Carbon Cleaner for Top End - Sprayed in

you could drive it across a western state at 130mph for a few hours, I expect that would do it. Beyond that I only had the water suggestion.

 

Instead of water try hydrogen peroxide

 

I believe the stuff FNA dealers use is something from General Motors dealers called "Top Cleaner". It is also sold under the name "Piston and Ring Cleaner".

Try a google search for "GM Top Cleaner" for instructions on use.

 

I've never tried it, but I understand Seafoam is for exactly what you want. Apparently you slowly add it to a running engine and the carbon comes out the exhaust.

 

Marvel Mystery Oil will work also.

 

+1 on the Seafoam

 

Not sure why your concern about some carbon, some of which is normal in any engine. Are you having drivability problems? Loss of power? Bad compression in cylinders? Engine rough on idle/acceleration? Bad gas mileage (of course, one should expect good mileage with a Ferrari)? If you still wish to de carb, I guess nothing wrong with that, just done hope for unrealistic results, like carbon actually staying out of your engine, or even getting any of the carbon out at all.

Watch out for the claims made by these brands of elixirs. Claims which are vague, or even outright incorrect. For ecample, Seafoam states on the label the actual words "dissolves carbon", which is scientifically not proven. MMo has the nerve to claim it "lubricates fuel injectors", and even implores that one needs to lubricate FI's.......

 

I bought a kit from the BMW dealer about 15 years ago. My car has carbs, so I rigged up a jury rig with drip irrigation parts into each carb throat. IIRC there were 2 components, first you poured one in, then the other. I don't know if it is still available, but you could check the BMW forums like Roadfly and Bimmerforums. The car still runs great, and doesn't burn oil, so at least it didn't do any long-term damage.

 

I missed a shift to second gear in a curve once, the Ferrari went to 10,500RPM..

I looked in the mirror and saw a LOT of glowing carbon leave my valves, that night...

NOT recommended!

The engine did stumble a moment, then caught up again....

Hi Pippo!
Where ya been???

 

Many years ago, when I was working at a Fiat dealership, we used to use the "top end" cleaner on cars with low miles that had suspiciously low compression readings. Not on engines that had obviously burned valves, but with carbon build-up showing on the plugs. Sometimes the results were amazing, the readings would pop right back to factory specs. But good golly, that stuff would produce a lot of smoke out the tail pipe! I mean, it would drift around in a huge cloud for at least 100 feet around the shop door, and last for half an hour. That was 25 years ago, I don't know if the same product is still available.

 

Seafoam, just don't stand behind the car because it does produce a steamy carbon cloud.

 

I think the main benefit from most of these products that are sprayed or dripped into the intake is the (if it works) loosening up and/or removing any carbon residue baked onto the back of the intake valves. I know in the 80s there was an issue with BMWs and other makes. I think they have improved the fuel by now so it isn't the problem it once was. If you have a lot of carbon in the combustion chambers, you probably have something worn or out of adjustment

 

Yup, that is what the "GM Top Cleaner" does...

 

Hey, ol buddy! Ive been kinda well, tooooooo busy (not good). PM sent now...

 

x2

Most of these things will usually only get the carbon off the back sides of the valves not the pistons because they just ignite when in the cylinders.

Being an ex mechanic and engine builder I've found best results with 1 of 2 ways. (with out taking the engine apart)

1st way is water through a vacuum hose, must hold the throttle steady and not add too much to cause a hydrolock condition or damage will result. I had a 96 Camaro with about 550 hp with low compression. I knew no one had decarboned the engine in the 60k miles it had on it and it was having low compression on one cylinder. I ran some water through it but it didn't fix the low compression concern so I had to tear the engine apart. Once the heads were off the pistons looked brand new the water had steam cleaned them. The problem ended up being a burnt compression ring from too much nitrous.

Second method is 1st to run some top cleaner through it to get the carbon out of the intake and valves, do it several times to make sure you get everything out. Then take the spark plugs out and fill up each cylinder with some sort of carbon cleaner like seafoam ect... and let it sit for a couple days while keeping it topped up then turn the engine over with the fuel/ignition disconnected to pump it all out of the spark plug hole. Change the oil at this point because a lot of the solvent will get past the rings. Then put some transmission fluid in the cylinders and turn it over a couple times to lube the rings/cylinder walls, reinstall the spark plugs and reconnect the ignition and fuel, crank it up outside because it's going to smoke pretty bad (make sure you cleaned up all the solvent/trans fluid that came out of the spark plug holes prior to cranking it up).


Note: I would not try any of this on Nikasil blocks, that stuff does not like gas more less anything else solvent wise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikasil

 

I used to use water in a carbed Lotus when I was a kid. not sure how you would do it on an injected car.

It was pretty amazing - just a small spray of water down the carb throat, keep the car at 3k rpm, and boom, pop, boom... big cloud of black soot.. shoots out the tail pipe.

 

Coke bottle full of water, disconnect a vacuum line from something opposite the engine, put the end of the brake line in the water. Then be prepared to clear lean and multiple cylinder miss fire codes.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but I didn't think '80-'85 injected F-cars had codes.