BG44k for controlling carbon buildup ...

[Stevelev]

Anyone tried BG44k ? Heard good things about it so I picked some up and will run it through on my next fillup and provide some feedback ...

Here's the blurb:

BG 44K® Power Enhancer® safely, rapidly and thoroughly removes engine deposits in combustion chambers, intake manifolds, ports and on valves. It restores flow in fuel injectors and cleans the entire fuel system. BG 44K® Power Enhancer® improves fuel economy and reduces exhaust emissions. It restores that “like new” driveability to an engine’s performance and keeps it running better, longer and more efficiently. Add one can or bottle to fuel tank at fill up. Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor safe. NOTE: After cleanup with BG 44K® Power Enhancer,® regular use of BG Supercharge®II, Part No. 202, in gasoline engines or BG Diesel Fuel Conditioner with DPL, Part No. 2276, in diesel engines will prevent deposits from forming in the fuel system and upper engine for maximum driveability and fuel economy.

[Retsujou]

This does not work for FI, as it is not ever going to reach the top of your inlet valve.

[Stevelev]

This does not work for FI, as it is not ever going to reach the top of your inlet valve.

I'll take your word for it as I'm really not very mechanically inclined. That said perhaps it will do SOME good as it'll still run through the injectors etc. ...

[Retsujou]

It helps and i USE IT religiously in my car. However it does little to prevent carbon build up. There is nothing like some good hard driving on a weekend to heat your engine up to prevent the carbon build up by burning some of it off and of course avoid fuel that has Methanol in it

[Tanner]

The stuff will obviously help clean the injectors. Talking to one of the techs at Agincourt, they did mention that they have seen FSI engines with dirty injectors.

Retsujou is right, these FSI engines, including the 2.0T, needs to breath. Apparently the naturally aspirated FSI engines will seem to experience issues before the 2.0T with respect to the intake valves getting covered in crap.

[Stevelev]

It helps and i USE IT religiously in my car. However it does little to prevent carbon build up. There is nothing like some good hard driving on a weekend to heat your engine up to prevent the carbon build up by burning some of it off and of course avoid fuel that has Methanol in it

1) Please define "religiously" - how often ?
2) I rarely wait for weekends to heat up the engine and my rule of thumb is to shift at a minimum 6,000 but would say the car rarely sees below 3,000 rpm and always sees 7,000. Perhaps this is why I visit the pump so often
3) Which station sells gas with methanol in it ? (I use Shell 90% of the time and Petro Can the balance)

[Tanner]

I have read that fuel cleaners and such should not be used on a regular basis as it may cause more harm down the road, but i can't remember where I read that.

As for fuel all I know that Shell premium does not have ethanol in it.

[Stevelev]

I have read that fuel cleaners and such should not be used on a regular basis as it may cause more harm down the road, but i can't remember where I read that.

Doesn't surprise me. There's guy I know of who apparentley uses this stuff on a regular basis and throws it in every few thousand K's. The local place where I bought it suggested it be done twice per year ...

[Tanner]

I'll use it twice a year at most and that's it. Six months after the first time I used it, I don't really notice my back bumper covered in soot like the first time I used the motul fuel cleaner.

[Retsujou]

1) Please define "religiously" - how often ?
2) I rarely wait for weekends to heat up the engine and my rule of thumb is to shift at a minimum 6,000 but would say the car rarely sees below 3,000 rpm and always sees 7,000. Perhaps this is why I visit the pump so often
3) Which station sells gas with methanol in it ? (I use Shell 90% of the time and Petro Can the balance)

Around every 15K or twice a year, whichever comes first.

Well I do not drive that harsh, mostly because that would make me break the law 90% of the time or I would never get out of second gear :)

For Ontario every fuel except Shell 91 Octane has Methanol in it.

[Stevelev]

Around every 15K or twice a year, whichever comes first.

Well I do not drive that harsh, mostly because that would make me break the law 90% of the time or I would never get out of second gear :)

For Ontario every fuel except Shell 91 Octane has Methanol in it.

WUS ! I never said I used 3rd gear and up ...

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

[mianol]

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4659547

check it out, if ur THAT worried about build up get a catch can, it helps no?

[Stevelev]

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4659547

Very interesting read, thanks.

[yimstab7]

i read on other forums that once u use this u get horrible gas mileage and the fill ups afterwards. and some dude sells this at his dealership and said it was a scam

[Tanner]

I just used Motul fuel line cleaner. Two tanks of this stuff. Run the engine hot and hard on the highway. After the first tank, my back bumper was covered in soot. Second tank, not so much.

Now I know this has nothing to do with intake valves, but I'm a bit surprised that my engine has NOT hesitated yet this winter as I know that my intake manifold and such is pretty filthy. Usually it hesitates a bit a minute after I leave work but I can't remember the last time it did this.

