EcoBoost warning.

[GASWAGON]

Was just doing some you tube surfing for the EcoBoost 1.0 and this clip came up.....Its about the EcoBoost engines having excessive carbon build up behind inlet valves (common on DI engines) due to the direct injection and also the turbochargers are overrunning from excessively rich mixtures as a result of the carbon issues.

Just thought I would put this out ther as a small warning for future EB owners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0irwbwpuEbQ

[spvd02]

Maybe running proper fuel (i.e. 98 RON) might prevent this issue. It's just as affordable anyway, due to better economy from advanced ignition timing. I wouldn't use anything else in a modern, technologically advanced engine, even if it supposedly can.

[Polyal]

I dont put anything less than 98 in my 15 year old windsor let alone a modern engine!

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by spvd02

Maybe running proper fuel (i.e. 98 RON) might prevent this issue. It's just as affordable anyway, due to better economy from advanced ignition timing. I wouldn't use anything else in a modern, technologically advanced engine, even if it supposedly can.

Agreed. And a good quality synthetic oil.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by spvd02

Maybe running proper fuel (i.e. 98 RON) might prevent this issue. It's just as affordable anyway, due to better economy from advanced ignition timing. I wouldn't use anything else in a modern, technologically advanced engine, even if it supposedly can.

Ye I reckon 98 would def help keep the intake system clean.

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by spvd02

Maybe running proper fuel (i.e. 98 RON) might prevent this issue. It's just as affordable anyway, due to better economy from advanced ignition timing. I wouldn't use anything else in a modern, technologically advanced engine, even if it supposedly can.

So there is a reason to use 98. In the past when someone says they use 98, they get a response saying "you should never use 98". But the reason is usually "because you don't need it".

[DJM83]

The ST's Ecoboost is very picky with oil.

But yeah mine never gets less than 98, but my rear bumper is always covered in exhaust carbon.

[mik]

I saw a bloke on the tube mentioned this popping up on some of the v6 engines as well, the question of different fuel formulas occurred to me to, I go along with the consensus that you don't run turbo engine on lower qaulity fuel regardless.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by mik

I saw a bloke on the tube mentioned this popping up on some of the v6 engines as well, the question of different fuel formulas occurred to me to, I go along with the consensus that you don't run turbo engine on lower qaulity fuel regardless.

O.k i have never heard of that before but I suppose it makes sense. Turbo engines need a clean burning fuel.

[XR Martin]

Trouble is with DI engines you dont get the 'wash' of fuel sprayed over the back of the inlet valves to clean away the carbon. This is common to all makes, which is why decarbonising the intakes is recommended at regular intervals.

Toyota's DI engines also have port injectors for this reason.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Trouble is with DI engines you dont get the 'wash' of fuel sprayed over the back of the inlet valves to clean away the carbon. This is common to all makes, which is why decarbonising the intakes is recommended at regular intervals.

Toyota's DI engines also have port injectors for this reason.

Well that makes sense Martin.

What is actually involved in decarbonising at a service???

[geckoGT]

How can fuel in a DI engine reduce carbon build up behind the valves? BMW DI engines have the same issue, oil gets to the back of the valves but because of the DI it is never washed off by the fuel spray as would happen in a PFI engine.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Trouble is with DI engines you dont get the 'wash' of fuel sprayed over the back of the inlet valves to clean away the carbon. This is common to all makes, which is why decarbonising the intakes is recommended at regular intervals.

Toyota's DI engines also have port injectors for this reason.

Beat me to it.

[timeout]

The crud is from egr and pcv recirculation.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by spvd02

Maybe running proper fuel (i.e. 98 RON) might prevent this issue. It's just as affordable anyway, due to better economy from advanced ignition timing. I wouldn't use anything else in a modern, technologically advanced engine, even if it supposedly can.

The problem is, you need to account for the worst case scenario / lowest common denominator.

Yes, 98 is suggested and you would be wise to use it all the time but what does the book say?? If you use 91 will it adjust to the new fuel? Is it E10 compliant?

When I had my Citroen in for a service once there was a big sign on the counter saying how E10 DOES NOT EQUAL regular 95 RON as a whole heap of customers were coming in with various issues after running E10 and assuming it was 99% match so 'good enough'..

