Carbon deposits are inevitable and many automotive professionals don’t take them seriously because they consider carbon to just be a part of engine operation. But when left untreated, carbon buildup can cost vehicle owners more at the pump, and lead to expensive and labor-intensive repairs.
What are carbon deposits?
The carbon deposit in an internal combustion engine is a harmful substance that forms on inside surfaces like an engine crankcase, pistons and piston rings, intake and intake valves, as well as internally and externally on fuel injectors. The substance is formed when oil, oil vapor, and fuel react with hot surface temperatures, extreme pressures, and oxidation. All of which are ever-present in internal combustion engines.
The science: The formation process can be generalized as the polymerization of carbon molecules into long-chain structures deposited on the surface of an engine component.
In reality, these deposits reduce the efficiency of your engine and can mechanically hinder the engine components.
Aren't modern engines more efficient?
First, when is an internal combustion engine the most fuel efficient?
In this case, I’m not talking about miles per gallon. I am talking about power (torque) produced by a given air-fuel mixture under a specific engine load and engine speed. This is called brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC).
Simply put, the internal combustion engine is more efficient at low engine speed and high load situations. While the BSFC will be slightly different for every engine, generally speaking, the above statement is true.
What about new, fuel efficient engine technologies?
Next, looking at modern power plants inside vehicles today, we see gasoline direct injection (GDI), smaller, downsized, turbocharged engines. Gasoline direct injection offers more control of when and how much fuel is sprayed, which means it can produce maximum torque to do the work necessary to move the vehicle down the road.
Additionally, 8 and 10-speed transmissions squeeze every bit of power out of the smallest amount of engine displacement as possible by balancing a low engine speed and high engine load. All of these technologies are great at keeping the engine operating close to, or within its brake specific fuel consumption sweet spot (most fuel efficient range).
The same holds true for combustion engines in hybrid electric vehicles. In fact, the on-off cycling of HEV gasoline engines creates the ideal environment for deposits to form and heat-soak, building on internal surfaces.
Why do carbon deposits form in modern engines?
As mentioned above, when an engine operates near its most efficient BSFC, it is under a very high load. When engines are under high load, they operate at much higher temperatures. Under this condition for an extended period, the engine and engine compartment become saturated with heat.
We know from defining a carbon deposit that it is produced mainly from the interaction of heat. When we put all of the pieces together, it makes sense that carbon deposits form in modern engines.
1. They operate more efficiently under heavy loads.
2. Therefore, they produce more heat during operation.
3. The heat interacts with unburned fuel vapor, evaporated engine oil, and engine oil itself to form carbon deposits.
How to address carbon deposits in customer engines?
- Keep changing oil at OEM recommended intervals. But remember, many vehicle owners are operating their vehicles under what should be considered extreme conditions. In these cases, extended oil change intervals are too long.
- Use a high-quality full synthetic oil and an oil additive to reduce oil oxidation and limit the number of deposits from that source.
- Recommend they use a top-tier fuel. You can find a list of service stations that participate in top-tier fuel programs online.
- Educate your customers about the value of a preventive maintenance program. There are methods of cleaning carbon from the induction system, fuel injectors, and combustion chambers that incorporate special tools and fluids specifically formulated to dissolve carbon deposits so they can be expelled from the engine.
Key Takeaways
1. Prevent carbon deposits from forming
2. Help customers avoid expensive carbon-related repairs
3. Add carbon deposit removal to the list of required preventive vehicle maintenance tasks
Paul Garcia
BG Proving Ground Manager
Paul Garcia has over 17 years of experience in the automotive industry. He is an ASE Certified Master Technician, Volkswagon/Audi Master Technician, and Certified Advanced Diagnostic Technician. Paul has been with BG for five years and currently manages the Proving Ground.