Decarbonator

[PharmerDan]

I took my 08 DSG GTI in for a routine service. On leaving, the service assistant offered to install a decarbonator which reduces CO2 emissions and increases fuel efficiency for $180.

Clearly it's something to fatten the wallets of the service department, but what are they actually installing? I'm sure the fuel efficiency benefits would be minimal. Has anyone else been offered this magical decarbonator?

[Greg Roles]

Did it look anything like this?

[PharmerDan]

I was hoping it to look more like this

[Idle]

It'll probably take the fizz out of driving.

[grtuned]

Ha ha ha good one!!!


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[NabzGTI]

decarboning is when they remove carbon build up from the valves, injectors etc. It is something that should be done every now and then (i would estimate every 60,000-70,000km or so). It does help to make your car run smoother particularly in our high combustion engines, however $180 is a total rip, you can buy a DIY kit which will cost you about $20 from autobarn (or google "seafoam")

The ones done at the stealership are pretty basic and isn't a proper carbon clean anyway. The best way to do this is open up the manifold and clean them properly. Alternatively, get yourself a catch can solution.

Check out the following link for more help.
VWVortex.com - Carbon build up cleaners for 2.0TSI

[kryten2001]

The ones done at the stealership are pretty basic and isn't a proper carbon clean anyway. The best way to do this is open up the manifold and clean them properly. Alternatively, get yourself a catch can solution.
VWVortex.com - Carbon build up cleaners for 2.0TSI

Catch can's are good but not a perfect solution (I don't think there is one). The catch can only works when the engine is under positive manifold pressure (if I recall) so it's not always working.

I've also seen some threads were people measured a car with and without a catch can, and the difference in carbon buildup was minimal.

I run a CC too, I just don't want that crap going back into my engine. The end result still appears somewhat inconclusive as to whether it assists in carbon buildup reduction, but it certainly keeps all that crap from being recycled back into your engine again (which can only be good).

Some use foam (why not it can't hurt), but ultimately a physical clean is probably the only way to go...

As others have said, I certainly wouldn't be buying this crap from a dealer though. If these magic bullets worked, I'm sure manufacturers would have had them on as OEM equipment for years.

[Greg Roles]

Depends on the engine cycle too, diesels for instance draw their oil vapor in pre turbo, so it is always working in the engines that need them most! Also the system in the "older" MKV FSI and the newer TSFI are very different in their PCV setup, but yes they work best under certain conditions. Still you can choose to have less crud, or full crud, and I know what I prefer, heck started the business because of it!

Foam sprays move the wet oily grunge reasonably well, but no short contact chemical is going to move baked on carbon....

[kryten2001]

yep I agree 100%, that's why I put my catch can in.

I think the BEST way to vent all crap is to vent to open air (obviously highly illegal and it makes a mess out of your engine bay). Even then the results aren't conclusive that it's the recirculated crap that causes the carbon build ups. The semi-scientific information I've seen was fairly conclusive that carbon build up and recirculated gases were completely unrelated.

But your dead right, I'd still rather not have that gunk recirculate. Some of the videos I've seen of catch cans being emptied makes me sick!

I do however think that most of the gunk you see in these cans is attributed to condensation etc in environments far harsher than ours (cold winters in the US/Europe for example).

But it's all good... It's like changing your oil every 6 months. Keeping everything clean can't be a bad thing.