someone is salty because they got OWNED!! To tell the truth I forgot the R56 was direct injection as well, thanks for the reminder Thumper

 

No it's not

 

so my dealer just tryed to sell me this service. I am like WTF i call snake oil.
But after reading this. Next oil change i might take them up on the cleaning service. I def will be selling this car as soon as possible.

 

The problem of carbon build-up on the back of the intake valves is not unique to MINIs. It is a problem with all direct injection engines, and the industry is still trying to figure out how to deal with it.

 

hey Is it cool to run a full tanks worth of seafoam (~13oz) in the fuel tank insted of doing it though the PCV for now?
I've heard things about you needing to change your fuel filter afterwards? is that correct?
anyone advisible not to do it tonight? (its bad weather out, snowmagedden, dont want to have to work on the car in weather like this)

is there anyone who does the on a regular basis that knows if it will be alright?

I just want to keep the car running in top notch shape and figured i could start early with the internal cleaning before it becomes a problem.

15600 miles 08' MCSa
Thanks
-Peter

 

Putting it in the tank will only clean the injectors...much like a bottle of Techron will do. To get the full effect you need to do it through the PCV.

 

thats what i've heard and tried it yesterday but I was on my own and to be honest while putting through the PCV I kinda wimped out after only about 3oz and just gave it a rest untill I can get someone to give me a hand. I just topped off my tank when I got home tonight and was thinking of just putting the rest of the bottle in the tank.
with my low mileage, 15600, and always putting in Shell V-Power I shouldnt have much (if any) gunk in the tank for the seafoam to dissolve and clog my fuel filter. correct?

 

I've put a whole bottle of seafoam in my tank twice so far and havent had any problems. As for you needing some help with putting it in the PCV valve it really isn't that difficult to do by yourself. I used a squirt bottle to put mine in.

 

it wasnt that it was hard, I was just feeling unsure about it on my own, not really knowing what rate to feed it, how the car should be running that kind of stuff and what not.
so it would be fine to put the bottle in my tank tonight and let it sit, im not going to be doing any driving tonight, or should I just do it tomorrow morning?

 

you can put it in whenever you want to. Just make sure that you have a full tank of gas.

 

How many times does it need to be repeated that a fuel additive does nothing to treat carbon buildup in the intake manifold of a direct injection engine?!?!??!

Sorry just had to vent about that a little!

 

I know its not going to clean the carbon of the intake manifold when in the tank, I just wanted to run one can in the fuel cause you can do it that way too for the benefit of the injectors.

 

Yes we already know it wont do anything for the carbon buildup. If you would have read a little more clearly you would have noticed we already talked about putting it in the PCV valve for the carbon buildup. Peter was just asking if he could put the seafoam in his tank of gas to clean the injectors and such.

 

I had a problem all last winter when it was cold for the first mile or so, my car ran really rough. The dealer had it twice but claimed nothing was wrong. This winter it started to do it again as it was turning cold. I tried the seafoam through the PVC valve and it's been fine ever since. I was a little nervous the first time too %^). I just poured 4 oz in a little measuring cup used 1/8 inch diameter clear piece of hose from the hardware store about two feet long. Popped of the hose from the valve cover, stuffed a paper towel in it while I started the car and them put the tube in beside the paper towel and SLOWLY dipped the other end of the hose in the Seafoam just sort of touching it in and out so it only gets a little at a time. It really is a piece of cake. Takes less than five minutes. Stick the hose back on the Valve cover wait twenty minute. Run it a bit and your good to go. I definately recommend it. I haven't tried putting it in the fuel tank and I'm not ready for an oil change so haven't tried putting it in the crank case for the brief time before changing the oil.

 

Yeah I have only done the gas tank and the PVC valve. I just did my oil change on tuesday so I wont be able to put it in the crankcase for sometime. I'm not sure if I want to though.

 

The N12 engine is NOT direct injected. It does have the BMW VANOS variable valve timing. The recently announced engine upgrades for the R56 S will be a VANOS with TDI. See the attached brochure on the current engines.
Cheers,
Greg

 

I did two treatments through PCV this past weekend. Lots of smoke on first run and very little on the second round. I have 83,000 miles on my '08 MCS. Since I was planning on changing the oil that day too I decided to run the last third of the can of Seafoam through the crankcase. I poured it in and went for a twenty minute drive to run the Seafoam through the sytem a bit then returned home to change the oil. The waste oil was pitch black when I drained it out! Looked like the used oil from my diesel tractor. Compared to other waste oil samples from previous oil changes the Seafoam definately did it's job. There is a notable idle / throttle response from the PCV treatment as well. Think I will do the same at next oil change. Thanks to all for your posts and suggestions.

 

Just curious but the crank case is where the PCV valve came off of right? Not the hose but the part that the hose connects to. I am going to do it the next time I change my oil.

 

Add it right the the oil fill.

 

How about a "how to" video...with lots of smoke after start up........
That would be

Any Takers?

 

.....What......?

 

That brochure isnt exactly current. Its from 12/2004

Just got my recent Ward's AutoWorld mag (Industry mag) .. indicates all Coopers get DI for 2010... in a few short years everyone will have DI... even Buick Lacrosse 4-cyl has it for 2010...

http://wardsauto.com/about/MahleEngineChart.pdf

 

Working on it. It's snowy outside now though! : (

 

Working on it. It's snowy outside now though! : (

 

Search youtube and you'll find a MINI seafoam vid.