GDI Intake Valve cleaner

[glennk]

Getting to 40,000 miles and am being harped on by the dealer to do a intake valve cleaning (BG Service for $200). Feedback appreciated.

 

[2for1]

I saw immediate results after mine was done. MPG went up about 3.
You can do it yourself, but it throws a code and has to be reset.

 

[Markymark]

Others have chimed in on using this stuff in the past, but I think it's snake oil.

Intake valve deposits are heavy, polynuclear aromatics in solid form, and are not going to be removed by a thin stream of solvent. You need to have the intake manifold removed and have the valve walnut shell blasted.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Others have chimed in on using this stuff in the past, but I think it's snake oil.

Intake valve deposits are heavy, polynuclear aromatics in solid form, and are not going to be removed by a thin stream of solvent. You need to have the intake manifold removed and have the valve walnut shell blasted.

If you do the solvents early enough I don't think you'd need to have the manifold walnut shell blasted. I was under the impression that going to that extent was only for bad cases which hadn't been done in a long time.

 

[2for1]

I was skeptical also, until I saw the cloud of blue smoke pouring out of my exhaust. The solvent coats the entire induction system internals and sits for 15 minutes or longer. It surely cleans something in there. I had definite results.
Back in the day we used to run Gumout through the fuel system and let it sit. Then Seafoam became a popular solvent.
The service at the dealer also included a can in the tank and physically cleaning the throttle plates. With a spray solvent. IIRC mine was $140

 

[glennk]

I was skeptical also, until I saw the cloud of blue smoke pouring out of my exhaust. The solvent coats the entire induction system internals and sits for 15 minutes or longer. It surely cleans something in there. I had definite results.
Back in the day we used to run Gumout through the fuel system and let it sit. Then Seafoam became a popular solvent.
The service at the dealer also included a can in the tank and physically cleaning the throttle plates. With a spray solvent. IIRC mine was $140

At the dealer? Was it BG?

 

[jimmy buoy]

I've used GDI valve cleaner on my 5.0 and not had any CEL issues. There are various youtube vids where gear heads have done the research for us by doing before and after shots. It really is amazing just how much built up carbon is melted away using this product. After seeing that, I decided to give the 5.0 a treatment just before each oil change in hopes to avoid walnut blasting or anything so involved. So far, so good.

 

[2for1]

At the dealer? Was it BG?

Yes, at dealer. Can't remember brand