Carbon Build Up

[myshtern]

My Civic has just under 91k miles.
I am not certain yet, but I dont think gas my mileage is where it should be.

Do Civics usually aqquire carbon build up before 100k miles?

Do cars in general, at this altitude, aqquire more carbon build up?

EDIT-
While we're on the topic of my car, I have another question.
How fast does a Civic usually cool down from normal operating temp.?
Mine is annoying because I will drive the car around, put it in my garage, then 2 hours later I have to warm it up again.
Do I just have some sort of factory freak cooling system?

[wild.irish]

what's your mpg numbers?

[wild.irish]

then 2 hours later I have to warm it up again.
after 3 hours engine is totally cold, as considered by most manuals. so 2 hours should be when you also need to start to warm it up

[myshtern]

I need to go through another tank of gas to be sure, but I think its around 24 mpg and I have been driving very conservatively.

David gave me the idea of using a different gas station, which is what I will try next.

[David]

our engines do have a carbon build up problem, just get a can of that BP144 (somthing like that) stuff at Napa and run it in your gas. I had low compression in one of my cylinders before I did that, now its fine.

where are you getting your gas at? try getting a tank of mid or premium grade from Conoco, shell or BP

[myshtern]

our engines do have a carbon build up problem, just get a can of that BP144 (somthing like that) stuff at Napa and run it in your gas. I had low compression in one of my cylinders before I did that, now its fine.

where are you getting your gas at? try getting a tank of mid or premium grade from Conoco, shell or BP

Thats kinda wierd, doesnt carbon build up increase compression by a bit?

I've been using 87 octane at Diamond Shamrock.

Maybe carbon buildup is my problem.

[hsunchen]

My Civic has just under 91k miles.
I am not certain yet, but I dont think gas my mileage is where it should be.


What model Civic, what engine?

Obviously the smaller/weaker the engine and the lighter the car, generally the better the gas mileage.

My '89 CRX when it was mostly stock, all highway driving - 38 to 42 mpg.

Now, same car, same block (D16A6) but slightly bored out (1654 vs 1590 cc) with a high-compression pistons but untuned - 33 to 36 mpg.

'93 Civic hatch with B18C1, tuned - only 28 to 32 mpg, mostly highway driving.

[myshtern]

Stock D16Z6 in a 95 Civic EX

I found this article:
http://www.superhonda.com/tech/carbon_cleaner_treatment_how-to.html
Why do they say not to use it on engines with over 150k miles?
Do they instruct you to stick a tube into the intake manifold and shove it towards the end of the manifold?

[STIBungy]

24mpg? WTF? My GSR got 29-30 average and 32 mpg highway.

My B16 hatch is getting roughly 28-31mpg average.

[David]

my turbo d16 gets 30 around town :D

[ryanman]

I could tell you how to get rid of that carbon build up using some ATF, water and a piece of vacuum line but I don't think you want every fire dept within a 20 mile range at your front door step after you're done.

[STIBungy]

Run nitrous a few times and carbon deposits no more!

[ryanman]

Go to Honnda Stuff and get a can of BG144 and put it in your tank, it does wonders.

[myshtern]

I will just buy some sea foam

[ryanman]

Run nitrous a few times and carbon deposits no more!
Just go for a very spirited drive up in the mountains while keeping the revs really high and that'll get rid of the carbon.

[myshtern]

Tomorrow, I am going to sand blast my spark plugs get rid of this carbon shit.
Anything else I should do?

[myshtern]

What is BG144?
Is it the same as Sea Foam?

Everyone recommends sea foam.

[myshtern]

ttt

[ryanman]

BG144K is a fuel additive for dirty injectors, carbon build up, fuel line cleaner, conditioner, etc. It is the ONLY product I've found that actually does work. Honnda Stuff keeps it in stock, they're at 71st and Lowell.

[Redteg]

Sand blast your spark plugs?
Get new ones

[myshtern]

Sand blast your spark plugs?
Get new ones
Sand blasting the tips completely cleans them.
Same effect as buying new ones except for free.

[Skaterkid]

That's what I do. 15 min of boost = no more carbon. And Alex, carbon will knock compression down if it keeps the valves from closing. If it is just on the piston it will up compression.

And if you've ever sandblasted before you'd know why that's a stupid idea. I wouldn't do it unless you wanted a bunch of dirt to fuck up your piston walls.

[RiceNmotioN]

i though its BG 44k....its a real good Product and it helps alot....i also use BG MOA and Quick Clean...

Go to Honnda Stuff and get a can of BG144 and put it in your tank, it does wonders.

[myshtern]

That's what I do. 15 min of boost = no more carbon. And Alex, carbon will knock compression down if it keeps the valves from closing. If it is just on the piston it will up compression.

And if you've ever sandblasted before you'd know why that's a stupid idea. I wouldn't do it unless you wanted a bunch of dirt to fuck up your piston walls.
0o00ohh, it might be that with the valves.
When the engine runs I hear the valves tapping and whatnot a little more than on most cars. That would probably explain it.

I've sandblasted several sets of plugs before and never had any problems.
My auto teacher told me he has been doing it for the last 30 years and hasnt had any problems.
There isnt any dirt or sand on the plugs when I put them in.

[ryanman]

Maybe it is 44k, hell I don't remmeber. 144k = 44k something like that.

