The Ultimate Guide to DIY GDI Carbon Cleaning ( Gasoline Direct Injection Intake Valve Cleaning )

The Ultimate Guide to DIY GDI Carbon Cleaning ( Gasoline Direct Injection Intake Valve Cleaning )

In this video I'm going to take you through everything you need to know about GDI valve cleanings. We are going to cover the differences between port fuel injection and Gasoline Direct Injection or GDI. We'll also talk about why GDI builds carbon up on the intake valves. Then, we will attempt to clean carbon off of the intake valves using an aerosol GDI carbon cleaner from CRC. After that I will show you how to remove the carbon from your intake valves using some zip ties, a drill, and some patience.

The professional alternative to the zip tie method would be using a walnut blaster to remove the carbon build up. These machines cost over $400 and are simply not realistic to the home DIY'er.

Links to the products featured in this video:

Help support the channel, buy using my Amazon links
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and your cost is exactly the same.

00:00 Intro
1:18 What is GDI or Gasoline Direct Injection
5:06 What issues does GDI carbon build up cause?
5:37 What can you do to reduce the carbon build up?
8:29 Using the CRC Intake Valve and Turbo Cleaner
10:53 Results from the CRC Intake Valve and Turbo Cleaner
12:59 How to properly clean the carbon from your intake valves.
16:58 Results from the zip tie cleaning process.
19:19 Does the engine run any better?
23:06 Outro

Disclaimer:
The information, demonstration and any content contained in this video is for informational purposes only. The user Repair Geek makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the effectiveness or safety of the contents of this video. In no way should the contents of the video, including the tools used, be repeated or tried by anyone. Viewers should only seek the help of a trained professional located at a licensed auto repair shop for any fix, modification, alteration, or any change to their vehicle. Repair Geek shall not be liable for any injury, damage, or loss to any person or property that may result from use of the tools, equipment, or any content contained in this video. In addition, there is no way to guarantee that the video is not altered or modified or is not in the final form submitted by Repair Geek and therefore, Repair Geek does not warrant that the video is unaltered or not modified. The links on this video to products are for informational purposes only and in no way are an endorsement of the safety or effectiveness of the particular product. Viewers understand that anything contained in this video or linked to or from this video is the sole responsibility of the viewer and in no way provides an express or implied warranty as to the safety or effectiveness of any linked tool, product, or video. Therefore, viewer agrees to release, waive, and discharge Repair Geek or anyone affiliated with Repair Geek, from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by the viewer, or to any property belonging to viewer, regardless of whether the loss is linked to the use of the contents of this video, or otherwise and regardless of whether such liability arises in tort, contract, strict liability, or otherwise, to the fullest extent allowed by law.

[RepairGeek]

Links to the products featured in this video:

Help support the channel, buy using my Amazon links
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases and your cost is exactly the same.

[Legotecho]

Using 30 zipties tied by one ziptie is the FACTORY recommended way for cleaning AUDI valves. They actually have a technical service bulletin just for that.

[DG-feht]

This dude is waaay underrated on YT! Great content and a plus since I have a 2014 Escape myself … PTU & RDU VIDEOS were awesome too. Thx bro!

[mecha-alex]

Bunched up zip ties and makita drill saved me several hours and cleaned a 5.3 gmc gdi, thank you! compressed air, Crc, wd40, and brake-clean.

[thechuckster]

Excellent video! You describe the entire process with accuracy, and you provide the different methods used for a job like this. Thank you! It's folks like yourself who make our lives easier when it comes to working on our cars.

[troypierce]

Thank you for your honesty. I wish more people were like you!👍👍 God bless!

