Gave my GTI an "Italian Tuneup" tonight

[honkbruno]

After reading about the problems that DI engines have with carbon deposits on the valves I decided it was time for my GTI with 16,xxx miles to have an "Italian Tuneup". On my evening commute tonight, 30 plus miles, I kept the car in 4th gear at 4,500 RPM for at least 28 miles and occasionally floored it. :burnrubber: Wow! What a blast! The throttle response and acceleration were something I could get addicted to very easily!

Will the "Italian Tuneup" help? Who knows, but it sure is fun!

 

[kthor7031]

I did an "Italian Tune Up" today as well, if that is what you want to call having fun in the twisties.:laugh:

 

[stuck24]

good job! When I had the old mk5, I liked doing them right before an oil change. It really does make the engine respond better the next morning. hahahaha!

 

[OverTimer1]

I did by accident racing a 350z. Oops forgot to shift


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[PaulMK6GTINYC]

Did the same thing racing a WRX! Rev limiter kicked in!!!!

 

[CodeB4U]

Im a great owner then, because i give mine a tune up every day after work.

 

[Dontmindvaughn]

Although ive never heard of an Italian Tuneup, I sure have quite done it my accident a few times haha xD wow i see we've all raced different cars and happen to push it.

 

[stuck24]

Although ive never heard of an Italian Tuneup, I sure have quite done it my accident a few times haha xD wow i see we've all raced different cars and happen to push it.

if you left your car in a lower gear and cruised at a steady high rpm for 5 miles or more, with occasional forays at redline... then you did an "IT"

 

[spessx]

Does this actually work for clearing the carbon off of the valves? Or is it just fun to abuse the car?

-s

 

[DawnsKayBug1]

According to a person who builds products for our cars Itailian tune ups will not work for a DI engine... .

 

[Mike@Forge]

An "Italian tune up" is predicated on the design of a port injection engine where the fuel is sprayed over the intake valves. That spray of fuel at high rpm for a long period of time is what will clean the deposits off the valves.

Direct injection engines have the fuel sprayed directly into the combustion chamber, so it will never come into contact with the intake valves to clean the deposits.

 

[Firestem4]

An "Italian tune up" is predicated on the design of a port injection engine where the fuel is sprayed over the intake valves. That spray of fuel at high rpm for a long period of time is what will clean the deposits off the valves.

Direct injection engines have the fuel sprayed directly into the combustion chamber, so it will never come into contact with the intake valves to clean the deposits.

Thanks for the information Mike. So what other alternatives are there? Will that carbon buildup eventually kill the engine? (I'm guessing that may take a few hundred thousand miles). I know there are Catch Cans, anything else?

 

[Dontmindvaughn]

if you left your car in a lower gear and cruised at a steady high rpm for 5 miles or more, with occasional forays at redline... then you did an "IT"

ahh, well Ive been at a steady high rmp but never hit the red line.

 

[stuck24]

An "Italian tune up" is predicated on the design of a port injection engine where the fuel is sprayed over the intake valves. That spray of fuel at high rpm for a long period of time is what will clean the deposits off the valves.

Direct injection engines have the fuel sprayed directly into the combustion chamber, so it will never come into contact with the intake valves to clean the deposits.

really?... there is a TSB for doing this sort of "tuneup". It was written by VW engine designers for the mk5....

the point of the tuneup is to build enough heat in the valves to loosen up any buildup....(as opposed to merely spraying gas over valves etc) well, according to them anyway.

I'm gonna have to find that link for you all...

 

[Mike@Forge]

Thanks for the information Mike. So what other alternatives are there? Will that carbon buildup eventually kill the engine? (I'm guessing that may take a few hundred thousand miles). I know there are Catch Cans, anything else?

It will never completely "kill" or do irrepairable damage to an engine, at least not prior to someone trading it in for a new vehicle anyway. It will however, continue to build up until it limits airflow over the valves to a degree that will reduce power output.

really?... there is a TSB for doing this sort of "tuneup". It was written by VW engine designers for the mk5....

the point of the tuneup is to build enough heat in the valves to loosen up any buildup....(as opposed to merely spraying gas over valves etc) well, according to them anyway.

I'm gonna have to find that link for you all...

I don't forsee heat alone effectively removing all of this! These are all photos taken from FSI engines of various milage levels that have probably been through plenty of heat cycles.

Clean valves for reference: