RS4 Carbon Buildup Removal - Anyone have any tips? Best products? Good DIY?

B6/7 S4/RS4
#61

Hey I got the same tool from princess auto. Seemed to do the trick.

Man it sure isn’t easy (at least for me) to get some of those hidden bolts off…

So I have my manifold off now. Soaking some stuff in seafoam, but planning to get some easy-off next… I’ve looked at a lot of pics, but mine seems really bad, carbon build-up wise…

Somehow when I removed the manifold I broke a part - its a part with the o-ring that inserts into the air intake on the manifold, with the contoured end to match the side of the air-intake. I somehow broke off the part that inserts. Does anyone have a part name or number for this, or where to get it or any other ideas?

I was thinking of taking the manifold to a local shop to get cleaned and ported, I figured why not seeing that I have it removed - any pros or cons or tips I should know about?

Planning on getting some McDonalds straws tomorrow for the shop-vac. Not sure what is best for doing the cleaning, I have a dentist tool, toothbrushes, some popsicle sticks…?

Thanks in advance, I’m sure I’m going to have more questions…

#62

Yes. Puffins, whales, icebergs… St. John’s, NL

Not many Audi tuners though… :frowning:

#63

If you can snap some pictures of what broke and what the carbon build up looks like. The pictures of the broken parts on the intake will help the others tell you what’s wrong.

Welcome to the forum. There’s lots of experts on this site so you’re sure to get some good help.

#64

seriously…I don’t think I saw one Audi when I was in St Johns for 2 days in July 2012…nevermind an RS4. Must look like a spaceship.

#65

I started out with seafoam, soaked a couple for a day. Vacuumed it out, cleaned it as best I could, then tried some heavy-duty-easy-off, left it for about an hour. vacuumed it out, and I could see metal! Cleaned out as best I could (which I thought was pretty good) now resoaked them with seafoam for a last little clean up (I hope). 2 down, 6 to go.

I find the McDs straw on the shop vac quite good. Also, I have a “dentist” scraper that has been quite good. Been using that as my main tool.

I still need to identify that part I broke, mentioned a few posts ago, any help appreciated… Or anyone know a site with parts diagrams?

Thanks

#66

It seems there are a lot of audis around here now, Q5s and A4s especially. I had a B5 S4 in 2000, then got the RS4 in 2007.

I talked to the dealer about doing a carbon cleaning, I was willing to pay for it, but he basically talked me out of it, didn’t want to do it… So here I am, breaking expensive parts and learning a whole lot…

#67

I agree, pictures always help. Heavy oven cleaner will do the trick. Soak the valves and it should be like a mucky goop. Use good shop towels to soak it up and pull it out.

#68

I’ve broken more than my share of parts. You’ll find the freedom of knowing the car exceeds the price of broken parts. There is a fair amount of build up there. I didn’t see a picture with the broken parts on your intake.

#69

Here is a link to some pics of the broken part.

http://imgur.com/a/4o50h

#70

Some pics of the carbon buildup - pics really don’t do it justice at all…

http://imgur.com/a/pWryu

#71

I should have mentioned, car is a 2007, has about 65k kms (~40k miles) on it, and has never had a carbon clean before.

I guess I should change the plugs and oil as well while I’m at it?

What about the manifold, should I take it somewhere and have it professionally cleaned, ported, etc?

Thanks

#72

Changing the plugs and oil is a great idea

The manifold is fine. You can spend $1000 for ‘porting and polishing’ and it does literally nothing recognizable. People will play with logs and say it helps by 3 hp.

JHM tore apart the B67 S4 and found 15 whp in the manifold. They sold the job (manifold improvements, and they 'd swap you a modded one for a stock one) for $1000 and sold a ton of them. When they tore apart the RS4 manifold on their in house RS4 they decided to leave it as is. That should tell you something…there’s nothing in it.

Where are you located?

#73

Located east coast, Canada.

So there is a little carbon on the manifold - I should just do my best to clean it up a little and that’s it for the manifold?

#74

yes.

where is ‘east coast’? Are there puffins where you live?

I am in Toronto.

#75

Yes. Puffins, whales, icebergs… St. John’s, NL

Not many Audi tuners though… :frowning:

#76

seriously…I don’t think I saw one Audi when I was in St Johns for 2 days in July 2012…nevermind an RS4. Must look like a spaceship.

#77

Links to broken part:

http://audirevolution.net/forum/index.php?topic=236.msg73782#msg73782

http://imgur.com/a/4o50h

1st pic shows where parts inserts into manifold.

2nd pic is half the broken part, under the hood, connected to hoses

3rd pic is the other half of the broken part (the piece broken off) that inserts into the manifold.

Looking for a name/part # so I can get a price, get one ordered, or whatever needs to be done…

Thanks.

#78

I can’t find a part number but its this oil seperator, http://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalog/jhm-oil-separator-heater-bypass-kit-for-b7-rs4-fsi-v8-p-717.html?cPath=21_56_310_313

#79

I started out with seafoam, soaked a couple for a day. Vacuumed it out, cleaned it as best I could, then tried some heavy-duty-easy-off, left it for about an hour. vacuumed it out, and I could see metal! Cleaned out as best I could (which I thought was pretty good) now resoaked them with seafoam for a last little clean up (I hope). 2 down, 6 to go.

I find the McDs straw on the shop vac quite good. Also, I have a “dentist” scraper that has been quite good. Been using that as my main tool.

I still need to identify that part I broke, mentioned a few posts ago, any help appreciated… Or anyone know a site with parts diagrams?

Thanks

#80

It seems there are a lot of audis around here now, Q5s and A4s especially. I had a B5 S4 in 2000, then got the RS4 in 2007.

I talked to the dealer about doing a carbon cleaning, I was willing to pay for it, but he basically talked me out of it, didn’t want to do it… So here I am, breaking expensive parts and learning a whole lot…