[Skaterkid]

And I've worked at a powdercoating shop where I've seen little bits of sand fuck up whole projects. You may think there's none, but there is. I'd rather just spend the 8 bucks and get a fresh set.

And it is BG44k.

[RiceNmotioN]

yea it may be but if your tech said go have sex wit a cat.. would you...? j/p
..sandblast is not alway the greatest thing... even with worn down tip can cause you to not get that Voltage Or spark to the motor...

0o00ohh, it might be that with the valves.
When the engine runs I hear the valves tapping and whatnot a little more than on most cars. That would probably explain it.

I've sandblasted several sets of plugs before and never had any problems.
My auto teacher told me he has been doing it for the last 30 years and hasnt had any problems.
There isnt any dirt or sand on the plugs when I put them in.

[rmcdaniels]

I've used Sea Foam and it worked great. I siphoned it in through my MAP sensor hole in the TB, plus I put some in the tank. The tops of the pistons went from flat black to shiny and new looking. Compression went up too. It does smoke like crazy when you're using it, but that stops after a bit. And buy new plugs, they cost like $2;Slap:

[Skaterkid]

Let me just say that I worked as a sandblaster, and it is nearly impossible to get all the sand out of something you blast. I'd bet there's more than a few grains sitting near the electrode or in the threads, or in any other crevice, clinging by static charge. Then you run your engine and drop those grains it. And they will fuck up your cylinder walls, no doubt.

[Weston]

sandblasting spark plugs... why!? You're just wearing them down more and risking sand in your engine. Spend the $5 and buy a new set.

[myshtern]

OK, so my spark plugs were gapped at like over 2mm
They had a bunch of carbon on them so I figured the engine was just as bad.
So I just bought new ones because I dont those have been changed since the 1995.

Then I poured in a bunch of Sea Foam and holy moly, my exhaust = chimney.
I practically smoked out three classrooms that were next to the auto tech lot.
I never thought my honda could every output so much smoke.

I also cleaned the air filter, so that might help too.

Hopefully my gas mileage will improve.

[STIBungy]

Your poor cat and O2 sensor.

[myshtern]

The can said O2 sensor safe

I dont really care about the cat

[Talus]

SeaFoam smokes so much.... You can cover a city block in thick white smoke while using it.

[Mark_H]

Do you have a K&N Filter? If not, how did you clean yours?
M

[rmcdaniels]

He sandblasted it.

[ryanman]

He sandblasted it.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAA

[myshtern]

He sandblasted it.
lol, close

I sorta cleaned it, not very well
I just shot compressed air out the back of it.

I did see a difference though.

[Mark_H]

lol, close

I sorta cleaned it, not very well
I just shot compressed air out the back of it.

I did see a difference though.

Thats what I thought. Your whipping out some crazy redneck tune-up techniques that I would recomend against. I heard that compressed air on ANY air filter, including K&N(even from the inside out) is bad. It damages the material ever so slightly and actually pushes more dirt into the filter material itself.
Just an FYI I've heard several times.
M

[RiceNmotioN]

hmm i think i need to do a sea foam clean up to....

[rmcdaniels]

A new filter costs $11-$12, I'd just buy a new one.

So what method do you use for cleaning your oil filter when you do oil changes?

[Dustin]

Seafoam

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=002668


BG products, while easily attainable are at the bottom of the list when it comes to additives.

[Skaterkid]

A new filter costs $11-$12, I'd just buy a new one.

So what method do you use for cleaning your oil filter when you do oil changes?
Water!

[myshtern]

Thats what I thought. Your whipping out some crazy redneck tune-up techniques that I would recomend against. I heard that compressed air on ANY air filter, including K&N(even from the inside out) is bad. It damages the material ever so slightly and actually pushes more dirt into the filter material itself.
Just an FYI I've heard several times.
M
You are probably right, about damaging the material.
I think it did clean the filter though, because I see a difference, its whiter.

Worst comes to worst I will have to buy an new filter, which is cheap so I'm not losing much.

I bought Sea Foam at checkers for $5.00

[wild.irish]

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=002668
did anyone noticed a funnel made out of rolled paper in picture 3 and 4? ;)

[exciv2000]

I think I need some BG or seafoam too. My car doesn't seem as peppy as it once did, and I hear a lot of valve noise too... probably needs a valve job but it hasn't reached 60K yet.

[myshtern]

What car is it?

[ryanman]

I think he has like a 98 or 99 EX, previously s/c'd and nitrous I think, don't remember.

[rmcdaniels]

I think I need some BG or seafoam too. My car doesn't seem as peppy as it once did, and I hear a lot of valve noise too... probably needs a valve job but it hasn't reached 60K yet.
Have you checked the clearances?

[exciv2000]

nope, not my type of job at this point, too busy with other shit to worry about cars. However, I did notice that my MPG has been dropping, from 35 a few months ago to 34, 33, 32, 30, down to a now 25. I think part of it is this crap gas we get in the winter here, but I'm sure that's only part of it. During that time, valve noise has increased. That's with my foot in it maybe 1% of the time, and that's usually on highway on ramps. My driving habits have not changed in 4 years.

[rmcdaniels]

Civic engine valve clearances don't auto-adjust, they have to be manually adjusted from time to time as the engine wears. It's a pretty quick/easy job, I think I paid a guy $75 to do it before I got the right guages to do it myself.