Well there you go. Looked up the Fiesta Ecoboost 3cyl and the suggested fuel is regular 91 ULP.

[mcnews]

Good country run would probably fix all the issues

[Cobra]

The Alloytec V6's, especially the early ones, are a culprit for excessive carbon build up right through the engine. Very poor crankcase ventilation is the main reason why. I'm not familiar with Ford's EcoBoost engine, but having extensive experience with Audi/VW engines, they too suffer from carbon build up behind the valves on their DI engines. I've used before, and recommend, the Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner. It works a treat on VW/Audi engines, so I'm sure that it would be just as effective on all DI engines - Ford included.

[Boza]

I have had several Subaru's over the years and I always used the upper engine cleaner on them you could tell a significant difference when the valves and intake were starting to carbon up.
Put a can of the upper engine cleaner into it and all good again you can actually tell a difference in performance/economy/idle I did it every 20k on mine when I had them

[chookaradley]

Originally Posted by Boza

Would using an upper engine cleaner like subaru use at service intervals help?

You would think so Boza, thats what Subarus upper cylinder cleaner is for.

[Franco Cozzo]

Chuck on a water/methanol injection kit, cleans up inside the engine, valves and EGR systems quite nicely

[In Focus]

Originally Posted by Cobra

The Alloytec V6's, especially the early ones, are a culprit for excessive carbon build up right through the engine. Very poor crankcase ventilation is the main reason why. I'm not familiar with Ford's EcoBoost engine, but having extensive experience with Audi/VW engines, they too suffer from carbon build up behind the valves on their DI engines. I've used before, and recommend, the Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner. It works a treat on VW/Audi engines, so I'm sure that it would be just as effective on all DI engines - Ford included.

After stop-start driving to work and back all week, the first time I open up the 1.4TSI on the weekend creates a black smoke-screen. Some poor $#*&'s up my jacksy got a real coating one day, as I had not driven the car in anger for a fortnight...

[Jack960]

I'm amazed no one has come up with some sort of system that injects some form of fuel or solvent up stream in the air now and then so it cleans the inlet valves

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by Jack960

I'm amazed no one has come up with some sort of system that injects some form of fuel or solvent up stream in the air now and then so it cleans the inlet valves

Running injected LPG seems to be the only way around the problem. But that puts an extra cost onto car initially the same as your idea would.

[foxtrot3]

Originally Posted by EF_6

Running injected LPG seems to be the only way around the problem. But that puts an extra cost onto car initially the same as your idea would.

Hi. That creates other problems, the main one being that the factory fuel injectors get cooked with no fuel running through them to keep them cool. A DI engine should have a special "2 fuel injector" that can handle petrol and LPG. Cheers MD

[DJM83]

Not even remotely interested in LPG in any car, dont care what form it is.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Not even remotely interested in LPG in any car, dont care what form it is.

Whats wrong with LPG DJM???

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Jack960

I'm amazed no one has come up with some sort of system that injects some form of fuel or solvent up stream in the air now and then so it cleans the inlet valves

Water/Methanol injection kit, the nozzle goes in after the intercooler and before throttle body, its mainly a performance thing but its side effect is it cleans the valves and carbon deposits inside the engine.

It atomises water/methanol mix (30/70 or 50/50) through an injector running at high pressure, anywhere from 150-300psi.

[Sprintey]

Yes carbon builds up in the VW turbo petrols.

One way to stop is to run a fuel with less carbons in the chain eg ethanol BUT only if the engine is tuned/designed to run it. Ethanol engines run much cleaner.

I also know VW have created an ethanol only version of their 1.4 for the Brazilian market.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by EF_6

Whats wrong with LPG DJM???

Doesnt interest me at all. There is no way in hell id put any kind of LPG in my ST. Ive had a cpl LPG powered cars and id never do it again. Putting LPG or the likes in my current car is absolutely pointless when the fuel econ is pretty good as it sits. Even with a tune on my car it would be more beneficial to keep it on PULP. LPG in a hot hatch is useless IMO. But each to their own.

[Road_Warrior]

LPG really only makes sense for larger cars, if you're talking purely about economics. For performance (if you don't care about efficiency) then LPG wins over petrol - provided the appropriate system is used (i.e. liquid injection).