What is Carbon Blasting and Why Do I Need It?
Many of today's modern engines are fitted with Direct Injection fuel systems for efficiency (increased fuel mileage), performance (increased power) and emissions (lower exhaust emissions). While this fuel system is a great improvement for these benefits over traditional fuel injection systems, there is one longer term disadvantage. With fuel being injected directly into the cylinder instead of into the intake manifold, there is no washing effect on the intake valves. Over time engines with direct injection tend to have carbon build up on the valves and intake ports. This carbon build up will eventually lead to reduced performance, efficiency and may even cause emissions related fault warnings.
Symptoms of Excessive Carbon Deposits
- Engine rough running and misfiring
- Reduced performance and hesitation
- Poor fuel economy
- Check engine light - Emissions faults
What is Direct Injection?
A traditional fuel injected engine has fuel injectors which spray a fuel mist into the engine intake manifold which mixes with air and then passes through an intake valve to be combusted in the engine cylinder. A direct injection fuel system uses a high pressure fuel pump and injectors to spray fuel directly into the engine cylinder for combustion. This modern day technology has many benefits including better performance, efficiency and emissions control.
Why Does Carbon Build Up?
Carbon deposits in an internal combustion engine are formed when oil, oil vapor and fuel react with hot surface temperatures, extreme pressures and oxidization. Some oil vapor in the intake manifold is common and can be from valve seal leakage or a faulty crankcase ventilation system. In direct injection engines especially, carbon accumulates on the intake valves because unlike traditional fuel injection systems, there is no washing effect to clean this oil vapor as air passes through the intake valve into the cylinder. This carbon buildup causes reduced air flow, poor economy and can lead to additional wear and tear on the engine components.
What Can I do to reduce carbon buildup?
Regular scheduled maintenance, more frequent oil changes, and longer trips will help. Unfortunately, none of these options will completely solve this problem and you may still have excessive carbon build-up after 100,000km. The only option is to remove carbon built up from the intake valves manually. While it’s not practical to remove and strip down a complete engine to clean the carbon, the service industry has adopted a specialized procedure to clean the intake valves with the engine in situ and the intake manifold removed to access the valves. This process is generally referred to as “Carbon Blasting” and can restore performance and efficiency in your vehicle's engine when done properly.
How to fix carbon buildup
Carbon Blasting Procedure
Our in vehicle service is done without removing and completely disassembling the engine as would have been done traditionally. Using the latest industry standard practices, we remove the supercharger and intake manifolds. Our specialized blasting and vacuum machine is used with a Walnut shell abrasive media to remove carbon buildup without damaging any engine components.
Carbon Blasting Service
Rovalution Automotive offers premium and professional Land Rover Range Rover services, Land Rover Range Rover scheduled maintenance and Land Rover Range Rover carbon blasting service. Our carbon blasting service uses the latest technology and high quality service tools. Our proven industry standard and professional procedures will help to ensure you get the most performance, efficiency and trouble free experience from your Land Rover Range Rover.
Does this affect my Land Rover?
Several late model Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles with direct injection petrol (gasoline) engines featuring direct injection technology are affected by carbon buildup. Here is a list of models that have this direct injection technology*
Range Rover (L405):
5.0L V8 Naturally Aspirated and Supercharged Range Rover starting from the 2010 model year onward.
Range Rover Sport (L494):
5.0L V8 Naturally Aspirated and Supercharged from 2010 onwards with direct injection for enhanced performance.
Range Rover Velar (L560):
2.0L Ingenium Petrol - Introduced with the Velar in 2017, this engine uses direct injection technology.
Range Rover Evoque (L551):
2.0L Ingenium Petrol - Available from the second generation (L551) starting in 2019, featuring direct injection.
Discovery Sport (L550):
2.0L Ingenium Petrol - Since its introduction, this engine has used direct injection.
Land Rover LR4 or Discovery 4 (L319):
5.0L V8 Naturally Aspirated from 2010 model year.
3.0L V6 Supercharged - from 2013 model year.
Land Rover Discovery 5 (L462):
2.0L Ingenium Petrol - From 2017, this engine in the Discovery lineup uses direct injection.
3.0L V6 Supercharged - This engine also uses direct injection technology.
Land Rover Defender (L663):
2.0L Ingenium Petrol - From 2020, this engine in the Defender lineup uses direct injection.
3.0L P400 Ingenium Petrol - From 2020, this engine in the Defender lineup uses direct injection.
5.0L V8 Supercharged - From 2020 also uses direct injection technology.
*this is not a perfect list and there may be other Land Rover models with direct injection technology that we missed! :)
If you have one of these vehicles with over 100,000km, you should be considering this service. Please reach out to our expert team or click the button below to schedule your next service and inspection.
