Drivetrain DIY Engine Cleaning (Intake Valves)
Well, I got everything back together, went to start it and no go. It cranks but seems like no spark. 
I checked all connections, but will check again. I pretty mechanically inclined but this carbon blasting got the best of me. I ran the battery down, is on a charger now.
I checked all connections, but will check again. I pretty mechanically inclined but this carbon blasting got the best of me. I ran the battery down, is on a charger now.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 835
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta, GA
I am not sure if the BMW tools will work with the cheaper venturi guns so some experimentation may be required.
Last edited by gawannamini; Sep 12, 2013 at 07:58 PM.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 835
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta, GA
My engine started immediately after cleaning. It idled a bit rough for about a minute as the computer compensated for the improved breathing. I also detected a slight wood burning smell in the exhaust (smelled great!) for a few seconds as the fine walnut dust burned. This may have affected the O2 sensors for a few seconds.
6th Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,260
Likes: 87
From: Pacific NW
I got a pressurized media blaster at Harbor Freight. They have discounts all the time, mine cost $90. You can buy crushed walnut shell there too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/110-lb-...ter-69724.html
Dave
http://www.harborfreight.com/110-lb-...ter-69724.html
Dave
Do you have access to an OBD code reader? It should tell you what is faulting. I would review Texasmontego's post (link included in my write up in post #27) and make sure every connection is intact. He has excellent pictures in his post.
My engine started immediately after cleaning. It idled a bit rough for about a minute as the computer compensated for the improved breathing. I also detected a slight wood burning smell in the exhaust (smelled great!) for a few seconds as the fine walnut dust burned. This may have affected the O2 sensors for a few seconds.
My engine started immediately after cleaning. It idled a bit rough for about a minute as the computer compensated for the improved breathing. I also detected a slight wood burning smell in the exhaust (smelled great!) for a few seconds as the fine walnut dust burned. This may have affected the O2 sensors for a few seconds.
I had the Mini towed because I couldn't start it after the carbon cleaning. I took it to a BMW/MINi repair shop. Luckily, the problem was that somehow I flooded the engine with gasoline trying to start it. The spark plugs were wet with fuel. They cleaned the plugs, ( I just replaced them a month ago), and cleaned out the cylinders of fuel. It started right up, they said, and it runs like a champ now. Thank God it was nothing major.
I'm back to a happy camper now
I'm back to a happy camper now
1st Gear
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 23
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I finally got my extraction adapter and I can't wait to hit the intake with walnut shells. If anybody else has been waiting a long time for the components to do the job, let me know. I went ahead and ordered a couple extra BMW extraction adapters for those who want them. They are $70 plus $5 shipping. PM me if I can help you...
Must Have this
The vacuum attachment works great. If your doing your own walnut blasting its pretty much required and the nozzle as well. The cleaning wand is designed pretty good. I thought it was a expensive bent tubing.
The vacuum attachment and nozzle go together before you put it in the intake valves. Once the vacuum attachment is in. There is no way to accidentally back out the nozzle to the point the wand comes out and blasts walnut everywhere.
I had some on the forms say to use a brush and some engine cleaner to clean the valves because it was quicker and cleaner. I tried to clean cylinder 1 on my MINI while waiting for the attachment to come in. After 20 minutes of scrubbing, it removed very little carbon
, then I gave up
. When I used my walnut blaster, I was curious how much a 15 second walnut blast would take off, well the valves were almost spotless
. Don't believe me, watch the videos and see in how long it took me to clean them.
Here's a couple of video I did showing how long it takes to decently clean one cylinder. Sorry for the blurriness of the video, stupid autofocus didn't quite work.
Couldn't figure out how it would take more than 3 hours to clean the intake valves. Dam the dealer make alot of money off this cleaning, $900 - $5 in walnut media and less than a hour or so in labor = at least $750 profit. Since I know how to do it now, I could charge like half that and still make a killing.
Cleaning Cylinder 4
http://youtu.be/Ml-869AE_mA
Cleaning Cylinder 2
http://youtu.be/sN_GOrnhUiY
Good luck to anyone trying to walnut blast clean their valves.
NOTE: Don't forget to check to see if your valves are closed before doing this, you don't want walnuts going into you cylinder
. How I checked is taking all the spark plugs out and using my mouth I tried to blow air in to see if it had pressure in the cylinder. If it didn't leak, I knew it was closed, if it did I get in my Mini and try to turn over the engine and check again.
I don't know if it would of made a difference in cleaning the carbon off. I did the cleaning after a drive to get some walnut media so the engine was all warmed up. I didn't mind the engine heat since it was 45 degrees outside.
The vacuum attachment and nozzle go together before you put it in the intake valves. Once the vacuum attachment is in. There is no way to accidentally back out the nozzle to the point the wand comes out and blasts walnut everywhere.
I had some on the forms say to use a brush and some engine cleaner to clean the valves because it was quicker and cleaner. I tried to clean cylinder 1 on my MINI while waiting for the attachment to come in. After 20 minutes of scrubbing, it removed very little carbon
, then I gave up. When I used my walnut blaster, I was curious how much a 15 second walnut blast would take off, well the valves were almost spotless. Don't believe me, watch the videos and see in how long it took me to clean them.Here's a couple of video I did showing how long it takes to decently clean one cylinder. Sorry for the blurriness of the video, stupid autofocus didn't quite work.