[scottp]

After watching your video I pulled the intake manifold off our 2015 2.0l ecoboost Escape with 96k miles to replace a leaking oil separator. Intake valves were carbon coated but like your vehicle, not terrible. The carbon was also soft and moist so I spent about an hour and mechanically scraped them with only pick tools. The hook tool and one that looks like a tiny golf club were the most useful. Used compressed air to clean out the removed carbon and called it a win. They weren’t perfect but definitely much better than before scraping. Like you I doubt I’ll ever need to do it again as the turbo will be toast long before the next 100k service. Thank you for the valuable information.

[laurenceho]

Thank you. This video is not only very informative, but I also love the honesty of the content creator. This actually helps me in making the correct decision. Thanks again.

[espedale]

This is by far the most honest and unbiased information presented on the subject of GDI carbon build-up that I've seen. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.

[PeterHernandez-lgeh]

Best explanation on gdi out there. I appreciate the time you took on this subject.

[applefordguy]

I just bought a 2015 with 114k on it from the Ford dealer I work at. I did order a can, just because, it definitely can't hurt! I believe the do a better job than the oe separator, as it pulls moisture out of the system as well as excess oil residue. Even in the shot you showed of the factory separator, oil was making it through the separator body. I am going to do the cleaning just for piece of mind. It runs just fine, but I own vehicles for the long haul and plus I want the experience. Being in the parts dept for over 20 years at a Ford dealer, we have never offered this as a service, and have never had a Ecoboost in for misfires caused by it. I am kind of surprised, as the more I research this, it does happen. Great videos, just found you today and now subbed to your channel. Thanks for the info!!

[mshawmi]

I always get excited when I see you have a new video, because I know I am going to learn something! My favorite part was when the job was done and you and your wife drove the car; both of you could not notice any difference! This type of information is priceless!!!!

[ryan-uzrw]

Great video and very good explanation of the “GDI problem”. And this confirms what I always thought about using the spray cleaners vs a mechanical cleaning. And zip ties, that’s a great idea.

[pmurphy]

best description of why carbon builds up on the internet. You did a great job!!!!

[sgcole]

I have enjoyed your videos. Clear and HONEST. I have subscribed and I will look forward to more unbiased discussions.

[richardepstein]

I'm running a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek Limited. First year for GDI for this 2.0 engine. Aside from replacing the PCV valve early, due to a recall, the only thing I have done is 4-5k oil changes, use only top-tier gas and when I'm driving it I try to be aggressive on the throttle since I am a very low mileage driver. IT starts and runs absolutely perfect!! Just turned 40k miles.

[sitori]

Your videos are among the best. Straightforward and easy to understand. Plus your personality and presentation is perfect. Thank You!!

[DarDarBanks]

I learned my lesson to use this from the get-go with my previous gasoline direct injection vehicle. I’ve been doing this every oil change, and my borescope shows my valves clean as a whistle (thank goodness) I also tend to use top-tier gas along with Chevron Techron complete fuel system cleaner since Honda has problems with their injectors. 😅 team Amsoil full synthetic oil here ✋

[LouJustlou]

Great idea! I had clogged egr ports on my Ford 2000 vintage 4.6 L. The actual ports on the upper intake are surprisingly small. I used a combination of intake cleaner and apiece if 1/8 inch cable chucked in a drill. I spun the cable so it unwound and was able to clean and burnish those passages. No CEL for 4 months now!

[garymcmullin]

A big thanks to you, very articulate, valuable presentation for car owners and DIY mechanics. Obviously your Escape had not reached the critical point, it looked gross but was still fully functional. That instills hope for me because up to now I have watched many videos on the subject and for the most part they approach this problem as going to be a disabling issue with very low mileage, I think a lot of it is just hype and misinformation. I came to the same conclusion about oil catch cans, to me they just cannot effectively treat the volume of circulating crankcase gases, just not large enough and the design not adequate, so they seem to me to be just a band aid, a feel good add on. It was good to hear that the later GDI designs have moved to lessen this problem. I suspect that most of the problems come from the usual suspects, allowing long intervals between oil changes and general lack of maintenance and it is important to note that factory recommended oil change intervals are too long.