Engine clean up

[mozic]

I have an E24 (euro-spec M635csi) and my mechanic is recommending an engine cleaning additive be added to fuel in order to clean the fuel injectors up a bit; says this will cure the warm start issues (nothing major just takes longer to start when warm sometimes), and just generally improve performance and condition of the engine.

I have no clue how this will affect the engine and other parts of the car; is this a good idea or will it do more bad than good?

[Bert Poliakoff]

Why not just pull the injectors and send them out be properly cleaned. At the same , who ever cleans them will put new pintle caps and seals on them. Try Witch Hunter or 5.0 Motorsports. Or if you have diesel truck repair facility near you, they can probably do this service for you. I had mine done at such a facility and it ran me less than $8 an injector.

[mozic]

Why not just pull the injectors and send them out be properly cleaned. At the same , who ever cleans them will put new pintle caps and seals on them. Try Witch Hunter or 5.0 Motorsports. Or if you have diesel truck repair facility near you, they can probably do this service for you. I had mine done at such a facility and it ran me less than $8 an injector.

Cleaning the fuel injectors was not the main reason why he suggested it, it was just to clean up the system a little bit. Since warm start is a bit of an issue that is supposed to improve that as well. What I would like to know is do these things damage the engine or are otherwise not a good idea?

[Bert Poliakoff]

If the enfine is in good nick, a quality additive won't hurt it.

[mozic]

If the enfine is in good nick, a quality additive won't hurt it.

Thanks. I checked out your flickr project...pretty impressive. Since you are clearly an expert on restoration as well I will just as you - I have another issue with my E24:

The adhesive on one of the back seat compartment covers (those things behind back seats on the rear dash) has given way (no longer holding the two halves of the cover together properly) and I would like to fix it. I suppose I would have to take it out, remove the glue residue and then apply fresh glue; trouble is I do not know how to get the thing out...seems to be attached to a hinge (and there is a speaker on it that is also connected to something below). Is there a how-to step by step guide on how to do that or is it better to try to fix it where it is? (although I cannot imagine it is a good idea to mess with glue in the back seats...).

Thank you again Bert.

[Bert Poliakoff]

Tilt it all the way up and you will see the screws that hold the lid to he hinges.
Clean all the glue off and re attach using a high grade of contact cement and spring clamps along the edges.

[mozic]

Tilt it all the way up and you will see the svrews that hold the lid to he hinges.
Clean all the glue off and re attach using a high grade of contact cement and spring clamps along the edges.

Thanks! Will do :)

[bimas]

As far as the fuel additive goes, it won't harm the engine. If you want to clean the system, change the fuel filter and have the injectors cleaned as Bert suggested. There is nothing much to clean with fuel injector cleaner.

To clean the intake, you can use seafoam.

When you repair the speaker pods, remember that cleaning the old glue maybe one of the most important steps in restoration. Second, you need patience. Don't rush it. Re-glue only large enough area that you can clamp down at any given moment. I am not sure if Brrt will agree with me on this one, but I successfully used Gorilla glue. You have to use it sparingly as it can get messy.

[mozic]

The old glue is has not hardened yet - it is still sticky (just not enough to do its job anymore) - what is the best solution to use to remove it?

[wabrowne]

Heck- forget the glue & the removal. I want to see pictures of the M1 !
Billy

[Ed Lyerly]

I used Gorilla glue as well. If you use an elastic wrap (like an Ace bandage) and wrap the freshly glued assembly like a mummy .... it will hold the edges of the cover tightly to the metal frame while the glue dries.