3 tips to keep direct injection clean
Poor condition of the ignition coil packs causes poor spark, which causes more sooty gunk. It’s a dangerous snowball effect, and a recipe for valve gunk disaster. Thankfully, the solution is simple: keep those plugs fresh at all times, for maximum efficiency and minimal gunk buildup.
Top-tier fuels are recognized by many of the world’s top automakers for going above and beyond when it comes to quality, cleanliness, and formulation with higher-than-minimal levels of cleaning detergents.
Not all gasolines are created equal and, though all gasoline is formulated with some amount of deposit-fighting additive, top-tier fuels have more of it, and are designed specifically with a high-quality formulation that helps reduce deposits.
Top-tier gasoline is the best gasoline for your direct injected engine, and it’s widely available across Canada at many major fuel stations. Though it can’t fight existing valve gunk in a direct injection engine (as it’ll never touch the tops of the valves, where gunk lives), its cleaning effects throughout the fuel system work to keep the precisely-calibrated direct fuel injectors, and other associated components, clean and efficient at all times.
This contributes to a more consistent and clean combustion process that keeps valve gunk causing deposits at bay.
Remember that no pour-in-tank cleaning additive or gasoline of any sort will touch the intake valves in this style of engine, and that ultimately, use of a top tier fuel reduces valve gunk indirectly by keeping other important fuel system parts clean.
In many cases, excessive and problematic valve gunk buildup can be attributed to one of several failures to properly maintain the vehicle in question.
Check your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer recommendations when it comes to tune-ups, fluid changes, and all forms of maintenance. Familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s ongoing maintenance requirements, and be sure to follow them strictly.
Three notes here. First, when it comes to oil changes, be sure to use only the type and grade of oil specified in your newer ride’s owner’s manual, as it was specially chosen for an array of properties that work best with the specific type of engine you’re running.
Second, don’t forget the lowly engine air filter.
This should be checked monthly and changed ahead of factory-set intervals if you frequently drive in winter, or in dusty locales.
Many drivers stretch air filter changes by thousands of kilometres, which is bad news for any engine, though some schools of thought suggest that a plugged air filter may indirectly contribute to valve gunk, too.
Third? Note that your vehicle manufacturer may specify a semi-regular intake cleaning process, where a special chemical is applied via a special machine to the engine’s intake system, to wipe out deposits.
Some automotive service centres offer this service too and it’s worth considering. Talk to your favourite mechanic or dealer service adviser for the scoop.