning the DPF for 20 to 30 minutes. Once the cycle is completed, the clean DPF is fitted to the vehicle. Many technicians use a special solution that coats the DPF, which slows down carbon building again.
Conclusion
The fuel is burnt to produce power in the vehicle, but did you know that up to 70% of fuel gets lost in the form of heat, carbon residues and gas emissions? Over time, the fuel results in the building of carbon deposits in various engine components, such as the combustion chamber, exhaust ports, valves, DPF and fuel injectors. Engine carbon cleaning is the process of cleaning these deposits from the engine. This process breaks down the stubborn carbon deposits and expels them through the exhaust tailpipe.