Topic: Does "Italian Tune-Up" really work? or for that matter....

[aquadorhj]

off-the-shelf fuel system cleaners as a means of remedying carbon build-up in your engine?

Italian Tune-Up is where you drive the pi$$ out of the car, keeping the RPM in high range for 10-20 minutes, AFAIK.

People say this burns off the carbon build up, but does anyone have proof?  has anybody ever taken before/after picture of open cylinder heads after performing "italian-tune-up"?

and also, I am wary of off the shelf fuel system cleaners, ..  last time i used one, it ruined new spark plugs...  does anything really work for sure?

ps.  my car works fine.  just asking out of curiosity.

[ktm525]

I dunno, my vehicles never suffer from carbon build-up. Carbon may have been more of a concern before fuel injection became the norm. That being said, a friend of mine was told by his mechanic that his older 3 series BMW likes to be driven. It is not happy puttering about 100% of the time.

[maritime_storm]

Isn't that what on-ramps are for? The question for the answer you asked is somewhere in the middle. Yes you can create issues by being too easy on a vehicle(carbon build-up), you can also do more harm by constantly abusing it too. Nothing worng with opening it up on the highway(within the speed limits/road conditions), it does your engine some good, to do it once in a while. Some vehicles like living at the upper end of the RPM scale all time(most european manufacterers) OHC engines are generally tuned to be most efficient at a higher rpm(2000-3000 constant), whereas OHV engines like being at lower RPM(1500-2000) all the time. A bottle of fuel injector cleaner once is of great benefit as well.

[tpl]

In those happy days of carburetters and ignition with points and a capacitor an Italian Tune up always FELT as if the car ran better afterwards... even if it did no good at all. 

Interestingly in these days of adaptive transmissions like VWs DSG and many others  a blast around in low gears with large throttle openings will persuade the transmission into its performance rather than fuel economy mode for a day or two. 

[inco]

That special highway trip, or Italian Tune-Up, also is good for emission testing. Cars that are not properly warmed up have a higher failure rate and so most mechanics tell you to take it out on the highway before you go for the test.

[initial_D]

I don't see how a 10 min drive in the 5000K + rpm can harm an engine, as long as it is warmed up prior.

The 1.8L in my old E30 318i gets a constant work out, driven in the high rpm range for hours at a time without issues. Currently has over 310,000KM, and my friend who bought it off me drives it daily.

[Loudpedal]

My folks used to go really easy on the throttle of their cars, and after a few years, I could hear them knocking and pinging under load.  I have to believe it was due (or at least partially) to carbon deposits from super easy driving.   

Me on the other hand, I prefer to exercise the engine, and let it clear it's throat to redline once a day or so.   Can't say I've ever heard knocking or pinging from my engines.     

[aquadorhj]

I ran a quick search on the net, and even on wikipedia, there doesn't seem to be a firm proof that "Italian Tune-up" works.

However, i revved my engine for a bit yesterday on my way home, and found that my Jetta goes to over 100 KM/H on second gear on red-line.  :-)  learn something new everyday. 

Don't worry, i was on highway.

I was on it for few minutes.  didn't like the racket it made at red-line, though.  didn't make any difference when i came off the highway.

[safristi]

..the olde Eye -Tie TOON UP......worked like a charm on my old iron...added a lil "Top engine  OIL additive" directly into the Carbs MAW and BLEW (BLUE) SMOKE fer 5 minutes....plus it's Fun to excercise yer perogative...maybe i'm tha caustion of GLOWBALLS swarming/KOOLAIDING/CHANGING...................tried it a few years ago on my Mo'bike in the Spring...coming ov'r a rise into St.Mary's(Mother of GOD ONTariooooH) and a cute lady cop nailed me fer 160KPH(or thereaboots!!!! )...after a wee discussion in her"office'............ ...............$300 and 6 points later..i'm goin' wif tha Mennonite Tune UP...Giddy-UP and PRAY............

