Carbon cleaning - average cost?

[DAYTA]

What are people paying for a full carbon clean (i.e. walnut blasting) service? I had anticipated to pay around $1k for the service, but some of the quotes I've received were MUCH higher than I expected.

Though I'll probably wait until the spring (maybe longer since my car feels pretty stout) to get mine done, I still wanted to be prepared when the time comes.

[Audibot]

My B7 A4 cost me $550 to get carbon cleaned. What was involved was removal of intake manifold, manually scrubbing down and cleaning the valves (by hand), then, after reassembly, running BG44K cleaner through the system do some additional cleaning.

So to me for an RS4, $1000-$1200 sounds reasonable.

[jtlund]

2.0T FSI/TSI = $450
4.2 FSI (RS4/A6/A8) = $750

Same work as Audibot mentioned up here in Minneapolis MN. I would keep looking.

[Audibot]

2.0T FSI/TSI = $450
4.2 FSI (RS4/A6/A8) = $750

Same work as Audibot mentioned up here in Minneapolis MN. I would keep looking.

Probably cost of living differences. Everything costs an arm and a leg in the DC metro area

[Chuuey]

your daddy - user on here and a shop owner quoted me around $1K.

He's in MA and I think you're in the ballpark. Few places near me are in the same range as well.

[TypeRx]

OP- where are you located? I think $1k is a reasonable estimate but as you can see, it can be a bit lower to a good amount higher. Make sure an oil/filter change is included in your price and it is also a good time to swap plugs, maybe coil packs, and also add on intake manifold spacers and a TB coolant bypass. Not to mention you will need a new OEM intake gasket.

So, you can see that it can add up. Doing it yourself is not all that hard, just time consuming. But after you do it once the next time should be "easy".


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[DAYTA]

Sorry, I should clarify that I expected to pay $1k for a carbon cleaning but the quotes I got were well above that (> $1500). That sounds like too much, even factoring in COLA?

[Dirtracer603]

I live in Fredericksburg and badly need to carbon clean the intake on my RS4. I was going to do mine myself, and while at it also look into my intake manifold as I am throwing a code for flap position. I already have the walnuy blast media, just need time to do it.

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[noob5]

Dayta, call XLR8. They just ran a $999 fall special. See if they'll still apply that price.
Not sure what their regular price is these days, but when I had mine done a couple of years ago, it was about $1100.

[denis silva]

If you are located around norcal, jhm will be the best price around for that, i think they charge way below 1000$


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[d2a4]

I thought $600~$800 are fair price. Those 335 only $250.

[Seattle squash]

Seattle I paid about $1200, Dallas $799. Both great shops. Thus include spacers (JHM) + oil bypass and all new gaskets etc.

[your daddy]

your daddy - user on here and a shop owner quoted me around $1K.

He's in MA and I think you're in the ballpark. Few places near me are in the same range as well.

thats with gaskets, and walnut shell blasting. no scraping with screwdrivers, and filling with carb clean. I recommend JHM spacers, and bypass. its no extra labor. also a great time to do an oil separator, and oil change.

[Chuuey]

thats with gaskets, and walnut shell blasting. no scraping with screwdrivers, and filling with carb clean. I recommend JHM spacers, and bypass. its no extra labor. also a great time to do an oil separator, and oil change.

^ very fair and knows their stuff. This is where I'm going when it comes time

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[Audibot]

Sorry, I should clarify that I expected to pay $1k for a carbon cleaning but the quotes I got were well above that (> $1500). That sounds like too much, even factoring in COLA?

That was clear. And yes, it's too much considering COLA. Euro-centric shops should be able to get you better prices than a run-of-the-mill. Wish I was more familiar with your area to help you out.

[WinterRunner]

1000$ give or take 200$ is pretty much the going rate. Try to find an experienced tech that has done them before.

[rs4max]

FYI https://store.034motorsport.com/serv...d-engines.html

Fun note: the pictures and dyno chart on this page are from my car.

[your daddy]

1000$ give or take 200$ is pretty much the going rate. Try to find an experienced tech that has done them before.

<3

[stanglife]

Bring it to Florida, I'll do it for $400 plus actual parts. ;)

Just bought another RS4 and about to dig into this one, too.

[NYC_Legacy]

Bring it to Florida, I'll do it for $400 plus actual parts. ;)

Just bought another RS4 and about to dig into this one, too.

Where in Fl are you?

[stanglife]

Tampa area.

[sarasotaguy]

Do you know of any places in Tampa - St Pete area that carbon clean reasonably, hard to fine anyone in my area.
Thanks.

[pointybird]

I'm thinking the more this becomes available, the cost has come down. Mine is in for this at the dealership at the moment and will run $500. Note, also getting 1 fuel injector replaced and the other 7 cleaned.

[jonan]

I'm thinking the more this becomes available, the cost has come down. Mine is in for this at the dealership at the moment and will run $500. Note, also getting 1 fuel injector replaced and the other 7 cleaned.

which stealer is this? i should get some quotes from the dealers here in the ATX area...

[ChhRS4]

Where in Minneapolis did the Clean out quote come from?

[kRussia]

Berg performance in Denver area just gave me a quote for $1400 for CC and another $300 to replace the oil housing gaskets.
Ouch

Hardeys motorwerks in Parker, CO at $1300 for cc.

[CarterRuss]

Berg performance in Denver area just gave me a quote for $1400 for CC and another $300 to replace the oil housing gaskets.
Ouch

Hardeys motorwerks in Parker, CO at $1300 for cc.

Another option might be Black Canyon Performance. Not sure what they quote but they seem reputable. Price should be closer $800-1000.

