I watch a variety of TV shows about auto rebuilding, customizing, etc and on the show out of the UK, Wheeler Dealers they went through a process to de-carbon the engine with a kit that put chemicals through the engine for several minutes and the emissions improved significantly. I seem to remember that performance also improved with the added implication that the engine would also last longer. Has anyone had this done to their car and if so, what was the cost and are the claims true? I am at 114K mi. so I wonder about these things.

 

The subject has been beaten to death several times. The key to success of any of these remedies is the existing loss of performance through carbon contamination. Unless your engine is on it's last legs from underlying issues, there is not enough carbon present to negatively affect performance.

Wheeler Dealer is not much more than a cleverly-disguised Home Shopping network. At least they don't say 'but wait- there's more!'

 

Sorry Mikey, it seems that I got under your thin skin by asking my question.

 

Not at all. I clicked 'post' too quickly and forgot to add a smiley. Fixed now.

Comments about the TV show still stand though. Leno is not much better. ->

 

Thanks for the reply. I just knew that Canadians were polite
As for the TV show, it is all a matter of choices and the other stuff available is usually worse. IMHO

 

I agree with Mikey.

The modern engine in any car is running at optimum usage from the given fuel etc etc, and carbon build up as we older ones remember from the carby days is a thing of the past. Unles its sucking oil into the combustion chamber there simply is almost zero carbon being created.

Down here we simply drive them HARDER, and I always use the highest octane fuel available, which is 98 RON.

 

I would comment on that show but I fear profanity is not allowed on here. They're utter idiots. It's not a car show, it's no help to anyone, but it does help fill the TV channel with cheap junk.

 

The above cannot be overemphasized. There was a time when engines needed a little help in keeping themselves clean and operating efficiently. Products and practices were developed to deal with this and became ingrained habits. As Grant says they are things of the past (defined in my mind as '70s vintage or earlier) and have no place in today's cars.

The manufacturers of these products and services of course perpetuate the myth that 'bad things will happen' if we don't follow the habits of our grandfathers no matter how much evidence is produced to prove that it's a waste.

One of the BEST things to happen in the last 50 years for engine longevity and performance was the removal of TEL (lead) from gasoline yet there is still a strong contingent who bemoans the fact.