Decarbonizing GDI Engines....

[5030]

Thanks for the 411.... that does make more sense that the complex vanes are on the cold side. I'd heard of issues with variable vanes not being exercised enough, for some reason that had me thinking of the hot side....

I don't know those small Ford automatics well..... given any choice at all (tougher today), I pick stick when I can. Ford isn't the only one with issues in autos, though some of that IMO is from Ignored for Life ATF....

I believe you, but it is "interesting" that a modern engine can run that badly and not throw a code..... but then again that would be like the OEM admitting to a problem....

If you could do it without the data going anywhere, it would be pretty interesting to get your Transit on an Exhaust Gas Analyzer.

I'd find it pretty ironic if many of these "clean" modern GDI engines are running around spewing tons of emissions..... esp. after Vdub getting their head kicked in for "dirty" diesels.....

Good weather should be here soon, pls let us know how the Transit service goes....


Rgds, D.

The siamesed twin 3 speed trans in the Focus and Escape is actually 2 stick shift boxes with a common mainshaft and an electronically actuated twin plate clutch and gear change servo. I don't use ATF, it takes synthetic gear oil. The electronic clutch gets wonky after a while and shudders. Lots of You-Tube vids about it and how to 'cure' it. My take was just get a stick and a manual clutch (5 speed) which I did and eliminated the electronic portion. Cars today already have too much electronics.

It was designed so aunt minnie could drive it like a conventional automatic but when Minnie felt 'sporty', she could manually shift the box. Personally, I think it's a bad idea but it is simpler than a pressure actuated full auto with a torque convertor and there is no parasitic loss either, plus it weighs much less.

I would have preferred the 6 speed stick but thats only available in the 230 horse turbo charged Focus ST. My 150 is plenty for a roller skate with 4 doors.

 

[3930dave]

The siamesed twin 3 speed trans in the Focus and Escape is actually 2 stick shift boxes with a common mainshaft and an electronically actuated twin plate clutch and gear change servo. I don't use ATF, it takes synthetic gear oil. The electronic clutch gets wonky after a while and shudders. Lots of You-Tube vids about it and how to 'cure' it. My take was just get a stick and a manual clutch (5 speed) which I did and eliminated the electronic portion. Cars today already have too much electronics.

It was designed so aunt minnie could drive it like a conventional automatic but when Minnie felt 'sporty', she could manually shift the box. Personally, I think it's a bad idea but it is simpler than a pressure actuated full auto with a torque convertor and there is no parasitic loss either, plus it weighs much less.

I would have preferred the 6 speed stick but thats only available in the 230 horse turbo charged Focus ST. My 150 is plenty for a roller skate with 4 doors.

Unfortunately, many "domestic" offerings either now have no stick tranis available at all, or only on high performance models. A shame, IMO..... I enjoy driving stick in a personal vehicle, and if you know what you are doing, it's hard to beat the longevity....

I think VW got the ball rolling with their DSG transmission, perhaps that was Ford's attempt to play in that sandbox. DSG needs high dollar fluid, and fairly frequent changes.... expensive way to get "stick" performance, IMO.....

Esp. on the diesel side, EGR dumps a lot of carbon back into the intake. Can't usually bypass that on a modern engine w/o throwing a code, so not an option if you need to pass Etest.....

PCV valves often don't get serviced/replaced, that doesn't help either........ I've seen even pro-wrenches decide that a PCV valve is good as long as it passes air - if that was all that tube had to do, the OEM would have saved the cost of putting a valve in....

These closed systems could likely incorporate factory designed cleanable carbon-traps, but no OEM wants to add a Service Item to their product...... better to quietly create a major driveability issue, after the warranty is up....

Rgds, D.

 

[5030]

My semi retirement part time day job entails driving 10-13 and 18 speed transmissions so shifting gears is second nature to me anyway. I'm one of those people who never wear out a clutch because the only time I use one is stopping and starting. After that, I float every gear change.

I went and ordered 2 Jupiter Penumatic 4 ounce coalescing manual drain air filters. Both buggys will get catch cans after cleaning the carbon out. The Transit will get the MAF sensor cleaned and the throttle body air motor pintle scrubbed too. I bet it's downright nasty in the intake tract, can't wait.

I considered pulling the EGR lines on both and just venting to the atmosphere but the catch can should work (I hope) plus a douche of SeaFoam every oil change.

If you ever saw the inside of an intake runner on a DDEC Class 8 diesel, you'd be amazed that it could actually tun. I've seen them so loaded with crystallized hard carbon, it looks like icicles hanging inside... really bad compared to a gasoline engine.

 

[3930dave]

My semi retirement part time day job entails driving 10-13 and 18 speed transmissions so shifting gears is second nature to me anyway. I'm one of those people who never wear out a clutch because the only time I use one is stopping and starting. After that, I float every gear change.

I went and ordered 2 Jupiter Penumatic 4 ounce coalescing manual drain air filters. Both buggys will get catch cans after cleaning the carbon out. The Transit will get the MAF sensor cleaned and the throttle body air motor pintle scrubbed too. I bet it's downright nasty in the intake tract, can't wait.

I considered pulling the EGR lines on both and just venting to the atmosphere but the catch can should work (I hope) plus a douche of SeaFoam every oil change.

If you ever saw the inside of an intake runner on a DDEC Class 8 diesel, you'd be amazed that it could actually tun. I've seen them so loaded with crystallized hard carbon, it looks like icicles hanging inside... really bad compared to a gasoline engine.

Didn't have much luck searching for Jupiter.... something like this is what you will be using ?

