Decarbonizing GDI Engines....

[Winmac]

Here's what my buddies plugged up bmw looks like, they are in the process of using walnut shells to blast the carbon away.

 

[3930dave]

Here's what my buddies plugged up bmw looks like, they are in the process of using walnut shells to blast the carbon away.

Can't fool me - that's detailed archeology work from Pompeii. :laughing:

Yikes ! That looks like a Break My Wallet service !

Rgds, D.

 

[Panik]

Here's what my buddies plugged up bmw looks like, they are in the process of using walnut shells to blast the carbon away.

And that's my fear with the Mini.. it is a bimmer at heart after all. Last I checked I think the process for mom's car runs around 600+ though I could be off by a bit.

Clearly, you and I define older differently - my "newest" is an '05, and that one's been tucked in the garage for the Winter.

LOL likely true, although I tend to think of things in relative terms. The Discovery is a very well loved and cared for 2000 and the Mini is a '11 so I guess older relative to my truck. In truth we are both hopeful that we might be able to hang onto the Discovery and park it with regular maintenance. It's just too small for 3 kids and two dogs but it one of those vehicles that puts a smile on your face. I'm still kicking myself for letting my mom sell my father's E30 BMW after he passed.

 

[3930dave]

And that's my fear with the Mini.. it is a bimmer at heart after all. Last I checked I think the process for mom's car runs around 600+ though I could be off by a bit.



LOL likely true, although I tend to think of things in relative terms. The Discovery is a very well loved and cared for 2000 and the Mini is a '11 so I guess older relative to my truck. In truth we are both hopeful that we might be able to hang onto the Discovery and park it with regular maintenance. It's just too small for 3 kids and two dogs but it one of those vehicles that puts a smile on your face. I'm still kicking myself for letting my mom sell my father's E30 BMW after he passed.

Guessing that you mean $600+ for the blasting shop fee down your way ? Meaning - you re/re the head yourself.

Hear ya - many of us would like to have just some of Jay Leno's garage space for "keepers" :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[Winmac]

Lol, It's actually a mini in the pictures.
I don't have all the details of the job but they are doing the blasting with the head in place and vacuuming afterwards, he did say they had 5 hours labour in it so far. He was telling me when I was machining an adapter for the spark plug hole so they could check compression and do a cylinder leak down test. Apparently the mechanic did not have one.

 

[3930dave]

Lol, It's actually a mini in the pictures.
I don't have all the details of the job but they are doing the blasting with the head in place and vacuuming afterwards, he did say they had 5 hours labour in it so far. He was telling me when I was machining an adapter for the spark plug hole so they could check compression and do a cylinder leak down test. Apparently the mechanic did not have one.

He's lucky to have a friend with your machining skills; buying an individual adapter can be a PITA.

5 hours+ with the head attached..... slow going with that heavy of a deposit. I guess today's borescopes are good enough you can be confident that everything is vacuumed out.

If you get a final total cost, pls let us know....

Rgds, D.

 

[Panik]

Lol, It's actually a mini in the pictures.
I don't have all the details of the job but they are doing the blasting with the head in place and vacuuming afterwards, he did say they had 5 hours labour in it so far. He was telling me when I was machining an adapter for the spark plug hole so they could check compression and do a cylinder leak down test. Apparently the mechanic did not have one.

I, as well, would be interested in the final price for the service. And you sir are a good friend for doing the machining so his mechanic did not have to purchase an adapter!! Those Mini's are a pain to do anything with because things are so tight in the engine compartment that you almost have to pull everything just to get anything done.

He's lucky to have a friend with your machining skills; buying an individual adapter can be a PITA.

5 hours+ with the head attached..... slow going with that heavy of a deposit. I guess today's borescopes are good enough you can be confident that everything is vacuumed out.

If you get a final total cost, pls let us know....

Rgds, D.

What you bring up right there is the main reason, aside from perceived cost, that I've not pursued getting the Mini blasted. I've read some horror stories about what happens when all of the media does not get removed after the service. We got lucky with mom's purchase in that the timing chain had already been replaced and judging by the service records most of the kinks had already been worked out by the time we purchased. At the moment I'm treating it kinda like Pandora's box....pretty but I don't want to open it up and let the demons out.

On a practical note yes it would be nice to have some of Leno's garage space. My Dad's BMW had ~250,000 miles on it when he passed and the only thing that it needed at the time was a tranny because the original had finally worn out. Aside from that it ran smooth and strong. Heck, we had a 2000 model Honda CRV that was my wife's car in college that we gave to her brother. He still has it and runs the snot out of it between medical school, transporting his step-kids and volunteer fire fighting. Last I checked it is over 250,000 miles and I full well expect that it will be handed over to the next family member in need (likely one of his step kids)

 

[tcartwri]

Here's what my buddies plugged up bmw looks like, they are in the process of using walnut shells to blast the carbon away.

Boy that looks worse than an old V8 that's been run around with no valve guides left...

 

[3930dave]

What you bring up right there is the main reason, aside from perceived cost, that I've not pursued getting the Mini blasted. I've read some horror stories about what happens when all of the media does not get removed after the service. We got lucky with mom's purchase in that the timing chain had already been replaced and judging by the service records most of the kinks had already been worked out by the time we purchased. At the moment I'm treating it kinda like Pandora's box....pretty but I don't want to open it up and let the demons out.

My preference would be to have it blasted with the head off, but not if I had to pay somebody to re/re it...

With you there..... some of the 2000 era engines seem to be much more reliable/need less maintenance.

Rgds, D.

 

[5030]

Obviously, the trick, if you will, is to do a wet clean with Seafoam every oil change. I can't wait to get into the Transit.. Bore scopes are cheap today. You can get a nice color digital one at HF for about 60 bucks, has a built in light and darn good resolution. I use mine on my rifles all the time for inspecting chambers and copper buildup in the barrels.

I'm waiting for some warmer weather to do the Transit and then the Focus. The Transit is running pretty rough as of late.