GDI Engines and Carbon Deposits | Know Your Parts

Fuel additives and detergents in gasoline do not help to prevent carbon buildup on the intake valves of a GDI engine. CRC GDI IVD Intake Valve and Turbo Cleaner is specifically formulated to safely break down carbon deposits without causing large chunks to break off and potentially damage the engine.

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[lawsonhollenbaugh]

I BOUGHT A NEW HYUNDAI SONATA IN 2018, I HAVE USED THIS PRODUCT EVERY 6 THOUSANDS MILES, MY 2.0 LITRE TURBO, RUNS LIKE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, AWESOME PRODUCT

[RatelHBadger]

When you watch a ChrisFix and Scotty Kilmer video... you go to the source for one final confirmation.

[LabCoatPaul]

0:51 "GDI can provide improved MPG" 1:02 "Carbon deposits from GDI will lower MPG"
In reality, GDI cars don't get better gas mileage than port fuel injected cars, but require burning gnarly chemicals to clean the engine. That's way worse for the environment than a normal port fuel injected engine. I'm sure this is the government's doing. Whenever the government tries to save the environment, it creates more pollution. Oh, and people aren't going to maintain their cars 5x as much, so now cars go to the junkyard sooner too.
GDI is stupid. The cleaner stuff in the video is pretty cool though. I've cleaned carburetors and fuel injectors (out of the car so I know it worked) with GDI cleaner and it seems to be more potent than carburetor cleaner.

[sibco]

I used this as preventative maintenance on my Kia Soul, then I lost a lot of power. It turns out that my catalytic converter was clogged up, probably from the carbon that was dislodged from the valves. So, yeah it cleans the carbon off the valves, but it can result in expensive repairs to your exhaust system. That $15 can of magic cost me $1500 at the Kia dealership.

[JasPlun]

I got a Toyota with D4s and do not worry about it anymore. Toyota FTW!

[matthewjorgenson]

GDI Cars should come with catch cans from the factory. Won't solve the problem but may delay needing to prematurely service the valves.

[mildlyhot]

picking some up tomorrow for the mk7 gti with 20k miles

[lotus]

Change your oil way sooner than they tell you to in these cars. Just do it. You’ll thank me later.

[Jeepdriver]

Great explanation and visuals, I'll never buy a GDI engine. I'll stick with old school...

[tommasopetrella]

If you have a GDI engine, never let the vehicle just sit and idle for long periods of time. This is when most of the deposits occur. When in the drive through shut the engine off, waiting for friends you pick up ect. Another thing that helps is being a little heavy on the gas in first and second, and a good spirited highway drive at least once a week. These are the tips I have read about that seem to make the most sense.

[billyhoglock]

Mercury Marine yes the Boat Company has a similar product called "Power Tune" about 10 bucks at your dealer. I use the stuff everyday it also works great as a carb cleaner FSM cleaner I've had it get fuel pumps to working again. Had it bring compression up by removing carbon. Love it and swear by it.

[hokuspokus]

2014 Kia Rio 1.6L GDI even after using Seafoam regularly, 3500 mi oil changes, top tier fuel, valves get buildup where it impedes the complete closing of valves which allows oil to go through manifold to catalytic converter causing clog and heat damage. No recall on Rio, just Soul at this time but class action lawsuit filed in Federal Court in April 2022 against Kia Motors...Look at Kia excessive oil consumption.

[toddroush]

I could see this working as preventative maintenance. If you’ve got 150k you’re just going to send carbon through your engine and cat and cause damage. Maybe if you start at 10k and hit it every 10k you might remove the small stuff before it becomes an issue.

[troyrice]

Using Pennzoil ultra platinum 5w20 and a bottle of Chevron Techron Complete, plus good gasoline will go a long way to help. My wife ❤ her 2014 Optima, and only has 22k on it. We are currently on vacation and we have driven over 1200 mi to get here, 75-80 mph while getting 38mpg. I've seen many of these vehicles over 150k miles. I've done a lot of research on the GDI 2014 OPTIMA, best i can tell is try to keep carbon build up at a minimum. And make sure the VIN number does not begin with a 3, these vehicles were assembled in Mexico and have proven to be very problematic. The Pennzoil ultra platinum and Chevron Techron Complete are great products, as is CRC intake and turbo cleaner. I hope my very limited knowledge has helped at least 1 person 😂.

[jasonschmidt]

I have the dreaded 2.4 theta 2 engine, I recently switched from always using full synthetic that's recommended to using mobil conventional 5w30. I no longer have to add half a quart every week and it runs quieter.

[akanecortich]

"Safely dissolves carbon in a controlled manner that prevents large pieces from dislodging in the engine." is their statement. This is better than large lumps of carbon breaking off and ending up in your catalytic converter. Everyone says...use the can until empty. BUT I think a better strategy for a large mileage GDI engine that would have a ton of carbon build up, would be to approach it gradually. I would be doing a quarter can or less once a weak until two cans used. Just gradually remove the carbon build up. I wouldn't want a flood of carbon through the converters and oxygen sensors all at once. Doing it bit by bit might be safer for those components. That will be my strategy.

[sunilayya]

Could this cleaner cause large chunks of carbon to break off and damage the turbo and other components like catalytic converter ? I have run my car now for 20k miles since brand new without gdi cleaners and worried about using it now at this stage.

[paulj.schmidt]

So I used this today on my 2015 KIA Forte EX GDI. I made sure not to spray it into the MAF sensor, I couldn’t find it anywhere so I proceeded as normal. Turns out there’s not one on my model.
So I sprayed it into where it shows on the video, the air duct where the air filter goes. I had my buddy keep the motor revved up to 2, 000-3, 000 RPM. Everything went okay, so I went to go get on the freeway for 10 minutes as instructed in the video, which was only a 2 minute drive away, as I got up to 35, the engine rattled real bad and a BUNCH of white smoke came out the back. It rattled once more as I got on the freeway, but not nearly as bad, and not as much white smoke the second time.
Later in the day I did notice more power to the gas pedal, and higher MPG as indicated on the dash. Engine appears to be running normal. No check engine lights or anything.
Is the engine rattle that happened normal? This is the first time I’ve ever done it after finding this video. Engine has 151k miles on it.

[jeffruebens]

The Mazda GDI seems less filthy than other brands. See the Project Farm YouTube videos- he found that adding Berryman B-12 Chemtool to the gas tank once in awhile and Restore to the engine oil (if the piston rings have a lot of wear) help reduce problems from carbon buildup. A 10 hour drive at 70 mph on a hot day might help, especially for diesel engines. I would like to see a comparison test for different cleaner brands by someone independent, instead of marketing for 1 brand.

[FixitMyWay]

CRC Valve Cleaner is the solution but don't follow instructions on can. 2017 Sonata new got 32mpg combined. At 25K now gets 26mpg combined. After cleaning, returned to 32mpg and sets you back into the seat @ WOT, so it works. Bring car to operating temp., spray intake (down flow from any MAF) with full spray at 2500rpm. Engine will choke down and almost die, turn off at this point. Let heat soak for 1 hour. Start and drive for a couple miles and repeat twice (3 times total). Engine will crank longer before starting and will rattle and ping first mile of first cleaning. This method only uses 1/3 can for all three heat soaks. The initial pinging proves that carbon was breaking away after each heat soak. No codes set and 5K mile later (30K). Blow-by from crankcase increases with each acceleration and that is why highway use delays carbon buildup. I am a lead foot with WOT used frequently. I will do one heat soak every oil change from now on. GDI problem handled.