Reasons Behind Carbon Buildup in European Cars and Tips to Prevent It
Among the various problems faced by European cars, carbon buildup is one of the most common engine-related issues. In fact, high-end cars like Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Porsche, Mini, Volvo, and Land Rover experience carbon buildup problems in the engine of their car, which takes a toll on their performance.
There are several factors that can lead to carbon buildup in these vehicles and being an European car owner it is pertinent for you to know about these underlying factors so that you can address the problem easily. In this article, we will discuss the reasons behind carbon buildup in European cars and tips to prevent it.
Reasons Behind Carbon Buildup
Direct Fuel Injection Engine
One of the biggest contributor to carbon buildup in high-end European cars is linked to the direct injection engine in these vehicles. Generally, cars fitted with traditional port fuel injection have their fuel sprayed over the intake valves, and this naturally cleans away the carbon deposits in these vehicles.
However, modern European cars are coming equipped with Gasoline Direct Injection engines that are known to inject fuel directly into the combustion chamber of the vehicle. As the fuel never comes in contact with the intake valves, the oil vapors and combustion residues can stick to the valve surfaces and then get harden up into thick carbon deposits.
Over the years, as your vehicle gains miles, the carbon deposits tend to become stubborn, and this adversely affects the airflow into the cylinders of your vehicle. Moreover, the engine needs to work very hard to help maintain power, and this results in rough idling, hesitation during acceleration, poor throttle response, and drop in fuel economy of the vehicle.
One of the best ways to prevent the problem is by sticking to the manufacturer recommended maintenance schedule of your vehicle, and use high-quality fuel from reputable filling stations.
PCV System Oil Vapors
The PCV system in your vehicle plays a leading role in controlling the emission of harmful pollutants from your vehicle. In fact, the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system is responsible for redirecting blow-by gases from the crankcase back into the intake system of your European car.
In fact, these blow-by gases also contain fine oil droplets that travel through the intake tract, and as they make their way through the hot intake valves, the oil bakes onto the metal surfaces, and leads to the formation of sticky deposits that accumulate dirt and soot.
Now, over the years, these layers harden into thick carbon buildup, which creates trouble in the smooth running and better performance of your car. Furthermore, European turbocharged engines often experience very high crankcase pressures, which leads to an increase in the amount of oil vapor entering the intake system of your car.
You must always replace the PCV valve of your vehicle as per the maintenance schedule of your car, and apart from that, you must also get your PCV hoses inspected immediately for presence of leaks.
Fuel Injectors Failure
The fuel injectors in your European car are responsible for delivering pressurized fuel spray into the combustion chamber of your vehicle’s engine for optimal combustion process. At times, it is seen that dirty, clogged, or worn-out injectors lead to uneven fuel atomization that causes incomplete combustion.
That is why most European drivers find excessive carbon deposits in their vehicle accumulated in the combustion chamber and exhaust system because of improper combustion. You will find many professional mechanics recommend regular inspection of your fuel injectors during routine maintenance schedule.
In addition to that, cleaning and replacing the fuel injectors should be done whenever needed so that you can prevent carbon from accumulating in the engine.
Turbocharger Oil Contamination
The turbocharger is subjected to extremely high temperatures and speeds that help the car maintain its top performance. Nevertheless, when the turbocharger in your European car is exposed to heat, then it burns, and leaves behind heavy carbon deposits.
In fact, the turbocharged engines are very sensitive, and are capable of distributing oil contamination throughout the intake system. You can prevent the problem from occurring by replacing the engine oil on schedule, and by using manufacturer-approved synthetic oil in your vehicle.
Finally
The above-discussed factors are some of the underlying factors that lead to carbon buildup in European cars. When driving your vehicle if you come across anything unusual in your car, then you must definitely get your vehicle inspected by a certified auto repair shop immediately.