Direct-injected Petrol and Diesel engines have one major drawback over their port-injected counterparts. That is, carbon deposits build up over time and need to be removed at regular intervals. The most effective and common method to do so is the use of Walnut Blasting.
Walnut blasting is recognized as one of the safest and most efficient methods of removing carbon buildup from your car's intake manifold and intake valves. Nearly all direct-injected engines will need this process completed semi-regularly throughout the life of the car. The process of walnut blasting is comprised of using crushed walnut shells propelled by compressed air to "chip away" at the carbon build-up. The walnut shells themselves are softer than the metal of your intake manifold and valves, which means that they won't cause damage while being hard enough to remove the deposits.
Do you really need to walnut blast your intake manifold and intake valves?
Unlike on cars with port injection, where carbon deposits are constantly cleaned off of the intake valves, and runners, cars that use direct injection do not have this luxury. Over time, those carbon deposits build up into a thick layer that can cause some serious issues. That build-up restricts the airflow to your engine and reduces its ability to "breathe." Imagine having a cold and being "stuffed up." Walnut blasting is your car's decongestant. Some of the symptoms of heavy carbon buildup are:
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Noticeable loss in performance
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Check engine light on/won't pass emissions
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Poor fuel economy
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Rough running
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Misfiring
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Hesitation under load
After your intake manifold and intake valves have been cleaned, you should immediately start seeing the benefits. You can expect a smoother idle, lower fuel consumption, smoother throttle response, and even additional horsepower gains.
At our address, we carry out a multi-point Carbon Cleaning service including the following:
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Hand Cleaning
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Chemical soak and cleaning
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Walnut Blasting of individual cylinders
Many workshops only clean the intake manifold and throttle body and do not walnut blast the valves. We recommend you ask them for before and after photo's to ensure they are cleaning the motor properly.
Price guide
Pricing starts from the following. Please note time frames may vary. Depending on how bad the carbon build up is at the same time we would recommend a oil service starting from $180. We also recommend new intake gaskets and injector seals at the same time which will add to the total.
Most 4cyl engines $450
Most 6cyl engines $675
Most 8cyl engines $900
Holden V6 LLT LFX LF1 LFW direct-injected motors $450
Audi Q5 SQ5 TDI diesel engines from 2004 onwards $1100
Audi S3 A3 2.0L $700
BMW X5 X6 $1500
Some N63 engines require engine to be dropped, in this case price can increase to $2750.
BMW 320D 4cy $750; 330D 6cyl $990
Golf GTI R MK5 MK6 MK7 $750
Mazda 4cyl $750; 6cyl $1190
Mercedes Benz C63s W205 AMG $240
Mini Cooper 4cyl $700
Mini Cooper 6cyl $990
Toyota Land Cruiser V8 $1600
Please contact us if your vehicle isn't on this list.
Optional tuning and EGR / DPF mods / repair can be discussed on the day.
