2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Carbon Buildup: Before and After

Discussion in '2nd Generation: 2007+ R55 through R61' started by 05r50, May 7, 2013.

Tags:
  1. 05r50

    05r50 Well-Known Member

    Dec 4, 2010
    1,269
    696
    113
    Hilliard, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +697 / 0 / -0
    I thought I would post up a video of how my car looked both before and after having walnut shell blasting done at MOTD 2013 by Helix.

    For background, my car is a 2009 JCW with 100,000 miles on it. I am the second owner and this car has been a daily driver for both myself and the original owner, CHKMINI. The car has never had this procedure done in the past, so this is the buildup over 100,000 miles.

    Some cars may experience more buildup. There have been other threads that theorize the buildup is worse if the driving style is short trip commuting. I do not intend to debate that issue as I have no experience or value to bring to the table.


    You will see in the video that I have an oil catch can installed at this time. However, the OCC has only been on the car for approximately 3000 miles maybe less.

    I really need to thank Helix Motorsports, (Eric and Mike), for offering this service at MOTD. I would highly recommend them. If you are within driving distance of the Philly area, this may be the place for you to go. You can reach them at Helix Motorsports.

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF2MmQ0mTks]MINI Cooper R56 walnut shell blasting - YouTube[/ame]
     
  2. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Jan 5, 2010
    6,134
    1,588
    0
    Physician Assitant (retired)
    Sherman,Tx
    Ratings:
    +1,588 / 0 / -0
    :cornut: Good job. Your 'build up' looked rather minor compared to some that I've seen. Ah, BSH OCC. Did you also install the BSH Dual Boost Tap? I'm just curious as I put both on Margi(08 R56 BRG MCS/JCWm) about 50kmi ago to block all 'blow by' and no problems so far.:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  3. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
    Supporting Member

    Apr 22, 2009
    2,188
    1,483
    113
    Project Manager
    Charlotte, NC
    Ratings:
    +1,863 / 2 / -0
    This reminds me... I've got a lot of wire fishing to do through walls and ceilings soon... I really need to get a boroscope!
     
  4. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,253
    443
    83
    San Francisco
    Ratings:
    +449 / 0 / -0
    What's the current assessment about an OCC's effect on carbon buildup? Has anyone confirmed that it works, or is it a "seems like it might be a good idea" notion (like nitrogen in tires) that doesn't yield real world benefit?
     
  5. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Jan 5, 2010
    6,134
    1,588
    0
    Physician Assitant (retired)
    Sherman,Tx
    Ratings:
    +1,588 / 0 / -0
    :cornut: OCC's have no effect on carbon build up. They are to prevent or greatly inhibit carbon build up in N14 MINI engines. Once that it's built up, you've bought yourself a 'walnut shell blow job' (so to speak) to remove it. :Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  6. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,424
    10,031
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,656 / 2 / -0
    Jeff thanks for posting the video of your colonoscopy. While your valves didn't look terrible there was carbon that was cleaned out nicely.

    [​IMG]

    I believe why this engine looked so good was the diet of over the road driving & Italian tune ups it has had over its life.

    My guess is that a properly set up catch can will help, but not prevent carbon build up.
     
  7. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Dec 22, 2009
    5,559
    4,419
    113
    Male
    Overland Park, Ks
    Ratings:
    +5,003 / 1 / -0
    My 2009 has half that mileage, gets run regularly on the track and has worse buildup than that - I'm planning to blast mine with my home made blaster this weekend, I'll post results once they're in!

    I did a video with the boroscope that came out very dark, but you could see the buildup pretty well - it looked like I was walking the scope thru a coal mine!
     
  8. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
    1,253
    443
    83
    San Francisco
    Ratings:
    +449 / 0 / -0
    That was my real question. Is there any verification that OCC's actually helps prevent carbon buildup? There is a lot of speculation but nobody seems to know for sure. People find it catches some oil and think it must be preventing carbon buildup, but does it really? Is it like "butt dyno" speculation or the real thing?
     
  9. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,713
    7,659
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,913 / 1 / -0
    Maybe another way of looking at the question....

    What gets caught by the OCC isn't getting to the valves to form the carbon buildup... Not aware of any OCC that is 100% effective, so some still gets by...
    It's probably more of a "slowing the process down"...
     
  10. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,713
    7,659
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,913 / 1 / -0
    Good luck with your test run...
    One thing that I might suggest.... As you finish with the blasting of each set of valves..... use the air gun to get as many of the walnut grains out of the ports.... So as to minimize the loose pieces that would pass thru the combustion chamber and then get wedged into the small cells of the catalytic converter....

    I can't imagine carbonized walnut shells blocking the cat will offer any performance benefits....
     
  11. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Dec 22, 2009
    5,559
    4,419
    113
    Male
    Overland Park, Ks
    Ratings:
    +5,003 / 1 / -0
    Yep, that was my plan. Plus my compressor isn't that big so I'll let it catch up inbetween "blastings". If it doesn't feel like I've got enough air I'll run it up to school and use the air there.
     
  12. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
    1,421
    670
    113
    IT
    Atlanta-ish
    Ratings:
    +811 / 0 / -0
    How can one be sure that the valves are closed?
     
  13. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    2nd gen problems :D
     
  14. Grizld700

    Grizld700 Well-Known Member

    Feb 2, 2016
    1,212
    47
    48
    Service Advisor at a Toyota Dealer
    Eastern Iowa
    Ratings:
    +52 / 0 / -0
    :p
     
  15. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Oct 23, 2010
    2,952
    1,500
    113
    Engineer
    Pacific NW
    Ratings:
    +1,721 / 0 / -0
    You look. When the intake manifold is off the, the valves are visible.
     
  16. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
    1,421
    670
    113
    IT
    Atlanta-ish
    Ratings:
    +811 / 0 / -0
    Totally worth it :D
     
  17. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
    1,421
    670
    113
    IT
    Atlanta-ish
    Ratings:
    +811 / 0 / -0
    I get that, but say some are open, just hit the starter till they close?
     
  18. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Oct 23, 2010
    2,952
    1,500
    113
    Engineer
    Pacific NW
    Ratings:
    +1,721 / 0 / -0
    With the spark plugs removed, you can turn the engine over by hand with a socket wrench on the crank pulley.
     
  19. Grizld700

    Grizld700 Well-Known Member

    Feb 2, 2016
    1,212
    47
    48
    Service Advisor at a Toyota Dealer
    Eastern Iowa
    Ratings:
    +52 / 0 / -0
    When I do the service I leave the car in gear and rock the car forward or backwards to move the valves. I've had zero problems doing that way.
     
  20. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,713
    7,659
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,913 / 1 / -0
    I for one would be interested in your procedure.... With pictures of course.. And I'm sure others with the R56S would be as well (excluding David.O)...
     

Share This Page