[Longboard]

I realize that it can't help with intake valve carbon build up problems. but if Top Tier fuel is needed because of it's higher detergent levels does an additive like the one BG advertises make up for lower quality fuel use in the 3.5?

Or will it offer additional protection even when used with Top Tier gasoline?

Or......... is it just a scam?

 

[VanMan]

Top tier, or Tier 1 is the quality of the gasoline. It can be 87, 89, or 92 octane.
Putting a additive into crap gas will not make it "as good"
The Engine companys told the "gas" companys this is the standard (refined) of fuel we need.
Its the injectors (GDI) which need this.

Buy from a top tier "brand" of fuel, don't let the fuel sit unused for many months.
The additive (by itself) won't fix "bad" gas for a GDI system

 

[BamaTransit]

Here is a video you might find interesting on this issue.. He's a Ford Mechanic..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ynGWxzJHjA

 

[sosmercford]

Interesting video. Sorta convinces me that maybe avoiding turbo charged engines might be the safer way to go if you want reliability and are willing to give up a little performance. (and stay with top tiered gas and full synthetic oil).

 

[brittles]

So I need to run it harder? Shouldn't have told me that.

 

[Byron the Painter]

Here is a video you might find interesting on this issue.. He's a Ford Mechanic..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ynGWxzJHjA

Nothing personal, BamaTransit...but this is a load of crap. Some dude sitting in his car spewing dire concern according to him. I say show me, don't tell me.

Perhaps find a video with one of these engines torn down, so instead of taking Mr. Trust Me's word for it, we could actually see if there is a bunch of crap built up in there that may (or may not) be something to be concerned with. If he was standing over one of those, then there's at least some cred.

Gotta see it to believe it.

 

[RandomJoe]

Byron, he has another video where he shows the intakes of each cylinder to illustrate the issue. I'm not an expert, I saw what he was showing but wouldn't have thought it was particularly bad myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK2eXdaydqI

The F150 Ecoboost forum is full of people carrying on about this "problem", almost all of them recommending catch-cans. Just seems like there'd be a LOT more noise about this generally if it was a major issue - there are a LOT of EB engines in operation...

 

[Byron the Painter]

Yeah, well I'm calling BS on this guy. He and all the other dudes that keep themselves awake at night worrying about next to nothing can go ahead and knock themselves out. Crappy, pathetic production...he'll have to do way better than that to pique my interest. Get out of your friggin' car there, sport.

Whatever the heck he was showing us...those valves looked fine to me. I've torn a few engines apart.

I occasionally visit the F-150 forum, too. I'm ByronFordFan if you're interested. My main concern over there was the 5.4 spark plugs, as I have an '04. I posted about my plugs over there, with pics...it was a piece of cake. Anyway...

I've scoped out the catch can talk and all the sick and worry...When these engines first came out, I recall a bunch of dudes over there CONVINCED and trying quite hard to convince others that these turbos were going to coke up and destroy themselves, too. Chicken Little's abound!

Longboard....I wouldn't put anything in there but straight gas. I've always been leery of cures in a can.

 

[phantom6294]

Here are two good articles on the subject:

http://www.edmunds.com/autoobserver-archive/2011/06/direct-injection-fouls-some-early-adopters.html

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...a-problem-with-direct-injection-engines-.html

The first is from 2011 and what really caught my eye was the discussion of VW applying for a patent that attempted to address issues with carbon build up. There are certainly some "fluff" patents out there, but hard to imagine VW would pursue it if there wasn't some truth to the issue. That said, it seems both articles hint at VW/Audi having more issues than other manufacturers which may well explain why VW was seeking the patent.

Bottom line is that there are numerous variables that may impact carbon build-up that range from design elements of the engine (in particular the EGR and PCV systems), to the quality of the fuel/oil used, the specifics of the ECU programming, down to the average state of operation the engine sees over its lifetime.

The EGR and PCV are going to be the sources of any contaminants in the air stream. EGR is most prevalent during light load operations and generally not as prevalent in high load (booooooooost!) and idle situations. The PCV system will see more 'use' with increased engine blow-by which typically occurs with higher cylinder pressures (booooooost!). Poor quality fuel that does not burn as cleanly or has other contaminants means more contaminants getting recirculated via the EGR. Poor quality oil, or more specifically, an oil that has allows for too much evaporation, means more vapors in the crankcase that will get sucked into the intake track via the PCV.

For some folks, they're fuel choice, oil choice, driving style, etc... will minimize the impacts each variable has on build up. For others, they may end up maximizing the impacts each variable has on build up.

 

[Duster]

This guy swapped and bought a dodge ram.
THAT SAYS IT ALL.
Some mechanic lol.....

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