Carbon buildup - use water?!

[carlos_knology]

I've read many usenet messages where people take care of any carbon buildup by trickling water into the carburator while the car is at fast idle (2000-2500 rpm).

The idea is that this water turns into hot steam and breaks loose any carbon buildup.

Some of the posts suggested you can also do this with a fuel injected car by removing the air filter and spraying (spray bottle) some water mist into the air intake to achieve the same effect.

Have you guys heard of this being done to a fuel injected car?! I normally use BG44k but was wondering about this as I read it.

[Q45tech]

We use BG Induction cleaner [medium and Super Ultra Severe versions] with a fogger kit, air pressure vaporized just in front of the throttle body.

The Severe stuff creates exhaust fumes that strip the paint off the shop walls. The medium is similar to the BG in a spray can TB cleaner.

The combination of AIR dirt, EGR carbon, and PCV oil get baked on from the TB to just at the injector [gasoline cleans the last portion lower runner and the heads......5" worth.

City traffic and short trips [under 15 minutes] - low load lugging driving allows carbon and additive traces to build up on valve back sides and piston crowns.

The water method simulates driving in rain, right?........as too much water/vapor would really confuse the MAF chancing a radical over rich condition CREATING carbon. What ever you use inject/spray after the MAF!............you could drill a tiny hole in the plastic air tube just before it clamps to TB.......something you could plug up with a screw after the process........always run the engine at 2,000 rpm with a shim on TB.

Remember water is not compressible at all!

[carlos_knology]

Dennis, thanks for the reply.

"This water method simulates driving in the rain, right?".

I don't think so but I'm not sure.

Are you saying that when driving in the rain, some water gets sucked in past the air filter? I hadn't thought of that. I noticed that the stock air box in the J30 has a tiny hole at the bottom. I'm assuming it's there to allow excess water drain out of the air box.

About drilling a hole. The J30 air duct splits into each side of throttle body. Would you drill a hole before the split (single hole) or after the split (hole on each side)?

[ScottJackson]

I do the water poured into the carb at 2500rpm, after the motor is warmed up. It is true that water doesn't compress, which is why you don't want to go dumping loads of water in your motor at idle. With fuel injection, you should get a large cup or container with water and use a PCV hose to suck the water in off the surface. Have a friend in the car holding the rpms around 2500. If you've ever taken off a head that had a gasket failure and coolant was getting into the cylinder, the piston and combustion chamber is much cleaner than the others. I believe it works.

[HeavyDuty]

I once poured several 12oz glasses of water into a 2300 Ford, 79 Mustang. "My buddy" read about it being a Smokey Yunick trick. It was his car and he asked me to do it. He revved at least 2500 rpm while I poured glass after glass into the carbeurator.

It lived.

RPM's are critical, so is the amount of introduction.