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(780) 450-3999
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Walnut Blasting

Intake valve carbon cleaning in Edmonton

What is carbon buildup?

Carbon buildup is a problem on most modern engines with direct injection. Direct injected engines inject fuel directly into the combustion chamber. For years prior to direct injection, fuel was injected into the intake manifold before the intake valves. This helped keep the valves clean as the fuel flowed past the intake valves which had a “cleaning effect”.

During the combustion process on direct injection engines, not all of the cylinder pressure is utilized in the combustion chamber. A small percentage of that pressure pushes past the piston rings into the crankcase (where the engine oil is). While this is completely normal, the pressure has to be vented back into the intake manifold or it would cause external oil leaks. The heat combined with the oil vapours (positive crankcase pressure) stick to the valves causing buildup over time.

This buildup can affect airflow past the valves and have a negative effect on engine efficiency causing things like a reduced power, rough running, and misfires upon startup. A rough or misfiring engine can cause damage to the catalytic converter(s) which are very expensive to service or replace.

Intake valve carbon cleaning

To complete an intake valve carbon cleaning service, the intake manifold must be removed to gain access to the cylinder head intake ports. Once removed, you must carefully protect any openings left from the intake removal to ensure solvents/media does not enter any unwanted areas.

Chemicals/brushing vs. walnut blasting

Carbon buildup is typically cleaned in one of two ways.

One method is soaking the buildup with harsh chemicals and manually removing the carbon with various tools and brushes. This method is obviously not ideal for the technician’s health or the environment, plus it is a longer (more expensive) process.

Our preferred method is to use ground walnut shell media with a walnut baster to clean the ports. We use an adapter that fits directly into the intake port. The blaster tip goes into the adaptor along with a vacuum hose (which is used to vacuum out the wasted walnut media, keeping the mess to a minimum).

Some manual carbon removal is still required but no chemicals are used at all. Walnut media is safe for the components in your engine as the media is softer than aluminum and steel, thus leaving no evidence!

Walnut blasting cost

Walnut blasting costs vary depending on the time spent cleaning, but it’s roughly between $40-65 per cylinder (typically $160-260 for a 4 cylinder engine, unless its an extreme case!) PLUS the time to remove and reinstall your intake manifold.

Total cost depends on your vehicle make, model, and engine. Contact us for accurate pricing!

We recommend completing a carbon cleaning every 80-100,000 km as a preventive maintenance service.

Before & after walnut blasting

Contact us

Call (780) 450-3999 or send us a message

Rivercity Motors

8733 53 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 5G2

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© Copyright Rivercity Motors LTD | *Warranty applies to labour and most parts
Website, SEO & Hosting By Nick Pierno

Dear Valued Customers,

The team at Rivercity Motors Ltd. would like to thank you for your support over the last 6 years – it has been an adventure full of exciting challenges. We believe that we owe our success to staying true to our mission to offer 100% honest and upfront service and repair to our customers.

As we face the current challenges related to the COVID-19 crisis, we would like to assure you that we are taking every possible step to ensure the safety and health of our team and our customers.

Here is how we are keeping you safe:

  • All bookings are taken over the phone or by email. We ask customers to drop off their vehicles and keys without entering the building by using an envelope and secure key dropbox. The front door remains locked, and only employees are allowed to enter the building.
  • Phones, keyboards, computers, counters and staffroom are sanitized regularly.
  • All parts are dropped off outside and disinfected before entering the shop.
  • Our technicians retrieve keys using gloves and immediately sanitize the keys.
  • The key dropbox, doors, and handles are disinfected hourly (or more frequently if we know there has been contact).
  • Before entering a vehicle, the technicians use gloves and then the door handle is sanitized.
  • Before entering the vehicle, we sanitize the inside door handle, steering wheel, seat belt buckle, and shifter. Seat and steering wheel covers are also used.
  • New gloves are used during repairs.
  • Once your repairs are completed, the vehicle is moved to the front parking lot and sanitized again.
  • All payments are made remotely using e-transfer or credit card over the phone. Your keys are sanitized again by front staff, and returned to you without any direct contact.

If you need any repairs or maintenance for your vehicle at this time, be assured that you can safely bring your vehicle to Rivercity Motors. We would like to be able to keep our doors open, our employees working, and to keep you driving safely during these uncertain times.

Thank you again for your support over the years. We hope to hear from you soon!

The team at Rivercity Motors,

Chris, Linnea, Bill, Patrick, Andy, and Jon

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