Carbon Deposits wtf
 

OK so I am kinda a car newb, not having owned one in 5 years.. I'll write this for the TL:DR crew:

1) Dad in law brought car into shop for oil change (in China)
2) They told him the engine has a lot of "carbon deposits" and that he should let them do a treatment (whatever that is)
3) This treatment is $2000 RMB ($300). I assume for that price, they're going to scrape it off manually?
4) So WTF is the difference between whatever they do, and buying a bottle (or more) of carbon deposit cleaner at Wal-Mart for $10?
5) Car only has 130K on it, but who knows what kind of stank gas they sell in China.
6) At the very least, if manual cleaning is the bet option, that price seems extremely steep, especially for China.

Looking forward to your replies,

http://i.imgur.com/LIvlN.png

What vehicle?

There are certain cars that require the manual removal of deposits but most are just done with chemicals.

Sludge is another story but I doubt this is the case:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...t=269465Bimmer

Best guess is that they want to run some sort of intake cleaning system through it.
http://www.3m.com/product/informatio...m-Cleaner.html

It's just a Ford Mondeo

99% of the time engines are cleansed of carbon deposits by just running a product like seafoam or a motorvac procedure through the motor. The process usually interrupts the fuel supply to the fuel rails and the cleanser is introduced there while the engine is running. This loosens the carbon deposits and they are then expelled through the exhaust in the form of acrid nasty smoke till the procedure is complete.
I highly doubt a motor with only 130km's on it would require such service this is generally reserved to much higher mileage motors and something I've only ever once seen needing to be done. If the motor is in good operational condition and its fuel injection, ignition and emissions systems are in good operational condition then it is something that shouldn't need doing except in the most extreme of conditions IE never allowing the motor to reach full operational temps or just idling in stop and go traffic its entire life.
It is China after all it could have been running on fake fuel all its life.
$300 seems steep a price to pay for such a service as well.

I fully agree with Phil's post. I've only had to do it on higher mileage gas engines.

Having said that, I looked up what engines came in the Mondeo - is it possible it's a diesel? They are a lot more prone to leave deposits than gassers. If the Ford diesel engines are anything like the VW TDI's, I'd research it.

Is this a newer Ford Mondeo? Don't those have a direct injection engine and suffer the fate with carbon build up on the intake valves, as with moth DI engines?

It's not a Diesel

But like I mentioned, the fuel quality in China is highly suspect. Especially when you're in remote areas, between the major cities, which is the type of traveling my dad does most of the time.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I guess an additive is probably the best way to go for now. If it becomes a problem, going to a better mechanic would be the next best choice.

Your dad might be getting the upsell. W5 Canada Garage Probe except it's the China version

If his car is not pinging and running fine then I say screw it or get a second opinion.

This is super ghetto but if possible, give the car an Italian tune-up.

Most people in China can't work on cars if their lives depend on it. Spotty dealer network, DIY is hard.

Also remember their cars idle most of their lives. 130k km is quite a lot in that part of the world. You can't really apply North America standard to Chinese context. No to mention China actually have a varied geography, you didn't mention if your in laws are in Beijing with the dust storm, or southern China with the plastic killing ozone.

It is your father in law's car.. it is his money.. so let him deal with it.

Oh you don't want them to manual scrap the stuff off.. considering how tight the tolerance modern engine is manufactured.