[Chandler]

800-1200 is usually "reasonable".
If you have leaky valves, some of the inlets can be "sticky" and a walnut blast make not work very well for the top slugged layer, manual cleaning will add a bit of time. Shop rates here are 90 (low end) - 165 p/hr. Any Indy shop in my area is going to be 135-165, so the shops at 90 p/h won't even touch it.
For a a tech who has done it before, it doesn't take terribly long. If it's your first time removing the intake manifold and PCV, it may take a full 10 hours to so to remove and reassemble where as I can remove and re assembly in less than six on the high side.

[mjraudi]

I just got quoted $2,000 plus tax (OUCH) from my local Audi dealership in Milwaukee, WI. Anyone know of a good independent shop in the area?

[Kenny147]

I just got quoted $2,000 plus tax (OUCH) from my local Audi dealership in Milwaukee, WI. Anyone know of a good independent shop in the area?

Brown Deer or Audi Milwaukee? North Shore quoted me “about” a $1000 and I’d trust Seth and their techs, far more than than the other bunch.

We’re hugely short of decent Audi shops in Milwaukee. If you’re going to get something as big as a CC done, you might want to consider Dynarev in IL. They have experience of doing RS4’s and their rates are decent.

[mjraudi]

Brown Deer or Audi Milwaukee? North Shore quoted me “about” a $1000 and I’d trust Seth and their techs, far more than than the other bunch.

We’re hugely short of decent Audi shops in Milwaukee. If you’re going to get something as big as a CC done, you might want to consider Dynarev in IL. They have experience of doing RS4’s and their rates are decent.

Thanks for the info. Seth is my guy at North Shore. I like him a lot and trust him. He talked to one of the techs and quoted me that price mostly due to labor - said it would be an all day project.


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[Kenny147]

Thanks for the info. Seth is my guy at North Shore. I like him a lot and trust him. He talked to one of the techs and quoted me that price mostly due to labor - said it would be an all day project.


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The problem with getting a dealership to do the CC, is that you really want to do the injectors and possibly PCV while you’ve got the manifold off. Going somewhere like Dynarev, gives you the option to use your own purchased parts. If you get the additional stuff done at a dealership, you’re looking at a bill that would be at least double, if not more. Audi would charge around $1200 for the injectors alone, whereas you can pick up 8 brand new OEM Hitachi injectors for around $500.

[mjraudi]

The problem with getting a dealership to do the CC, is that you really want to do the injectors and possibly PCV while you’ve got the manifold off. Going somewhere like Dynarev, gives you the option to use your own purchased parts. If you get the additional stuff done at a dealership, you’re looking at a bill that would be at least double, if not more. Audi would charge around $1200 for the injectors alone, whereas you can pick up 8 brand new OEM Hitachi injectors for around $500.

Awesome, thanks much for that additional info.


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[Chandler]

The problem with getting a dealership to do the CC, is that you really want to do the injectors and possibly PCV while you’ve got the manifold off. Going somewhere like Dynarev, gives you the option to use your own purchased parts. If you get the additional stuff done at a dealership, you’re looking at a bill that would be at least double, if not more. Audi would charge around $1200 for the injectors alone, whereas you can pick up 8 brand new OEM Hitachi injectors for around $500.

Does the local Stealership even use the walnut blasting technique? I know for sure mine will only for a chemical cleaning, or if requested a "manual" cleaning where they hand scape it. Labor is much more involved and the job is usually sub par.

[Kenny147]

Yeah, one of the two dealerships we have in Milwaukee is more “reasonable” about how they approach RS’s and uses walnut blasting. It helps that they have good techs and a SM that’s smart, young and into his cars. It’s still an Audi dealership, so expensive compared to indies but that’s the price of owning.

[jdmnomore]

Mann.. a few years ago I had my RS4 cc'd for $400 at the same indy shop that swapped a new engine into my b6 s4 for about $1100 all in with a ton of extra parts installed at the same time.

The owner told me after the fact a fair price for the job would have been about $800. They closed not long after (owner retired) and I sold my RS. Haven't owned a car out of warranty since lol.

800 to 1000 is fair. 1100-1400 is expected. Anything over you're being overcharged and look elsewhere.

[Airnautique54]

I had the same issues here in Fort Wayne IN, the local Audi dealership quoted me $2400 to pull the manifold and manually clean (two of the front end people hadn't even heard of walnut blasting!). The lowest official shop I could find was Reggie's Motorworks in Indy for $1600... thanks to this forum I was able to go to Wolfe Auto a local guy (and member of this forum) here in Fort Wayne and he carbon cleaned using walnut blasting for $600. Hard to find people who know how and then finding one at a decent price is even harder! Best of luck!

[mjraudi]

Does the local Stealership even use the walnut blasting technique? I know for sure mine will only for a chemical cleaning, or if requested a "manual" cleaning where they hand scape it. Labor is much more involved and the job is usually sub par.

I've got an appointment set up with Dynarev later this month. $800 for the carbon clean and an extra $400 in labor for replacing the injectors, pcv, spark plugs, and a few other things while they're in there.


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[Chandler]

I've got an appointment set up with Dynarev later this month. $800 for the carbon clean and an extra $400 in labor for replacing the injectors, pcv, spark plugs, and a few other things while they're in there.


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What other things? There should be 0 additional labor for the PCV. About an hour (maybe 1.5) for plugs and injectors just because of how easily accessible everything is. I take off the rails to do my CC regardless, so really we are talking an extra 30 minutes.

[Kenny147]

Unfortunately that’s the down side to Dynarev. They hardly ever adjust the price to do something that can be done easily, in addition to something bigger.

I had them do the clutch on my car and a bunch of other things at the same time. I was mildly annoyed at some of the stuff on the final bill but they are trustworthy and there’s no one else within 60 miles of Milwaukee that has experience of RS4’s, other than the dealerships and I shudder to think what they’d charge for everything I had done.