Another Installment In The Saga Of Unintended Consequences
Most of us have been driving less, lately. Record high oil prices drove gasoline prices to over $4 a gallon – wreaking havoc on our personal budgets… and the nation’s economy as a whole.
Last Friday, I stopped in to visit my mechanic – and as usual, he told me about the car he was busy working on. This time, it was an engine rebuild due to “bad gas”.
“Bad gas?” I asked.
“The deposits built up so that the valves wouldn’t close properly,” he replied. “We’ve had four rebuilds in the last few weeks. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
While it might be bad gas – I have another take on it. With the enormous increase in fuel costs, most of us are driving like little old ladies – myself included. But driving for maximum fuel economy is not necessarily good for your engine, as it allows carbon to build up on your valves.
I first learned about this in the early 80’s, as my mechanic back then told me about one of his customers – an elderly lady – who would bring her car in every few months so that he could take it out on the freeway and give it a good run.
You can tell when your engine needs to get the carbon blown out, as your engine will be idling rough. The best way to blow the carbon out is to accelerate hard on a freeway onramp – running it through the gears until you get up to highway speed. It works best when there is a good load on your vehicle, such as climbing a hill.
I have “blown the carbon” out of my vehicles for years – and I even have a friend who asks me to take her car out a few times a year to blow her carbon out, as she’s uncomfortable doing it herself.
Another tip is to have your fuel injectors professionally cleaned, which also can help keep your engine’s valves clean.
An engine rebuild is not inexpensive – it is a repair that can cost thousands of dollars. So before you spend the big bucks… maybe you should put the pedal to the metal every now and then.
Ann Cummings says:
Back when I was in high school taking driver’s ed, my driver’s ed teacher taught us to do that. He called it an ‘Italian tune-up’ back then. I’ve been doing it ever since…..
October 27, 2008 — 3:02 am
Teri Lussier says:
Yesterday gas was $2.13 right around the corner. It’s a great world, ain’t it?
I’m so glad to hear that there is a legitimate reason for me to drive it like I stole it… 🙂
October 27, 2008 — 3:59 am
Doug Quance says:
Keep in mind that for your lead foot to be effective in curbing carbon growth – you have to FLOOR IT. You must let the engine take in as much air and fuel as it can.
Simply driving hard won’t get the job done. 🙂
October 27, 2008 — 6:58 am
Eric Blackwell says:
I am DRIVING to BHB Unchained…why because I CAN…it is way cheaper than before and besides…I have not had a good road trip in a while.
Looking forward to it! I intend on taking your advice on the way! (grin) (read: Turn the radio up ’til it parts my hair and Floor it!)
Then, (of course), I will be driving at the usual cruising speed (just below “Ticket me, PLEASE!”)
October 27, 2008 — 7:30 am
Elaine Reese says:
I heard this years ago. With the way I drive, my cars have never had a problem with carbon build-up. 😉
October 27, 2008 — 7:32 am
Doug Quance says:
You might find this helpful, Eric:
http://www.speedtrap.org/speed-traps/find/
I can guarantee you (from experience) that Tifton Georgia is a very sophisticated speed trap surrounded by a support system for the Municipal Court and local police department.
Business is so good – they’re on their THIRD building in 15 years. The court just keeps growing and growing with the tickets on I-75. And the cops have color cameras and wireless lavalier mics, too… so you better be careful what you say when talking to the officer.
October 27, 2008 — 8:18 am
JDallas says:
Bad gas ? Engine rebuild ? This sounds like a gas tank full of civil lawsuits.
October 27, 2008 — 8:28 am
Eric Blackwell says:
“Ummmm…is there a problem Ossifferrr?” (grin)
October 27, 2008 — 11:45 am
Ken Smith says:
More likely that the people should have been using premium and put in the cheap stuff. A number of “experts” (you the type) started telling me that there isn’t a reason for premium and why was I wasting my money on it. Naturally these “experts” are incorrect, if your car calls for 91+ octane there is a reason.
I had never heard that flooring it will help your engine. Interesting excuse to drive hard…not that I need one.
“$2.13″….I WISH…we are still at $3.19 at most stations around here for regular.
October 27, 2008 — 2:54 pm
Teri Lussier says:
$2.03. Just filled ‘er up! Wish I had a few spare tanks sitting around.
October 27, 2008 — 6:25 pm
Tina Fountain says:
my father use to take my car out and “blow out the carbon”, he said it was better than a tune-up, and I always thought he was crazy! I guess he knew more than I gave him credit for!
October 28, 2008 — 9:08 am
Chris says:
No its bad gas. Modern cars burn so clean, and come up to temp so fast that its just about impossible to get that kind of carbon build up. The new gas with ethonal in it is junk and goes bad in under 3 months while sucking in water. So its really easy to get junk if you use low volume stations. Buying gas from a high volume station, and mixing it up in regards to brands is the best way to do it. Each brands additives package will clean out the other brands.
What you guys are talking about is called an “Italian tune up”. Back in the 60’s the old Ferrari V12’s with a stack of Webber carb’s would carbon up the plugs and cause a skip if run around town. So you would have to run the engine hard to blow all the carbon out. IE you have to bring it to redline in 3 or 4 gears.
These days Italian tune up’s are just for fun, unless you have a diesel. Diesels need to be run hard all the time.
In my old diesel Mercedes I’ll do a pull to the top of 3rd gear which is 83 to blow it out. In the V12 Mercedes triple digits come very, very fast so its condition’s permiting.
October 28, 2008 — 6:57 pm