Direct-injected cars have one main disadvantage over their port-injected counterparts. That is, carbon deposits accumulate over time and need to be removed at regular intervals. The most efficient and common method to do so is the use of walnut blasting.

Walnut blasting is identified as one of the safest and most effective methods of removing carbon buildup from your car’s intake manifold and intake valves.

What is walnut blasting?

Walnut blasting is a process utilized to remove carbon buildup. During this process, the intake manifold is cleaned off and blasted with crushed walnut shells and compressed air. A walnut blaster is very identical to a sandblaster but smooth enough to sustain the integrity of the engine parts.

Walnut blasting is imperative if you have a vehicle with a gasoline direct injection engine like an Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, Mini Cooper, Volkswagen or a few more cars from European auto manufacturers. Direct injection is becoming more and more usual because it lets manufacturers increase fuel mileage without decreasing the vehicle’s power or efficiency.

Is it necessary to walnut blast your intake manifold and intake valves?

Contrary to cars with port injection where carbon deposits are continuously removed from the intake valves and runners, cars that utilize direct injection do not have this luxury. Gradually, those carbon deposits gather into a thick layer that can bring about some demanding problems. That build-up limits the airflow to your engine and decreases its ability to “breathe”. Imagine having a cold and being “stuffed up”. Walnut blasting is your car’s decongestant. Some of the signs of heavy carbon buildup are:

• Apparent loss in performance
• Check engine light on/won’t pass emissions
• Weak fuel economy
• Rough running

After your intake manifold and intake valves have been cleaned, you should instantly begin noticing the advantages. You can expect a gentler idle, lower fuel consumption, smoother throttle response, and even extra horsepower gains.

Benefits

There are several benefits to walnut blasting carbon away from your engine. Because carbon is hard and tough when it forms manually, it needs a lot of work to remove from the intake valves. Walnut Blasting permits you to get rid of the expensive and time-taking process of stripping the engine and cleaning it by hand.

Regular engine cleanings stop wear and tear and prolong the life of your engine saving you money on serious repairs in the long term.

• Better throttle response
• Smooth idle engine
• Improved fuel economy
• Increased horsepower

How often should you walnut blast your intake manifold and intake valves?

This entirely depends on how you drive your car. If you’re allowing your car to completely come up to temperature and then increasing the running speed of the engine through its entire RPM range, you will certainly have less buildup in comparison to someone who just has a short journey to work. However, it is still suggested that on a brand new car, you walnut blast the intake manifold and intake valves somewhere between 25,000-50,000 miles. After that first cleaning, you shouldn’t need to for another 40,000-50,000 miles.

Alternatives to walnut blasting

There are three methods to clean your intake manifold and your intake valves. While walnut blasting is the most effective, these other ways do work if you don’t have access to the instruments. These three methods are:

• Manually scraping the intake valves employing tool picks or using the “zip-tie method”
• Using LIQUI MOLY valve cleaner solution
• Walnut shell blasting employing special attachments for a media blaster

If you are not certain of the safety of intake valves or scraping a tool pick, you should feel certain that it is totally safe. These are the most efficient and safest way to clean off carbon deposits, and this is what the dealer does when you bring your car in for regular cleaning.