Couldn't figure out how it would take more than 3 hours to clean the intake valves. Dam the dealer make alot of money off this cleaning, $900 - $5 in walnut media and less than a hour or so in labor = at least $750 profit.
Since I know how to do it now, I could charge like half that and still make a killing.Cleaning Cylinder 4
http://youtu.be/Ml-869AE_mA
Cleaning Cylinder 2
http://youtu.be/sN_GOrnhUiY
Good luck to anyone trying to walnut blast clean their valves.
NOTE: Don't forget to check to see if your valves are closed before doing this, you don't want walnuts going into you cylinder
. How I checked is taking all the spark plugs out and using my mouth I tried to blow air in to see if it had pressure in the cylinder. If it didn't leak, I knew it was closed, if it did I get in my Mini and try to turn over the engine and check again.I don't know if it would of made a difference in cleaning the carbon off. I did the cleaning after a drive to get some walnut media so the engine was all warmed up. I didn't mind the engine heat since it was 45 degrees outside.
Videos aren't available on YouTube any longer.
Any chance we can get a look at your setup? I have my R56 in the shop for walnut blasting for the second time in 18 months. Silly waste of money.
Turn the ratchet clockwise or counterclockwise?
Rob
Rob
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
I'm in the process of walnut blasting mine now. What's the best way to get behind the valve or should I just leave it? Also, if a couple walnut bits get stuck in the carbon deposits behind the valve and I put it back together would that cause and issue?
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 835
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta, GA
Sorry for the slow response - I have been offline.
You can turn it either way. It is no different that putting a manual transmission car in gear and pushing the car slightly forward or backward to turn the engine.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 835
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta, GA
By varying the angle of the blaster nozzle I was able to remove almost all of the buildup that is partially shielded by the valve stem. This makes the walnut bits bounce around at different angles.
It does not have to be perfectly clean and a I don't think few tiny walnut bits are not going to hurt anything. If they get loose they will be immediately incinerated. I could actually detect a very slight scent of wood burning in the exhaust immediately after the first start :-)
That makes sense! All ready to give it a go tomorrow. Thanks for your help.
Rob
Rob
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
Did mine and it worked great. I did a combo of the walnut shell blasting and manual scrubbing. The hardest part for me was to get the screw at the bottom of the manifold back in. Other than that it was pretty straightforward. I was paranoid that I didn't have the valve totally shut especially w/ all that gunk in there. I triple checked it and sprayed some cleaner in there and verified the cleaner would pool and not drain out. Thanks for all the info.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 835
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta, GA
Did mine and it worked great. I did a combo of the walnut shell blasting and manual scrubbing. The hardest part for me was to get the screw at the bottom of the manifold back in. Other than that it was pretty straightforward. I was paranoid that I didn't have the valve totally shut especially w/ all that gunk in there. I triple checked it and sprayed some cleaner in there and verified the cleaner would pool and not drain out. Thanks for all the info.
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Awesome write up we will do it to ours soon we bought our baby used so I'm sure its time to wallnut blast it
Anybody use the harbor freight kit that was provided on the link on page 2?I wanna know if that's a good route
Anybody use the harbor freight kit that was provided on the link on page 2?I wanna know if that's a good route
That's what I used... worked great!
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Thanks so much for the quick reply we just bought it it's used but it's so much fun to drive around we love it also did that machine let you do the behind the valves easily??
We are new to minis and to here and now we are doing most of the preventive maintenance since the owner before us took really good care and leave the car in pretty good condition so far we only had to change the stock clutch and we are at 47k miles we also just change the oil lines thanks to Detroit tuned kit and just installed a scangauge2 to check motor temperature and boost (temperature reaching 222° sounds OK in this car?) and change oil to royal purple 5w30 on the motor and royal purple synchromaxx into the transmission: ) other then that we just notice that the Turbo coolant line it's showing some surface rust and now we wanna do the walnut treatment to prevent any sour times in the future since I'm sure they never did this on our vehicle
we just bought it it's used but it's so much fun to drive around we love it also did that machine let you do the behind the valves easily??We are new to minis and to here and now we are doing most of the preventive maintenance since the owner before us took really good care and leave the car in pretty good condition so far we only had to change the stock clutch and we are at 47k miles we also just change the oil lines thanks to Detroit tuned kit and just installed a scangauge2 to check motor temperature and boost (temperature reaching 222° sounds OK in this car?) and change oil to royal purple 5w30 on the motor and royal purple synchromaxx into the transmission: ) other then that we just notice that the Turbo coolant line it's showing some surface rust and now we wanna do the walnut treatment to prevent any sour times in the future since I'm sure they never did this on our vehicle
It cleans everywhere but it can take some time to get the last few bits behind the valve stems. I really enjoyed the process.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Last edited by BC_Rob; Jan 11, 2014 at 08:03 AM.
