VASK Forum (VW Audi SportKlub of NZ)

GENERAL => Technical Stuff => Topic started by: McDoof on April 13, 2017, 01:36:51 PM

Title: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: McDoof on April 13, 2017, 01:36:51 PM
Anyone tried it?
http://www.enginecarbonclean.co.nz/
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: DTM on April 14, 2017, 08:32:47 AM
I don't know about this particular method but but in S.A a company called Carbon Doctor have been doing carbon cleaning for a number of years with great results. My DTM had a carbon clean from them the valves were caked up after clean they looked bran new. DTM also ran smoother and felt stronger was money well spent for around $250 if I convert.

This is who I used. www.carbondoctor.co.za
Different process.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: schattenblau on April 14, 2017, 11:19:53 AM
colour me skeptical on using hydrogen to blast away carbon buildup

;D

carbondoctor on the other hand uses a proven media cleaning methodology.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: Gordo on April 14, 2017, 08:36:56 PM
Agreed, only way I could see it working is if the hydrogen burned and the water/steam cleaned the components - I know water injection is supposed to help keep the engine internals clean.
That said, as petroleum fuels are primarily made up of carbon-hydrogen molecules that burn to form carbon dioxide and water vapour, I'm not sure about the difference?

However, if it works, it works, so who cares how it does so?
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: McDoof on April 15, 2017, 09:43:04 AM
I tried to have a look into the walnut shell blasting method a while ago but it seems there are no options in NZ. Only BMWorkshop do it and only for BMW cars it seems.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: DTM on April 15, 2017, 11:11:24 AM
Pity that BMW are the only ones with the walnut solution. The TFSI motors are the worst in carbon buildup vs other manufacturer motors.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: Gordo on April 15, 2017, 07:17:00 PM
Any of you looked at the Seafoam (https://seafoamsales.com/sea-foam-motor-treatment/) stuff, seems to be quite popular in Yankland?
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: Fizz on April 18, 2017, 08:04:38 AM
Quote from: Gordo on April 15, 2017, 07:17:00 PM
Any of you looked at the Seafoam (https://seafoamsales.com/sea-foam-motor-treatment/) stuff, seems to be quite popular in Yankland?
I've used seafoam regularly in my mk4 and then mk5. you do notice a slight improvement but its short lived. best thing to do is have it cleaned properly, and fit a water meth kit (so say the yanks) or catch can.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: GLIDN on April 18, 2017, 10:16:29 AM
Quote from: McDoof on April 15, 2017, 09:43:04 AM
I tried to have a look into the walnut shell blasting method a while ago but it seems there are no options in NZ. Only BMWorkshop do it and only for BMW cars it seems.

been looking into the validity of acquiring the walnut blasting tools and offering this as a service. But so far costs are still prohibiting the tool purchase.
Due to not being crazy busy with carbon cleaning yet.

This is why we are still perform manual carbon cleaning on all the cars we do.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: McDoof on April 18, 2017, 10:54:55 AM
The BMW one is not too bad.
Probably engine specific fitting on that
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-bmw-parts/carbon-blaster-tool/81292208034

Or this one for around US$500 if you got VAG Specific, otherwise a few more $$$ to cover other engine models.
http://thegermantooltruck.com/product/gt-nblaster/

Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: AudiA3 on May 02, 2017, 08:40:34 PM
Quote from: McDoof on April 13, 2017, 01:36:51 PM
Anyone tried it?
http://www.enginecarbonclean.co.nz/

Mcdoof, Did you eventually use them?
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: McDoof on May 02, 2017, 08:44:08 PM
Nope. Still looking into it
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: McDoof on May 02, 2017, 11:03:04 PM
The more I look into this, the less likely it becomes I would even try it. The people advertising it and those posting on forums in favour of it talk about stuff coming out of the exhaust. I'd go as far as to say, those posting on forums saying they have seen huge improvement in mileage, noise and performance, are fake/planted reviews.  :-[ All I know is I have a turbo and some catalytic converters between my engine and the tail pipe. I'd hate to see what those would look like after meeting up with all of my intake carbon. I bet my turbo would love some carbon for breakfast.
Anyway. I've ordered a $8 endoscope to have a look down intake to see how bad it looks. If it looks like my old GDi Legnum did, it's time for a manual clean
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: dummer on May 08, 2017, 11:36:03 PM
I gave it a go last week because I lost my triple square 10 and I'm over taking the header off to clean(it's the amount of tissue I need to use make me feel bad).
It did feel the car pull stronger/crisper off the line but the turbo noise became more noticeable than before. They said it will improve mileage but I haven't driven enough to tell.
Impression is it may be like sea foam which is only a short term thing. But time will tell.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: McDoof on May 20, 2017, 02:56:01 PM
Got a cheap endoscope and had a peek into my intake. Looks like I'll be giving it a clean soon. It looks pretty dirty in there.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: dummer on June 16, 2017, 10:18:53 AM
how are you going to clean it?
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: McDoof on June 20, 2017, 06:38:32 PM
Manually. Remove the intake then scrub and pick it clean.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: Gordo on June 20, 2017, 08:46:25 PM
Oven cleaner?
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: jpmeikle on June 21, 2017, 06:40:38 PM
We have just  started using hydrogen/oxygen for  carbon cleaning in Wellington.
The machine is from taiwan and beautifully built.
We can be found in contacts under  www.carbonclean.co.nz/contact-us/
The process works very well as hydrogen and oxygen atoms are smaller than carbon
therefore, gently clean away the areas affected by carbon.
There are some engines prone to heavy contamination  therefore, we recommend
a 2 step process. 1. chemically injecting an atomised spray  and 2. finishing with the
gas (hydrogen/oxygen). Results have been great to date and we have done a good
range of audi/vw product.   walnut blasting is effective however,it is only treating the intake.
Our process completely cleans the intake manifold. valves,pistons,injector face and combustion
chamber,turbo which are  cleaned  gently to restore what has been  incrementally lost.
We therefore restore and gain back power and fuel efficiency !.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: Gordo on June 25, 2017, 10:56:07 AM
If it works, it works and I wish you well - but pseudo-science, and incorrect "science" at that as a carbon atom is smaller than an oxygen atom*, doesn't instill confidence.

