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TheMonkey
11-08-2012, 12:52 PM
My idle got rough this Summer, I suspected carbon buildup. V12. 142k miles.

An old trick I heard about... Warmed up to operating temp, I hooked up a tube to the capped vacuum port just behind TB on one port, snaked it back to driver seat. Revved idle up ~3k RPM, and ingested a half gallon of distilled water (about 45 seconds for half gallon). Steam billowed out of that exhaust. Did the other bank same way. I like it better than Seafoam because can do a longer steam clean.

Drove to a safe stretch in sport mode, and gave it an Italian tune up. Several WOT runs to full redline.

The difference is startling. I feel like I have my car back. Stab the throttle in sport mode and it instantly puts your had back. Idle is so smooth again.

Disclaimer: please don't try this and come back to me with troubles. It worked great for me, but need to be careful about too much water too fast can cause too much compression and bend a rod.

In another car, I had a blown head gasket once between cylinder and cooling passage. That cylinder was the cleanest of the bunch because it had steam cleaned itself from the cooling system. It was squeaky clean on an old car.
Nyc Dito
11-08-2012, 12:54 PM
ive always been too nervous to try that..BUT i was looking into Water Injection kits for my older 'sport' cars...

glad to hear it worked!
7thDimension
11-08-2012, 01:06 PM
It works much better than seafoam, because it doesn't burn. It also won't damage o2 sensors like seafoam... It also does a great job of cleaning crap out of your exhaust.
seamus2154
11-08-2012, 08:42 PM
Does anyone know is there a similar vacuum port on the 4.4 to try this. I understand you can't compress a liquid like a gas and can bend a rod....ask me how I know??!! Big puddle tried to keep it running instead of letting it stall! But your procedure would work if done slowly.
TheLadiesMan
11-08-2012, 08:47 PM
+1

How would I do this on the 4.4?
7thDimension
11-09-2012, 12:26 AM
Does anyone know is there a similar vacuum port on the 4.4 to try this. I understand you can't compress a liquid like a gas and can bend a rod....ask me how I know??!! Big puddle tried to keep it running instead of letting it stall! But your procedure would work if done slowly.


+1

How would I do this on the 4.4?

Use the brake booster line, this works for the v8, v12, or any car really. Use a tube that fits into the booster line and run it around to the drivers seat, pinch the tube so the water is forced to flow slowly. Rev it up to about 3k rpm, dunk the tube into a gallon jug of distilled water, hold the rpm until the water is gone. Give it a few good WOT runs after to clear any remaining water out of the intake/exhaust. I've done it to my car and many others, never had a problem, works good and really cleans everything out.
seamus2154
11-09-2012, 12:44 AM
Thanks good idea, I use the seafaom this way on my truck but from under the hood as i have access to the throttle there. I will try this method.
TheLadiesMan
11-09-2012, 06:19 AM
Where is the brake booster line?
TheMonkey
11-09-2012, 09:20 AM
On the V12, brake booster only goes to driver side plenum.
das borgen
11-09-2012, 10:12 AM
Where is the brake booster line?

it's on the brake booster
TheLadiesMan
11-09-2012, 10:21 AM
That's the big round thing by the firewall next to the brake reservoir, correct? Sorry, I don't know much :D
7thDimension
11-09-2012, 10:49 AM
On the V12, brake booster only goes to driver side plenum.

Oh... V12 people use a tb vacuum port then like the op. This still applies for most cars.






That's the big round thing by the firewall next to the brake reservoir, correct? Sorry, I don't know much :D

Yep, the brake reservoir is attached to it. There is only one line going to it. Disconnect it either at the manifold or the brake booster itself. You might need to get a new hose clamp, because the bmw ones are single use. Your car might run a little lumpy while you do this due to the vacuum leak from the booster line...
TxDarth
11-09-2012, 10:54 AM
Be careful with this - too much water will pit aluminum in the combustion chambers. This includes the top of pistons and the combustion chambers of the heads.

It is one of those case where some is OK too much can be a killer.
7thDimension
11-09-2012, 11:32 AM
Be careful with this - too much water will pit aluminum in the combustion chambers. This includes the top of pistons and the combustion chambers of the heads.

It is one of those case where some is OK too much can be a killer.

Really? Why?
MyronMHouse
11-09-2012, 11:49 AM
I know it's a simple procedure but can someone post a picture of the line I would need to hook up?

On second thought is there a video of someone doing this?
Nyc Dito
11-09-2012, 12:03 PM
Really? Why?

you're basically putting water into your engine..a huge NO NO... but in mist form or moderation, it can have HUGE benefits...like cleaning up those deposits

Water Injection methods have been used for years, and many kits are available online..good kits run $500+
das borgen
11-09-2012, 12:11 PM
Really? Why?

http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/08/26/what-does-it-mean-when-a-car-is-hydrolocked-is-there-any-way-to-fix-it/

when your pistons try to compress liquid water, this happens to their rods


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Bent_connecting_rod_2.JPG/220px-Bent_connecting_rod_2.JPG
7thDimension
11-09-2012, 12:19 PM
It's not like I'm dumping water in the intake, the way I did it, the water was only allowed to be sucked in at like .02 gph...
iDreadnaught
11-09-2012, 12:21 PM
All I can think about is a CAI that sucks up water if you go through a puddle too fast...

The key would be to let it suck the water very slowly, otherwise water lock and bent pistons could happen. Personally, I'd do an oil change afterwards also.

While on the topic, I'm curious to know if anyone has tried hydrogen peroxide for this? Would it have that "fizzing" effect on the carbon to help loosen the deposits?
Nyc Dito
11-09-2012, 01:14 PM
It's not like I'm dumping water in the intake, the way I did it, the water was only allowed to be sucked in at like .02 gph...

im with you..this has to be done properly..ive just never tried it personally..im too chicken lol..

maybe if it can be sprayed into the intake kinda like seafoam?...maybe that would be 'safer' ?
TheMonkey
11-09-2012, 03:50 PM
I know it's a simple procedure but can someone post a picture of the line I would need to hook up?

On second thought is there a video of someone doing this?

Video of car taking a drink out of my wife's blender: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCpLXUfOG8Y

Picture of hose tapped into driver side plenum - into capped port just behind TB butterfly:

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/8601/photo59eg.jpg