3.3TT How are Stinger owners cleaning their valves on their GDI engines?

[General_Vodka]

What was the mileage when this was taken?

18k. now they are much cleaner

 

[Spaceme17]

Best way to clean back of valved besides walnut blasting is using a catch can and CRC GDI Intake Valve Cleaner. The CRC GDI cleaners is supposed to be specifically for direct injected engines: CRC GDI IVD™ Intake Valve Cleaner Instructional Video

 

[Luc343]

Try Premium 98 which has lots of detergent in the fuel to keep your values clean. Not sure about the quality of fuel in the US.

 

[evoMR]

Try Premium 98 which has lots of detergent in the fuel to keep your values clean. Not sure about the quality of fuel in the US.

We have top tier fuel here but it doesn't do anything for the backside of the intake valves as gas doesn't touch them

 

[Username]

Has anyone actually seen the intake valves on the Stinger? How many miles and how much carbon has built up? Pictures would do wonders.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Has anyone actually seen the intake valves on the Stinger? How many miles and how much carbon has built up? Pictures would do wonders.

@General_Vodka is your man.

 

[Toddasaurus]

Has anyone actually seen the intake valves on the Stinger? How many miles and how much carbon has built up? Pictures would do wonders.

Both @General_Vodka and I have snapped some pictures of the intake valves.

Here is one set of intake runners on my G70, this is at about 8,700 miles. Dual catch can was installed around 2,000 miles.



While a catch can will help with carbon buildup in the intake valves, it won't completely stop it.

For cleaning, I recommend CRC GDI intake valve cleaner, or something equivalent, and spray the valves directly (when closed) by removing the surge tank and intake manifold, then allow the spray to sit for a few minutes. It literally dissolves the carbon. Scrub them a little with a toothbrush, then suck up the excess fluid and wipe things down with a shop towel. Repeat for the rest of the cylinders. You will have to rotate the crank by hand to make sure the next set of valves are closed before spraying.

It's time consuming, but no special tools are needed, and it results in beautifully carbon-free valves.

 

[Username]

Hmmm seems like occ doesn’t really so much either if it’s still having carbon build up

 

[Luc343]

Hmmm seems like occ doesn’t really so much either if it’s still having carbon build up

I aggree the occ do not do much and the picture says it all.

I watched a video where the person install 2 occ's in series and then drove the car for 2000 miles and emptied both cans. To his surprise there was still gunk in the second can.

Looks like a manual clean is going to just be part of the maintance process. I'm sure dealer's will be happy to profit from this.

 

[5tinger]

For those without catch cans - would a proactive approach help with IVD? Such as shorter OCI with quality synthetic (low NOACK) and using premium gas?

 

[runner1]

I think less high rpm driving would carry less blow by, less contamination up top

 

[5tinger]

I think less high rpm driving would carry less blow by, less contamination up top

My stinger is kept between 1000-1500rpm for 90% of driving.
It has so much low end power.

 

[St1nger Guy]

I cleaned the valves in my Optima SX at 60K miles using lacquer thinner. It turns the carbon into liquid that you can just absorb with a shop towel. Rotate the crank using a wrench so that the valves are closed on the cylinder you want to clean, dump in some lacquer thinner, let it sit for a minute and then wipe it all out. I used some cheap toothbrushes to scrub to speed it along. All intake valve ports were shiny metal when I put it back together and it cost me like $12 and a few hours worth of work. If you have catch cans I don't believe you'll need to do this service for at least 60K miles though. You could do it every time you change out your plugs since the intake manifold needs to come off to change those anyway.

 

[Luc343]

I asked my Kia service centre about intake valve carbon build up and he looked at me like I was an idiot. Then he spent the next 5 minutes telling me not to put any chemicals into my engine as there is no need.

I'm starting the think these service people may not be the expects they are supposed to be...

Would like to hear from some stinger owners that actually have had carbon buildup problems from a stock engine and how they knew they had an issue.

 

[St1nger Guy]

KIA technician is an oxymoron. I took my Stinger to the dealer I bought it from for the first oil change and they lifted the car wrong crimping both side skirts and bending the metal seam along the length of the bottom of the car. Also scratched a z into my driver side door handle. On my Optima I had the BOV vented to atmosphere for the sweet sound but I also had a rotten egg smell under WOT. The technician at KIA said I was venting exhaust through the BOV and that is what was causing the smell. We know more about our cars than they do. If you talk to their shop people you'll get dumber. That's the one major drawback of buying a KIA.

 

[RonNSoCal]

Catch cans are illegal in CA, apparently. I do not know why, but am sure it has to do with the strict emissions laws here. Before anyone decides to blast the EPA which I admire greatly, be aware that I have lived in SoCal for nearly 70 years and remember when the smog was so thick you could not see the mountains that were just a mile away.

There is a good youtube video by a guy from Australia on the virtues of catch cans. He is a sarcastic old buzzard who argues there is little scientific evidence they help with carbon build up on heads and valves. And although it certainly appears they should help, he argues the jury is out on the matter. I thought about installing one and removing it whenever I have to have a smog test, but have decided to just pass on the idea for the moment.

 

[General_Vodka]

Catch cans are illegal in CA, apparently. I do not know why, but am sure it has to do with the strict emissions laws here. Before anyone decides to blast the EPA which I admire greatly, be aware that I have lived in SoCal for nearly 70 years and remember when the smog was so thick you could not see the mountains that were just a mile away.

There is a good youtube video by a guy from Australia on the virtues of catch cans. He is a sarcastic old buzzard who argues there is little scientific evidence they help with carbon build up on heads and valves. And although it certainly appears they should help, he argues the jury is out on the matter. I thought about installing one and removing it whenever I have to have a smog test, but have decided to just pass on the idea for the moment.

Yeah I am in Cali too. Time for some out of state registration

 

[Luc343]

KIA technician is an oxymoron. I took my Stinger to the dealer I bought it from for the first oil change and they lifted the car wrong crimping both side skirts and bending the metal seam along the length of the bottom of the car. Also scratched a z into my driver side door handle. On my Optima I had the BOV vented to atmosphere for the sweet sound but I also had a rotten egg smell under WOT. The technician at KIA said I was venting exhaust through the BOV and that is what was causing the smell. We know more about our cars than they do. If you talk to their shop people you'll get dumber. That's the one major drawback of buying a KIA.

What can I say? Usually, I stop going to the service centres as soon as a cars warranty runs out, but with the Kia, that's 7 years...

 

[Sime]

Apparently one of the better ways to hold off carbon build up is to have regular oil changes with good oil. I change both of my cars every 2k km’s, so it’ll be in to see how far down the line I come into issues.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Apparently one of the better ways to hold off carbon build up is to have regular oil changes with good oil. I change both of my cars every 2k km’s, so it’ll be in to see how far down the line I come into issues.

That is the most frequent oil changing I've heard anyone do. There's no way that you can "kill your car with kindness" changing oil, so, have at it!