Best way to remove carbon deposits

Short of removing cylinder heads and scraping the carbon deposit off the
combustion chamber surfaces, is there some gentler method that is also not
harmful to the CC? What are the profs using? The stores are full with
various additives but I don't know if one could trust their claims.

Thanks,
Bill

 

Ah, the Italian tuneup. Take her out and run the piss out of
her--sustained high speeds and RPMs.

Seriously, Techron works. So does the V-Power additive package that
Shell puts into its 93 octane.

You'll want something that goes in the gas tank that cleans out the
whole fuel and combustion system. I know that several tanks of V-Power
will do wonders.

 

and still do the italian tune-up. it clears carbon deposits
marvelously. full throttle, steepest fastest longest uphill you can
find. several times. hondas love that.

i did some head work on my civic a couple of years ago. i'd been
flogging the poor thing to los angeles and las vegas from san francisco
at high speed for a year. it was so clean inside, you could see the
metal of the piston tops!

 

Thanks guys for the tip but here is my problem with your suggestions:
The main reason I want to get rid off the carbon build-up is the pinging in
the pistons when the engine runs hot and hard. What you are suggesting would
make the pinging probably intolerable during the "Italian tune-up".
Besides, wouldn't that also damage the catalytic converter (CC)? How about
any dark exhaust coming out of the muffler during the process? That might
almost invite the cops to pull me over, no? Back in '80s I once tried one
of those cleaning additives by pouring it in a 4-barrel carburator and boy,
what a smoke that created for a while behind my Cutlass! (That was before
CC.) I would not want to go through that experience again.

By the way, I usually fill up with Chevron gas that does contain the Techron
additive but I don't see any noticeable reduction in pinging. So what gives?

BF

 

In the old days of carbureted vehicles, you could use water injection
which literally "steam cleans" the combustion chamber. I have no idea
whether you could do so in a modern fuel injected computerized engine
though.

JT

 

if you're getting detonation, for a honda, the most likely cause is
excessive carbon build-up, the plugs are the wrong grade, or the timing
is out. it could be an excessively skimmed head if the head's been off,
but that's not so likely.

check timing, [with the timing reset jumper in place], make sure the
plugs are good, i.e. just change them anyway, use ngk or denso, then do
the italian thing. don't worry about the catalyst - it's made to
withstand that kind of treatment.

if that doesn't work, report back.

 

That was COMPLETELY different than what we're talking about, using
Techron in the fuel tank.

 

Well, the car has 264 K miles in it, so I assume carbon buildup is to be
expected after that much use, even with Chevron gas and proper tune-up.

This car has been maintained per Honda's schedule, so I don't know ...

Bill

 

not necessarily - depends how it's driven. it's not a joke, running the
engine at high speed, full throttle, really does burn out most of the
carbon because the engine components reach a temperature where this can
happen. there's no reason an engine at 500k miles can't be cleaner than
an engine that's slugged about for only 50k.

the catalyst can most definitely take the heat if the engine is running
properly. the only time you have problems with a catalyst is if there
is fuel contamination or excess hydrocarbon load like a missing plug or
a leaking injector. and even then, only after a prolonged period.

 

| is there some gentler method that is also not harmful to the CC?
Pump ozone in, to oxidise carbon to CO2.

| various additives but I don't know if one could trust their claims.
None approved by AAA ? Is Redex 1 of these ?

 

that's a classic!!!

newsflash for you chea - O2 oxidizes carbon too. especially when the
carbon is warm.

tell you what though - why don't you pump in chlorine gas instead?
that's an even stronger oxidizer. i figure you're not too worried about
your health since you seem to think ozone is a good idea.