Intake Valve Deposits
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
There is a specific "Direct Injection and Combustion Chamber Cleaning Procedure" from MINI that we usually perform on 25-35k mile N14 cars due to the incredible amount of carbon buildup on the intake valves. The cars come in with SES light on, multiple misfires.
The process completely eliminates the low-pressure fuel pump from the equation and runs gasoline mixed 3:1 with fuel cleaner concentrate(p# 82140428376). The procedure runs for about 25min. and then we add the regular fuel cleaner(p# 82140413341) to the fueltank and provide one more bottle for the next fuel fill up, to the customer.
I would HIGHLY recomend that every N14 customer use some kind of fuel system cleaner every fourth fill-up, along with good quality fuel(shell / sunoco). It definitely helps.
Joey
The process completely eliminates the low-pressure fuel pump from the equation and runs gasoline mixed 3:1 with fuel cleaner concentrate(p# 82140428376). The procedure runs for about 25min. and then we add the regular fuel cleaner(p# 82140413341) to the fueltank and provide one more bottle for the next fuel fill up, to the customer.
I would HIGHLY recomend that every N14 customer use some kind of fuel system cleaner every fourth fill-up, along with good quality fuel(shell / sunoco). It definitely helps.
Joey
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
oh sorry i didn't mentioned this - but this is not an "approved warranty repair". meaning i can't do this as a tech and expect mini to pay me. I need to first ask for authorization from the service manager before i can do the procedure.
then he has to submit the claim to mini and hopefully get paid, if he doesn't - then tough tities because i got paid for my time but he didn't. so is not an "everycar that comes in the door is gonna get the cleaning", is just on SES cars with misifire faults and 20k+ miles...
then he has to submit the claim to mini and hopefully get paid, if he doesn't - then tough tities because i got paid for my time but he didn't. so is not an "everycar that comes in the door is gonna get the cleaning", is just on SES cars with misifire faults and 20k+ miles...
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,880
Likes: 3
From: Your Worst Nightmare :)
BG44K = liquid gold for DI/FI engines. I put it in every 7500 miles, when I can find it. it's getting hard to locate. CarQuest lost their BG franchise.
Many tune shops that advertise $39 "tuneups" actually just replace the plugs, airfilter, and dump in a can of BG44K.
Many tune shops that advertise $39 "tuneups" actually just replace the plugs, airfilter, and dump in a can of BG44K.
You can order BG44K from www.carfood.net which I listed on an earlier post. Most BMW or MINI dealers will sell it. Close to $16 a can or more. I think Redline fuel system cleaner for $8 a bottle at Pep Boys probably works as well and you can afford to use it more often. Here is a link.
http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=80&pcid=12
You can also use Redline in smaller amounts as preventive maintenance in every or every other tank of gas to prevent deposits. See the link.
http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=80&pcid=12
You can also use Redline in smaller amounts as preventive maintenance in every or every other tank of gas to prevent deposits. See the link.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
This service by the brecht mini in SD costs $240 and is not under the maintenance plan. He mentioned that he recommends all turbo minis to get the service before 30k...and mine has 21k. Should I look for the BG44k, find another service shop, or drop the money for the mini dealer service?
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
Be cautious using the tank additives on a Mini that has some miles on it, if you have never used it before. Deposits build up in the fuel tank also and can clog filters and or pumps when they break loose.
I replaced 2 fuel filter/pumps in the tanks of my Jeeps after using them in a few tanks.
I replaced 2 fuel filter/pumps in the tanks of my Jeeps after using them in a few tanks.
Just to reiterate and stay on topic, fuel system cleaner, even the famed BG44K, is not going to clean the condensed crankcase vapors off intake valves and the ports on a direct injection engine. They will clean the face of the valve, but not the backside.
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
actually the mixture will be present when the intake valves are opening - therefor some of it has got to get to the top side of the valves and the valve seats. just because the gas is not runing down the intake manifold doesn't mean the is not gonna work. the whole combustion chamber will be exposed to the air/fuel mix - so why do you thinkis not gonna work?
i have seen, with my own eyes(i hate this expression) chunks of carbon buildup on the top side of the intake valves - an incredible amount of crap... something i have never seen before on any other brandname i've worked on.
