TERRACLEAN
- Thread starter thepits
- Start date
thepits said:
Yeah this did happen on my dad's jag. The carbon build up was hiding an issue with the injectors, they had worn out on the tips and the carbon was helping them to run. After the clean they failed and the car ran really bad. But the bottom line is the carbon build up was hiding the problem.
Are you having running issues with your z4? If not I would leave it alone. Modern direct injection engines suffer from carbon build up but I haven't heard of z4 problems.
Using super unleaded is supposed to introduce detergents to the engine internals that clean them
Rob
Using super unleaded is supposed to introduce detergents to the engine internals that clean them
Rob
Sounds Good this. Just done some research on it and there's no denying it works. Just weather it reveals a problem somwhere.
It is most likely snake oil.
People have ran cars to over 300K without ever needing a terraclean, etc. If you want to keep internals clean use a premium fuel like BP Ultimate. It has chemicals in it which clean your internals.
Terraclean just makes a lot of black smoke come out the back of your exhaust, fooling you into thinking its been cleaned, I think someone replicated terraclean on youtube using a few ££ worth of normal stuff you can buy anywhere. I think I trust BP who spend billions on R & D to come up with a better cleaning solution than some random company.
AVOID!!!!!!
As for the stories about subaru, etc do you have a link to their official site stating they promote its use and they actually use it on servicing?
People have ran cars to over 300K without ever needing a terraclean, etc. If you want to keep internals clean use a premium fuel like BP Ultimate. It has chemicals in it which clean your internals.
Terraclean just makes a lot of black smoke come out the back of your exhaust, fooling you into thinking its been cleaned, I think someone replicated terraclean on youtube using a few ££ worth of normal stuff you can buy anywhere. I think I trust BP who spend billions on R & D to come up with a better cleaning solution than some random company.
AVOID!!!!!!
As for the stories about subaru, etc do you have a link to their official site stating they promote its use and they actually use it on servicing?
I used to own and work on Lotus Esprits before getting the Zed. One of the Esprits went in for a Terraclean and it had to have a full engine rebiuld after that experience. Terraclean seems to be very effective at decoking an engine. Unfortunately on older engines some of that coke can be effective at sealing any gaps like around the piston crown thus stopping compression finding its way past the piston rings and into the crankcase.
I would therefore avoid Terraclean and as others have suggested stick to good quality petrol.
I would therefore avoid Terraclean and as others have suggested stick to good quality petrol.
I've not had the ///M done, but I had it done on a 2004 Audi TT (3.2 DSG). It was emissions treated before and after, and made very little difference (you couldn't tell any difference when driving either). The guy who did it was quite shocked and expected better results - I'll admit I begrudged paying him!
That said, when I had the TT I dropped lots of money getting it to my (high) standards and "perfect". In hindsight if it's running smooth, is serviced/maintained etc., then spend the money on fuel and enjoy the car!
If you're really thinking about it, I'd try and compare your MOT emissions results against a couple of other people's (with the same engine), if the difference is noticeable, it might be worth it, otherwise same advice, spend it on decent fuel.
That said, when I had the TT I dropped lots of money getting it to my (high) standards and "perfect". In hindsight if it's running smooth, is serviced/maintained etc., then spend the money on fuel and enjoy the car!
If you're really thinking about it, I'd try and compare your MOT emissions results against a couple of other people's (with the same engine), if the difference is noticeable, it might be worth it, otherwise same advice, spend it on decent fuel.
SonnyA85 said:
Just a heads up it's not a random company. The Canadian government had a science prize for anyone who could make a zero emission internal combustion engine. During the testing phase the engineers needed a way to make the parameters identical every time. To achieve this they invented this way to clean the internals of engines so they knew each fuel test the engine was perfect.
Like my previous cars/trucks, I have put some Archoil fuel system through my Z4 Coupe. Lots of information on the Powerenhancer website.
Its about £20 and to use it every 5000 miles or so. I also put an Archoil Oil treatment in when I had an oil/filter change. Lots of science behind it (boron for to help reduce wear).
Since adding back in may, the insides of my exhaust tips are still silver instead of black like most I've seen.
I'm know many people wouldn't bother but I am pleased with the results.
Its about £20 and to use it every 5000 miles or so. I also put an Archoil Oil treatment in when I had an oil/filter change. Lots of science behind it (boron for to help reduce wear).
Since adding back in may, the insides of my exhaust tips are still silver instead of black like most I've seen.
I'm know many people wouldn't bother but I am pleased with the results.
Paulwirral
Active member
Just use decent fuel and give it a thrashing every so often , it's cheaper and you'll enjoy it more , however if you get caught speeding it may cost you more and you can't sue me for saying do it , I'm mad , cuckoo ! 
highway1 said:
I've been using archoil since I got my car 3 years ago and it's still running fine. The one I use is a fuel cleaner used in every tank along with standard shell fuel. Works out cheaper than super unleaded. Never had an issue with emissions in either petrol or diesel.
Personally try it out, there will always be people who claim it to be snake oil but don't have any evidence so if you can afford it, why not!
My Zed had this done at 87000 miles as the garage I bought it from is also a Terraclean franchise. I don't think I would have paid for it but I must admit it's running brilliantly and if Ed China uses similar system on Wheeler Dealers (I think it was on a Jaguar XK 8) so if it's all right with him it's all right with me.
I've got some anti-tiger powder that I sprinkled across the garden, it can't be snake oil as we've not seen any tigers in the gardendhobbs said:
oke: If it does no harm, but does no good either, what evidence do you have that the additive isn't jut snake oil :evil:
In the 143,000 miles I've put on mine, I've not put anything other than 97 RON or in the Z4MC since I bought it and then only Shell, Tesco or Esso (or the 102 RON from Aral in Adenau).
However, I'm getting the 140,000 mile diseased Alfa 147 Terracleaned this weekend as I'm not a fan of the Bondesque smoke clouds it produces every now and then - but that gets whatever fuel is closes when I need filling up as I don't know how it was looked after (or not) in the 125,000 miles before I got it (although by the state of some of the other things I've found, I'd say it was a council estate 'pool car')
sharpyboy said:My Zed had this done at 87000 miles as the garage I bought it from is also a Terraclean franchise. I don't think I would have paid for it but I must admit it's running brilliantly and if Ed China uses similar system on Wheeler Dealers (I think it was on a Jaguar XK 8) so if it's all right with him it's all right with me.
Not of course forgetting that Ed is a paid promoter and I believe also director of Terraclean, so has a vested interest in promoting it both to franchisees and end users
This was a heavily debated topic within the S5 forums as the V8 was known to coke up.
I had the S5 cleaned by a competitor to Terraclean, http://www.enginecarbonclean.com/, which basically just pumps hydrogen into the air intake while running that burns off the carbon. Results were definitely noticeable and I think I even documented them on here. Shall try find them.
I had the S5 cleaned by a competitor to Terraclean, http://www.enginecarbonclean.com/, which basically just pumps hydrogen into the air intake while running that burns off the carbon. Results were definitely noticeable and I think I even documented them on here. Shall try find them.