*http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XC6ZApteL04/T0PQJILFnaI/AAAAAAAAFoA/KJT83aXTDaw/s1600/periodic+table.png
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: schattenblau on June 25, 2017, 02:10:56 PM
depends how you define "bigger"

iirc high school chemistry...

going from left to right elements have more atomic mass, so oxygen wins

but carbon has a larger atomic radius - size, so a win for carbon

>:D

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch7/size.html#cov
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: Gordo on June 26, 2017, 12:56:55 AM
Interesting, things have moved on since my high school chemistry lessons from (way) back in the day - I would had assumed the outer valance shells to have been the same size - or slightly larger, if anything, due to a larger nucleus.
[edit] More protons, stronger attraction to the electrons, maybe? Anything on isotopes being the same or different?
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: deedub on June 26, 2017, 04:53:34 PM
https://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=117463 (https://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=117463)
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: McDoof on June 28, 2017, 09:35:17 PM
As previously suspected. Hydrogen carbon clean does sweet FA for intake carbon build up on a direct injection motor.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: schattenblau on June 28, 2017, 10:42:33 PM
thanks for the precis.
i wasn't in the mood to red through the entire thread.

;D

Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: Naekyr on July 31, 2017, 11:52:20 AM
Quote from: Gordo on April 15, 2017, 07:17:00 PM
Any of you looked at the Seafoam (https://seafoamsales.com/sea-foam-motor-treatment/) stuff, seems to be quite popular in Yankland?

asked an experienced mechanic about this, reckons it's not good but mechanics will do it anyway if the customers wants the cheap option, it does apparently do the job however it may also reduce reliability and longevity, in particular the around the seals - an example I heard was a customer with a holden commodore who came in wanting the quick cheap method - sea foam was used, 10,000km later the customer came back complaining that the engine is using oil
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: jpmeikle on September 09, 2017, 07:58:26 PM
Quote from: McDoof on June 28, 2017, 09:35:17 PM
As previously suspected. Hydrogen carbon clean does sweet FA for intake carbon build up on a direct injection motor.
I disagree, i have seen a  gti 's intake after having a pre-chem treatment and hydrogen treatment and it most certainly does
have a cleaning effect on the  throttle body,combustion chamber, valves,injector face,spark plugs  and oxy sensor.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: dummer on September 09, 2017, 11:45:24 PM
Quote from: McDoof on May 20, 2017, 02:56:01 PM
Got a cheap endoscope and had a peek into my intake. Looks like I'll be giving it a clean soon. It looks pretty dirty in there.
Are you opening it to clean it? can you do a before and after pic?
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: McDoof on September 11, 2017, 09:09:54 AM
I am planning on it yes. I will document my experience. At this point it will probably only happen over Christmas though when I can afford to have the car off the road for more than just the weekend.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: dummer on September 11, 2017, 03:51:35 PM
looking forward to see it.
Do you know any shop who do them?
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: GLIDN on September 11, 2017, 04:59:31 PM
Quote from: dummer on September 11, 2017, 03:51:35 PM
looking forward to see it.
Do you know any shop who do them?

We do it for customers, we are located on the north shore.
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: jpmeikle on September 28, 2017, 07:35:30 PM
in Auckland , mat and clint barber specialise in this process.
(king st grey lynn.  www.carbonclean.co.nz  ph 021  999 338
Wellington , john on 027 733 7270
the engine is  done in situ while running.
some require a chem pre treatment followed by the hydrogen / oxy treatment.
A few still need manifold removal due to there initial level of contamination however,
from there they can go on a  maintainence program using the hydrogen treatment.
(E.G. RS4)

Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: jpmeikle on September 28, 2017, 07:46:21 PM
insofar as the periodic table goes  hydrogen is the smallest atom being no.1   carbon is  no.6.
that said the hydrogen softens up the carbon and allows it to be removed by gas flow inside the
engine.
There has been numerous dyno tests been done by  matt and clint barber proving the concept.
I gather Audi a few years back were running hydrogen through some of there engines at Le Man.
upon achieving a podium finish the engines were opened for inspection and found to be near spotless !.


Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: Spotme on February 02, 2018, 04:26:06 PM
I realise this is an old topic, but I wonder if Subaru have a product to help with this.

Subaru have an upper cylinder cleaner product that is a specified part of the maintenance schedule for the turbo'd engines (not sure about the NA's). It is a foam that you spray into the intake.

https://www.subaru.com.au/parts/catalogue/fuel-system-carbon-maintenance
Title: Re: Hydrogen Carbon Clean?
Post by: The Red Warrior on February 02, 2018, 09:19:14 PM
I bought a can of that stuff. The sales people said the mechanics there go through loads of it. 
It did blow some stuff out the exhaust but my car tends to do that at start up anyway as it is catless.
I'm not sure if it made things any better or not really. I don't think I'd get again. I'm more likely to just do a manual clean myself if I feel the need in future.