I just purchased the M7 Catch Can and will be cleaning the intake with Sea Foam in the very near future. I plan on tapping the boost line I added for the boost gauge to get the Sea Foam into the intake.
The biggest source of deposits on our intake valves is from the crankcase vapors from the PCV tube. You can minimize the vapor by using a catch can but the only one made right now is from M7, and you have to remove the intake siphon tube to install it. Kind of ridiculous if you asked me.
The only viable solution seems to be pouring some Sea Foam through the PCV tube and of course following Sea Foam's directions. Who wants to try it first on an R56 LOL!
The only viable solution seems to be pouring some Sea Foam through the PCV tube and of course following Sea Foam's directions. Who wants to try it first on an R56 LOL!
Last edited by scottab36; Oct 13, 2009 at 01:57 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,578
Likes: 4
From: Paradise
actually the mixture will be present when the intake valves are opening - therefor some of it has got to get to the top side of the valves and the valve seats. just because the gas is not runing down the intake manifold doesn't mean the is not gonna work. the whole combustion chamber will be exposed to the air/fuel mix - so why do you thinkis not gonna work?
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 470
Likes: 1
From: Harleysville PA
I find this to be a very interesting thread. What I'm hearing said is that the build up on the intake valves is from oil vapors that are introduced from the PVC. I'm also hearing that installing an oil catch can would reduce the amount of oil vapors being introduced into the intake manifold which would diminish the build up on the intake valves. I am understanding this correctly?
Oops : PCV
Oops : PCV
Last edited by gregsmini; Oct 5, 2009 at 04:20 AM.
You are correct. 
I find this to be a very interesting thread. What I'm hearing said is that the build up on the intake valves is from oil vapors that are introduced from the PVC. I'm also hearing that installing an oil catch can would reduce the amount of oil vapors being introduced into the intake manifold which would diminish the build up on the intake valves. I am understanding this correctly?
actually the mixture will be present when the intake valves are opening - therefor some of it has got to get to the top side of the valves and the valve seats. just because the gas is not runing down the intake manifold doesn't mean the is not gonna work. the whole combustion chamber will be exposed to the air/fuel mix - so why do you thinkis not gonna work?
i have seen, with my own eyes(i hate this expression) chunks of carbon buildup on the top side of the intake valves - an incredible amount of crap... something i have never seen before on any other brandname i've worked on.
i have seen, with my own eyes(i hate this expression) chunks of carbon buildup on the top side of the intake valves - an incredible amount of crap... something i have never seen before on any other brandname i've worked on.
As countryboyshane has said, nothing is going to clean the valves on direct injection. MINI is working on a fix from what I hear. The same problem is showing up on the BMW's and they are keeping it under wraps till they find a fix. Car's that see the track seem to have less prolems with deposits.
Well if nobody does it by April 2010 (spring clean and will be around 25K miles), I'm going to be the first to try Seafoam through my brake booster line. I hope somebody else does it by then just so I know how much smoke I'm going to add to my quiet neighborhood LOL!
As countryboyshane has said, nothing is going to clean the valves on direct injection. MINI is working on a fix from what I hear. The same problem is showing up on the BMW's and they are keeping it under wraps till they find a fix. Car's that see the track seem to have less prolems with deposits.
Even on their NA motors, like the RS4 are having issues...so I don't see why an oil catch can is going to help. It's a problem with direct injection motors in general...the intake valves do not get the benefit of being cooled/cleaned from the incoming fuel charge, thus resulting in a build up of carbon. The design of a direct injection motor coupled with crappy North American gas is the reason you are seeing this problem.
Also, as it's been said, cars that are driven hard see less of the problem. Water/Meth injection will help this too.
Here is a picture of some nasty carbon deposits from a Cayenne:
ICK.
