Top end engine cleaning
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 428
Likes: 63
From: Auburn, GA
C250 2013
Top end engine cleaning
My mechanic suggested, given the mileage of the car, I should do a top end engine cleaning to get rid of the carbon build up.
Has anyone done this and is it ok to do? Is this something I can do it myself?
I have a 2013 C250.
Has anyone done this and is it ok to do? Is this something I can do it myself?
I have a 2013 C250.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 45
Likes: 5
c250 W204
I am assuming buildup in the intake? Pretty common for direct injection engines to have buildup and need a walnut blast. Have not done it but had a mechanic mention it is a common problem. I let them clean it years ago by a different method. Many direct injection setups have no way to self clean since the injectors are not behind intake valves. Would love to hear of anyone’s else’s experience. I have poor idle and that is possibly a culprit.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 73
Likes: 18
From: Schaumburg, Illinois, USA
2015-E63S | 2012-C300
CarbonTek works, look for a HHO carbon cleaning solution near you. It costs between 125 to 200 per hour. Should do it every 6 mo imho if you're over 100k miles
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,493
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
The carbon buildup is from oil vapor in the crankcase being fed through the intake due to emissions control. The oil gets deposited on the intake valves and the heat causes carbon buildup from the burnt oil. If you drive mostly short trips and do NOT use a high quality motor oil as recommended by Mercedes, you increase the probability of developing carbon buildup.
Older engine designs (non direct injection) spray the fuel in the intake, which washes the valves of any oil deposits, and therefore don’t suffer carbon buildup in the same way. Direct injection engines spray directly into the cylinder, so fuel does not flow over the intake valves.