[Stevelev]

i read on other forums that once u use this u get horrible gas mileage and the fill ups afterwards. and some dude sells this at his dealership and said it was a scam

My consumption has not changed over the past several fillups. My gas mileage is not great but then again I do tend to push my relatively porky hi-po machine.

[cassdesigns]

Mike, where can I find the Motul fuel cleaner?

[Tanner]

Independent Tuning for sure.

But if you're up in Markham, there's a place closer perhaps, Exotic Motoring. They're at 80 Travail Road, near Markham Road and 14th. They also carry Lexol cleaning products too!

[vdubjetta02]

watch, and everyone should stop bitching because the video is proof

[Stevelev]

watch, and everyone should stop bitching because the video is proof

Very interesting! Although I didnt do the full fuel induction deal (BG44K in the tank only), I had no apparent change to drivability etc. Some suggest that BG44k on its own only works if the valves etc are clean to begin with. As luck would have it, I ended up with CEL and EPC lights and ultimately rec'd a carbon cleaning with full "tear down".

Before



After

[Tanner]

watch, and everyone should stop bitching because the video is proof

And word from somebody that tried it, results are marginal on an engine with a lot of miles already. Good for preventative maintenance but I wonder with repeated use over a long period of time whether it's going to affect other things like the catalytic converter, rings, etc.

[Akatsuki...]

Try seafoam. Like BG44K, some people say it doesnt work, some say it does. However, many have reported the car to me a lot smoother after sea foaming.

[spa]

For Ontario every fuel except Shell 91 Octane has Methanol in it.

ethanol not methanol

[rmh]

See
http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html
and
http://www.toptiergas.com/deposit_control.html
(specifically 1.3.1.2)

[Tanner]

Shell V-power in Canada is advertised on the pump to contain no ethanol. Regular fuel from Shell can contain up to 10% ethanol, and up to 5% for mid-grade.

Also the detergents in the fuel has very little impact on the intake valves. Direct injection being the reason.

[rmh]

Shell V-power in Canada is advertised on the pump to contain no ethanol. Regular fuel from Shell can contain up to 10% ethanol, and up to 5% for mid-grade.

Also the detergents in the fuel has very little impact on the intake valves. Direct injection being the reason.

Then Shell fails the Top Tier Gas program that they have been promoting to the tune of ~35MM dollars

[Tanner]

This applies to ANY fuel that contains cleaning additives, and in fact, any retailer that participates in that program or any other similar program.

Direct injection engines do not benefit significantly from these additives. Period.

[naemcivic]

I use Sunoco Ultra 94, is this gas any good for our engine? I use it because I have APR ecu in my ride.

[Tanner]

If you have the program that can use it, sure.

I have heard people switching to a program that uses a lower octane as many have complained about horrible gas mileage using Sunoco's Ultra 94 vs Shell Premium with minimal performance difference.

But back to carbon buildup, regardless of the fuel you use, there's nothing that will keep the intake valves clean. Call it a side effect of the benefits of better fuel efficiency or a design flaw.

[rmh]

I'm just saying that to be in the Top Tier Gas program, they must conform to the criteria listed here: http://www.toptiergas.com/deposit_control.html (see 1.3.1.2 for the ethanol issue). I'm certainly not saying you are wrong, only that if Shell isn't meeting the criteria they say they are, then WTF!?

[Tanner]

Gotcha.

[Tanner]

Found this thread....

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...1098496&page=2

Interesting part regarding the base fuel which is used for testing and may not be exactly the same thing delivered at the pump, which is probably how Shell is able to get away from selling v-power here in Canada without ethanol.

[ed@mtl]

How much are these usually going for?

[Akatsuki...]

A local shop charges 518 to take apart the intake manifold and scrub it down

i think that is prolly better

if you do seafoam, use good oil and catch can you wouldnt have to worry until like 120k. 518 for every 120k seems pretty reasonable for me.

[Tanner]

$518 for a 2.0T? THat's pretty good price, I wonder how good a job they do though.

[Akatsuki...]

^ yes, although you can prolly find a shop for a bit cheaper. 518 for every 120k is cheap, considering how labour intensive it is. Your average joe wont drive to 240k, so it's really 518 once.

[ed@mtl]

I meant how much is a can of the BB44k going for.

[Stevelev]

I meant how much is a can of the BB44k going for.

I paid $33. tax tax in (in Ottawa)

[BryanR]

$518 for a 2.0T? THat's pretty good price, I wonder how good a job they do though.

Before and after

[ed@mtl]

I paid $33. tax tax in (in Ottawa)

Ok, thanks. I guess $25 tax in is a good deal but I have to purchase 4 cans.