For BMW owners wanting to enhance their driving experience, walnut blasting offers a remarkable solution. This specialised cleaning process utilises finely crushed walnut shells to remove stubborn carbon buildup from your engine’s intake valves. The results? Noticeable improvements in fuel efficiency, enhanced acceleration and a smoother, more responsive drive.
Throughout this blog, we’ll explore the ins and outs of walnut blasting, why it’s beneficial, how it’s done and whether it’s the right choice for your vehicle. Discover how this service can rejuvenate your engine and elevate your experience behind the wheel.
So, What is Walnut Blasting?
Walnut blasting is a technique used to effectively remove carbon deposits from your vehicle’s intake valves and intake ports. By using finely crushed walnut shells to remove these deposits, your engine power remains in peak performance, your fuel economy will improve and you’ll enjoy a smoother, more satisfying drive. It’s a vital maintenance step for those wanting to keep their high-performance engines running in premium condition.
Why Use Walnut Shells
Walnut shells are used for their naturally hard, fibrous texture, making them effective for removing carbon build-up without damaging any engine components. Unlike harsher materials like sand, walnut shells are soft enough to avoid scratching or etching metal surfaces, ensuring a thorough yet gentle cleaning process.
Additionally, walnut shells are eco-friendly and biodegradable, making them a sustainable choice for engine maintenance. This combination of effectiveness and safety is why walnut shells are preferred for this specialised cleaning technique.
The Importance of Cleaning Your Engine
Understand the Symptoms
Carbon build-up in your engine restricts airflow intake, disrupts the air-fuel mixture and causes poor combustion, leading to a sluggish engine response and increased fuel consumption. Over time, this build-up can also result in more severe engine wear and tear, decreasing the longevity of your vehicle’s engine. Regularly cleaning these deposits helps maintain your car’s optimal performance and efficiency. Symptoms to keep an eye out for may include:
- Increased exhaust emissions
- Difficulty starting the engine
- Engine knocking or pinging
- Reduced fuel efficiency
- Rough idling or stalling
- Sluggish acceleration
The Process of Walnut Blasting
At GMW Perth, we utilise genuine BMW technology and equipment, including our BMW walnut blasting machine. Our process includes removing the intake manifold, attaching the component to your engine’s intake port, then blasting the carbon off the valves, vacuuming outward at the same time, leaving a perfectly clean surface. It can be a labour-intensive process yet a highly effective solution for our BMW clients.
Walnut Blasting vs Alternative Methods
When it comes to cleaning carbon deposits from your engine, walnut blasting is a stand out solution when compared to alternative methods like chemical cleaners and manual processes. Manual cleaning is a labour-intensive process which falls short when we compare to the thoroughness of walnut blasting. Chemical cleaners are not only less effective, but they may also not reach and remove all the carbon build-up in your engine, leaving some residue behind.
Walnut blasting is not only more effective at removing carbon deposits but also environmentally friendly, as it uses biodegradable walnut shells that don’t introduce harmful chemicals into the environment. This method ensures a more comprehensive clean, enhancing engine performance and longevity without the downsides associated with other techniques.
When to Consider Utilising Walnut Blasting
Walnut blasting is only required for vehicles with direct injection engines, due to the nature of engine operation. Our experienced team at GMW Perth recommend walnut blasting for all direct injected BMWs and Minis, starting from 80,000 kilometres.
GMW Walnut Blasting Service
By incorporating walnut blasting into your regular vehicle maintenance plan, you can ensure your engine runs smoothly and efficiently, prolonging the lifespan and restoring the performance of your beloved BMW. Get in touch with our team of BMW specialists to discuss whether walnut blasting is the right solution for your performance vehicle.