Non Toyota tech enquiry - Mitsubishi GDi

[markoneswift]

Please no flames or anything for asking about a Mitsi on here, I just figured you guys are pretty helpful so I'll ask here. I want to get hold of some direct injection cleaning product like Wynns Direct Power 3 or similar - something that treats the 'dry' intake side of a GDi engine with an aerosol and the 'wet' side with a tank additive. Does anyone know where I could buy such a product ? I checked on Repco and Supercheap but couldn't find the two part aerosol / liquid kit anywhere ? Thanks !

[Lloyd]

In all honesty, you're wasting your time trying to clean it with the manifold on. Take the whole thing off, let it soak in brake cleaner and scrape as much off as you can with a screwdriver. Most of the intake cleaners for the dry side do very little.

[sergei]

There is a product made by Subaru called Subaru Upper Cylinder Cleaner.
Apparently it is very good.

[markoneswift]

In all honesty, you're wasting your time trying to clean it with the manifold on. Take the whole thing off, let it soak in brake cleaner and scrape as much off as you can with a screwdriver. Most of the intake cleaners for the dry side do very little.

Thanks for the reply Lloyd - you sound like you've had some experience with this ? If so, how big of a job is it to remove the manifold ? The car still has some mechanical warranty left on it so I'm reluctant to start pulling it to too many bits lol.

[phoenix]

Nulon foaming engine cleaner is at SCA and Repco. Similar stuff and in a similar size can to the Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner.

The Subaru stuff you spray throttle plate and then into the intake manifold (partly while running, partly not). The Nulon stuff tells you to that plus pull the spark plugs and give it a shot in there.

I used the Nulon stuff on a vvti 1JZ-GTE which used to occasionally ping on BP 98 - even on stock boost. After using the stuff, and pulling the plugs to clean pistons etc, I haven't heard it ping since.

[markoneswift]

Nulon foaming engine cleaner is at SCA and Repco. Similar stuff and in a similar size can to the Subaru Upper Engine Cleaner.

The Subaru stuff you spray throttle plate and then into the intake manifold (partly while running, partly not). The Nulon stuff tells you to that plus pull the spark plugs and give it a shot in there.

I used the Nulon stuff on a vvti 1JZ-GTE which used to occasionally ping on BP 98 - even on stock boost. After using the stuff, and pulling the plugs to clean pistons etc, I haven't heard it ping since.

Cool, thanks for the tip Phoenix

[Lloyd]

Under warranty meaning it's reasonably new?

As Sergei said, the Subaru stuff is about the best. They usually have heaps of it in the parts department. Pulling the manifold off would depend on what car and how old etc as to whether it's worth doing or not. I was picturing an old N84W Chariot or similar.

[rollaholic]

im pretty sure he means an aftermarket mechanical warranty - autosure etc

ps everyone who buys those is pretty much subsidising landrover owners

[Lloyd]

Lack of information etc

[phoenix]

everyone who buys those is pretty much subsidising landrover owners

Substitute 'landrover' with 'anything non-Japanese' and adjust syntax accordingly

Edit: I was just going to say Euro, but a relative has a Toyota Voltz....(built in 'Merica)

[matt dunn]

Does your GDI actually have a problem?

By the time you notice it needs the intake cleaned it it too late and it will need to come off to be sorted.

The do have a range of other common problems too though.

[BBBrad]

There are two main areas that need to be cleaned in a mitzi gdi. The intake manifold, esp the carbon buildup on the back of the valves. Mitzi sell a product called "shurma" or something like that from memory. This is run through the throttle body with the intake/afm off, while the engines running (trying to hold around 2000 rpm). Half a can run through, then engine stopped to soak for a while then do it again and run the can out.
Second area is the injector swirler tips. Involves putting the cylinder on tdc and spaying a product in to cover and soak the tip for a few minutes and then sucked out . 1 cylinder ata time.
If the engine is caked very badly with carbon, worst case, intake and head will have to come off for a bath at the engine rebuilders.

[tsoob]

I have a GDI Cedia, Literally just 3 days ago we did the same service, removed the intake and brake cleaned and carby cleaned the injection ports.

Plugs were so badly fouled up with white kak, they have a 3 mode ecu and are renowned for running lean. Its not any faster now but its definitely running a lot smoother.

[markoneswift]

Guys, thanks for all the replies and info. The car is a Mitsi Chariot Grandis Super Exceed on an '02 plate. It's got 114k on the clock is in really nice condition. No, it doesn't have a problem so to speak, apart from its ill-informed owner ( me ). I didn't know that the GDi is designed to run on 98 octane fuel, for example. I do now and the diffrence is amazing - it pulls much better and is far smoother on 98. In my ignorance, I probably put more than a couple of tanks of 91 through it so really my enquiry about inlet cleaning is coming from a preventative angle rather than a 'needs to be fixed' angle. To answer the question re warranty, yes I did go for the Autosure ( again, in possible ignorance ) although to be fair I didn't think the price I paid was too bad for three years ( almost the duration of the finance ). If anyone cares to enlighten me about Autosure, I'd be interested to listen Also, if anyone knows a good information source for these cars, that would be great. I've googled for recommended oils, tyre pressures, that kind of stuff but information is hard to find. Weird, since they're such a common car here in NZ ! I'd be happy to be educated on this lol

[rolla_fxgt]

Does taking off the manifold off and doing the cleaning thing solve the intermitent loss of acceleration problem in GDI legnums?
Mitsis are weird with their issues.

Should have stuck with a good ol Toyota, but lessons learned and all that.

[rollaholic]

i actually think auto sure is a good idea for someone who doesnt swap cars every 3-6 months, or if they do own a car for longer than that its because its got no engine.

you'd only have to make one decent claim for it to pay for itself. for landrover owners thats every 3 months.

[markoneswift]

Ah, I get the skit about supplementing Land Rovers then lol. And I have stuck with the Cynos, the Mitsi is the 'big car' that lives at home all week whilst I thrash the Cynos to Auckland every day ! But not for long, cos I've got a new job in HAMILTON thank God.

[Timmo]

I have a GDI ....renowned for running lean.

err year, that's the idea.