Clogged Injectors from Carbon Build-up?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 9
Likes: 18
E63, 335d, C250
Clogged Injectors from Carbon Build-up?
Hi all,
I am considering a move to MB diesel but have one major hurdle: One of my cars is a 2010 335d which at 58,000 miles had to have the engine taken apart to remove carbon build-up (using walnut shell blasting). Other readings I have found indicate that diesels all face the 'carbon dilemma' more frequently than that of a gasoline engine. Do any of you have 60,000+ miles of experience with a Bluetec engine? Have you experienced any carbon build-up problems (failed injectors, Check Engine light, diminished power...)?
Thanks,
Rob
E63, 335d, C250
I am considering a move to MB diesel but have one major hurdle: One of my cars is a 2010 335d which at 58,000 miles had to have the engine taken apart to remove carbon build-up (using walnut shell blasting). Other readings I have found indicate that diesels all face the 'carbon dilemma' more frequently than that of a gasoline engine. Do any of you have 60,000+ miles of experience with a Bluetec engine? Have you experienced any carbon build-up problems (failed injectors, Check Engine light, diminished power...)?
Thanks,
Rob
E63, 335d, C250
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
Likes: 52
From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
Mine isn't stock but...without egr and case ventilation going through the intake side stuff stays a LOT cleaner. The same issue is becoming very common in direct injection gasoline motors too for many of the same reasons. 145k miles on stock injectors with fingers crossed as of tonight.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
Likes: 52
From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
Question for the technical types on this forum. Part of my job is cleaning and testing gasoline and propane injectors. It's a very simple cleaning process, ultrasonic cleaning tank with injectors immersed in the solution as the machine hums away, while immersed they are continually pulsed by the expensive part of the machine? I've not yet had to mess with any diesel injectors and assume they require a much higher drive current due to MUCH higher fuel rail pressures? Anyone know if this is even feasible with modern diesel electronic injectors? If so it would save a lot of people a lot of money it sounds like?
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 673
Likes: 27
From: Frederick
2000 ML320, 2005 E320 CDI
OP, I too have an I6 like Micah. Mine as well is modified (no EGR) and I have 155K miles on it. I live just outside Washington DC and will be driving to Philly today. It's about 3.5 hours one way and about 200 miles. I expect to get 40mpg the entire time. As for reliability - I wouldn't worry about it myself if you got a 2005 CDI or 2008-9 Bluetec. I don't have experience with the Bluetec, but you don't want the first year in any vehicle.
@Micah, yes you can clean diesel injectors the same way, but you need to keep the electronics out of the solution as per normal. There are companies that can clean the injectors for you, but of course, as soon as they hear it's for Mercedes (regardless that most other vehicles use Bosch injectors) the price goes up.
@Micah, yes you can clean diesel injectors the same way, but you need to keep the electronics out of the solution as per normal. There are companies that can clean the injectors for you, but of course, as soon as they hear it's for Mercedes (regardless that most other vehicles use Bosch injectors) the price goes up.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
Likes: 52
From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
I'll have to read up on the cleaning process and talk to my efi parts vendor for the cleaning stuff. I have stands for the injectors that go into the tank, technically you are supposed to do gasoline ones the same way, I'm getting better results from full immersion so I do them that way? I like doing as much as I can myself, it keeps the little diesel fetish interesting b
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 9
Likes: 18
E63, 335d, C250
OP here. Interesting comments from some of you relating to the (lack of) EGR valve as I am certain this (having one) was the main cause of the early carbon build-up in my 335d. BMW issued a recall in Spring of 2012 for this valve. I had around 30,000 miles on the car at that time. Luckily, I was able to dodge a $12,000 repair bill a year later when they had to replace all 6 injectors and blast-clean my engine to remove the carbon buildup. It was too late for me with the BMW but one thing I know I will do: Buy the extended coverage if I do get another diesel (regardless of manufacturer). There are too many extra diesel emissions related components on modern diesels.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 422
Likes: 52
From: McDade, Texas
W211 e320 CDI
EGR is perhaps the most or second most pointless one of the all. My coworker has one of the newer twin turbo Ford V8's, when that thing is doing its DPF regen cycle you can literally light paper on fire from the tailpipe, really helps the fuel economy too lol.
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 430
Likes: 6
From: USA, EU
06 E320 CDI (GONE), 14 Jeep GC EcoDiesel, 01 Disco II (GONE), 09 BMW X3 3.0 Si Xdrive
OP here. Interesting comments from some of you relating to the (lack of) EGR valve as I am certain this (having one) was the main cause of the early carbon build-up in my 335d. BMW issued a recall in Spring of 2012 for this valve. I had around 30,000 miles on the car at that time. Luckily, I was able to dodge a $12,000 repair bill a year later when they had to replace all 6 injectors and blast-clean my engine to remove the carbon buildup. It was too late for me with the BMW but one thing I know I will do: Buy the extended coverage if I do get another diesel (regardless of manufacturer). There are too many extra diesel emissions related components on modern diesels.
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