[Leviathan]

$300 and 6 points later..i'm goin' wif tha Mennonite Tune UP...Giddy-UP and PRAY............

[petertech99h]

Hi All !!!!

THE OTHER ITALIAN TUNE-UP!!!!

An Emmission Test guy I know has a different version of the italian tune up:

1- Warm up the engine
2- remove top of air cleaner so you have clear access to the top of the CARB.
3- manually increase idle via linkage on Carb to fast idle.
4- cover the carb intake completely with a gloved hand, ie try to choke the engine.
5- at the same time go full throttle
6- stay on it till the engine stalls!! 1-2 minutes max.

>> The idea is that it sucks all the crap out of the Carb passages without rebuild and
any possible stuff in vacuum lines and PVC lines.
A BS fix like this will help a little on the drive clean test, maybe enough to get by if you failed
by 10-20% or so.  But none of this is ever a 100% fix!!

see ya


 

[Careener]

I figure if you're car has a carb it's too old to require a mandatory drive-clean anyway.

[quadzilla]

What is a carb? 

[Gardiner Westbound]

Fuel quality is the prime determinant of carbon build up. Most occurs on the back side of the intake valves. That area catches the flow from the fuel injectors. Brand name gasoline contains sufficient detergent to inhibit deposit formation.

A long drive at highway speeds is the no-cost way to deal with carbon in the cylinders. Twenty miles will heat it up and burn it off safely and effectively. Machinery operated within 80-percent of its capacity will last indefinitely. No mechanical benefit accrues from redlining the engine.

Most automotive miracle elixirs are better at cleaning out your wallet than your engine.

[safristi]

What is a carb? 

..a gram of carbohydrates...........or prolly 200Metres flat out on yer bike..... any emmissions not included.....NOx NOx whose there?.................cough cough..........Fart NOx..golden.

[johngenx]

Engines are very clean today thanks to the precision of electronic fuel injection, ignition systems and even variable valve timing.  Add cleaner fuel that has additives that really work, and engines that are clogged with carbon are rare.

Out of curiosity while changing the plugs in my old C230 at 250K, I borrowed a scope from my tech, and you could still see the factory etching on the cylinder walls.  The top of the piston looked like new.  Synthetic oil, no cold shut-offs, modern electronics and gasoline have made engines the longest lasting component in the car now.  I haven't walked away from an aging car due to a worn engine in a long, long time.

The high cost of other repairs does old cars in now.  Heck, if you live somewhere where AC is mandatory, even an AC rebuild can far exceed the value of an older car.

[HiGh_RoLLeR666]

What is a carb? 

CARBURATOR!!!

[DKaz]

What is a carb? 

I don't know if you're joking or serious... 

[quadzilla]

It was a joke since carbs haven't been around for a very long time.

[Keh-vin]

Once upon a long time ago I bought a '69 Caprice, 2 dr, 327...driven by one of those guys who doesn't know what the gas pedal is for.  It was cheap, and barely rusty...made a great 2nd car for a then 18 yr old kid.  POS couldn't spin in mud. So I kept driving my reg car, and occasionally would take the '69 out and let my brother have at it any time he wanted - and we Italian Tuned the crap outta that thing.  Didn't take 'til the end of summer and it would lay a single black strip at will when asked...sold it later for $450 (same as I paid for it - and sorry I did ever since whaaaa  ).  Dang that was a fun car...

On the other end of the septum a friend of mine had a '70 Z28, high strung like you wouldn't believe...drove it like guy who owned '69 Caprice...ended up blowing the engine because he didn't have the guts to drive it like it wanted to be driven.  Not sure how that worked, but one day poof!  Blamed it on his light feet - sold it and bought himself a Fairmont as I recall...(how awful is that!?!  )

I never let my stuff get carbon buildup...despite my best efforts at improving my mpg, I don't think I'll ever have an issue with Italians...this is one Mennonite who knows where his go pedal is...(Saf, you's too funny    )