1/4 Inch NPT, 4 CFM Coalescing Filter 6927651 - MSC

With you on the Class 8s, I've seen small scale examples of that with Vdub TDIs....

Rgds, D.

 

[5030]

I ordered them from Enco (which is a sub of MSC). I buy from both for the shop but Enco was doing a no ship cost on Friday, MSC wasn't so I got them there... Mine is different. Mine have a quarter turn dump on the bottom and 4 ounce bowls and the price was better...$33.74 each and n o tax, the shop I own has a commercial account. Filters and brackets came to $76.80 USD

I think MSC carries Jupiter pneumatics as well but here's the catalog number: Model 411-1954 1/4" inlet-outlet Polycarbonate bowl Intermediate size air filter. I got the mounting brackets too. The minature ones (I have them in the shop on air outlets with mist oilers for die grinders and such, don't have much capacity, maybe an ounce. The Intermediate ones have a 4 ounce bowl and the big ones (I have them too), hold about a quart.

I figured the medium size should fit in the engine bay. I know the big ones won't.

I don't get too much condensation in my air system, I run a refrigerated air dryer in tandem with my rotary screw compressor but all my air lines are in black pipe and the runs are long so as a precaution, I use the filters at the outlet ends, usually with a mist oiler and the filters keep any scale from getting in an air tool too. The shop uses a lot of air. We do die repair and that involves a lot of grinding plus I own a CNC plasma table and a Laser cutter, both take lots of clean air to run.

Interesting company, Enco. Everything ships out of Elkhart Indiana, MSC's main warehouse. I get 2 day service so they should be here on Monday, which is fine because the weather here is frightful anyway. Snowing and blowing. Won't last though. The PCV valve will stay but the blowby will route through the filter before going into the intake air stream. If it don't pan out, I'll vent to the atmosphere and won't tell anyone...lol

 

[3930dave]

I ordered them from Enco (which is a sub of MSC). I buy from both for the shop but Enco was doing a no ship cost on Friday, MSC wasn't so I got them there... Mine is different. Mine have a quarter turn dump on the bottom and 4 ounce bowls and the price was better...$33.74 each and n o tax, the shop I own has a commercial account. Filters and brackets came to $76.80 USD

I think MSC carries Jupiter pneumatics as well but here's the catalog number: Model 411-1954 1/4" inlet-outlet Polycarbonate bowl Intermediate size air filter. I got the mounting brackets too. The minature ones (I have them in the shop on air outlets with mist oilers for die grinders and such, don't have much capacity, maybe an ounce. The Intermediate ones have a 4 ounce bowl and the big ones (I have them too), hold about a quart.

I figured the medium size should fit in the engine bay. I know the big ones won't.

I don't get too much condensation in my air system, I run a refrigerated air dryer in tandem with my rotary screw compressor but all my air lines are in black pipe and the runs are long so as a precaution, I use the filters at the outlet ends, usually with a mist oiler and the filters keep any scale from getting in an air tool too. The shop uses a lot of air. We do die repair and that involves a lot of grinding plus I own a CNC plasma table and a Laser cutter, both take lots of clean air to run.

Interesting company, Enco. Everything ships out of Elkhart Indiana, MSC's main warehouse. I get 2 day service so they should be here on Monday, which is fine because the weather here is frightful anyway. Snowing and blowing. Won't last though. The PCV valve will stay but the blowby will route through the filter before going into the intake air stream. If it don't pan out, I'll vent to the atmosphere and won't tell anyone...lol

Thanks for the PN, and the background on how you use those in the shop.

I won't be the only one expecting to see installation pics :thumbsup: - please !

Rgds, D.

 

[5030]

I guess my only concern is what type of hose (material) to use for the new lines. I'm thinking synthetic rubber ethanol safe fuel line.. That and being able to locate the filters where I can drain them easily. Not a big issue with the Transit, plenty of under hood room, but the Focus is pretty crammed. Turns out one of good hunting buds wife also has a Focus, 2 years older than my 2014 but still GDI ans we were talking and I told him how the Transit was acting.

He told me his wife's Focus was acting the same exact way so looks like I have another victim to at least Sea Foam.... Sea Foam is a very strange name for a solvent in my opinion.

I am curious whether the Sea Foam curved applicator straw will fit a can of Berryman's Chemtool. B12 Chemtool is one wicked solvent, I've used it before on convention al carbs and it strips varnish and deposits right now. Also ruins your hands, it's extremely dry and suck the oil from your skin.

Gonna use the Sea Foam on the Transit but I'm thinking of using the B12 on the Focus (if the straw will fit the can). The B12 is 1/3rd the cost of the Sea Foam in a spray can, plus my focus only has 27K miles on it. The Transit is almost 100K.

I'm still thinking the best way to keep the blowby vapor emissions low is keep the oil changed and not to allow it to become heavily contaminated with by products of combustion and condensed water vapor.

If it warms up a bit, next week should tell the tale.

 

[94BULLITT]

You could use this.

CRC Intake Valve Cleaner

 

[3930dave]

I'm still thinking the best way to keep the blowby vapor emissions low is keep the oil changed and not to allow it to become heavily contaminated with by products of combustion and condensed water vapor.

Manufacturers get pushed, from a few directions, to deliver long oil-change intervals. It would be interesting to see the details of how manufacturers prioritize the OCI calculations on today's cars...... done right, short trips in our winter temperatures should dramatically shorten the oil change interval, for the reasons you listed....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

You could use this.

CRC Intake Valve Cleaner

I'm not sure that we even have that yet, up here north of the 49'th..... it's now on my Watch List.....

I expect good things from CRC..... have you had a chance/reason to use that already 94 ?

Rgds, D.