Hello, I have a 2008 Cooper base. I took it to the local shop to have the carbon removed. He said he prefers to introduce water into the intake over the walnut blasting for carbon removal. The question I have......the mechanic is saying that ONLY the turbo has issues with carbon build up. Is this correct, or does the base non-turbo also have this issue?

Does anyone know a shop in the Fort Walton Beach, FL area that does walnut blasting?

Thanks for the help
Ed

 

If you have a BASE cooper.

Carbon is not an issue.

Save your money.

The carbon issue effects the direct-injected turbo cars. Base cars have port fuel injection which washes the valves for you..

 

Ok. Thank you. The reason I took the car in is because I'm getting a P0303 cylinder 3 misfire. However they did a compression check today and cylinder came back good. Now what?

Thanks again,
Ed

 

Swap coils, or injectors - see if the misfire "moves".. if it does you found the problem.

 

Coils were also swamped. Misfire stayed on cylinder 3. Will look at the injector next.

Can anyone confirm that the Base Cooper does NOT have a High Pressure Fuel Pump?

Thanks again.

 

The base model doesn't have a HPFP. On the turbo model the HPFP is bolted to the cylinder head and connects to the intake camshaft. On the base model the fuel pump is in the gas tank which has lower pressure as high pressure is not required with port injection.

 

I'm quite shocked that the place you took it to suggested pouring water into your intake, holy hell!

 

Steam is quite effective at removing conventional carbon in the combustion chamber - see blown head gaskets for proof.

However, that said - there are much better chemical treatments for port fuel injected cars.

 

That was done in the old days when we had mechanics not techs. Used to pour small amounts of water into the carburetor while running and yes it would remove some carbon.
If I had a choice of that or walnut blasting, I would go with the walnut blasting on a turbo model. You can still get carbon build-up on any engine but the severe cases are the direct injected engines.

 

I open try a good chemical treatment. Can anyone recommend a good product here. Seafoam into the intake, BG44, etc......?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm just buying this 2008 Cooper base and want to get it correct. I have read countless hours on this awesome forum. It has really helped at my meager Mini Cooper education.

 

My suggestion is to get a proper diagnosis before you apply random fixes based on stuff you heard on the internet. Your (possibly only) problem is the misfire trouble code. Concentrate on fixing this and only this. I doubt your problem is carbon buildup and I doubt the you'll fix it by pouring something out of a bottle.

- Mark

 

Agree with Markjenn totally. Localize the issue and go from there for more upkeep.

Should you decide to do additives… In my own experience with my '08 MCS, I do a seafoam treatment every 10K and within the last 5k, I have been pouring a bottle of Techron (by Chevron, available in a case of 6 at Costco for $12.99/cs - if on sale) every 1k. The car has over 100k and has a noticeable responsiveness and better throttle response.

Wish you luck in getting cyl 3 issue resolved quite soon!

 

I recommend the BG air induction service for port fuel injection, seafoam is useless as many members have found out only after pulling the intake manifold off and still seeing their valves caked with oil deposits. Since I have direct injection I get my valves walnut blasted every 30k-40k miles and a bottle of BG 44K every other tank. Since it treats 20 gallons per 11 ounce can I use (half) 6 fluid ounce bottles (nail polish bottles) because pouring in the entire 11 ounce into a 13.2 gal. tank is wasteful. Pull your spark plugs and grab a flashlight and shine it down into your cylinders, you should see black carbon.

 

I have a 2005 Cooper (non S) and recently had exactly the same problems and codes as you. I knew that my plugs, leads & coil were all less than 1500 miles on them so thinking it may be the injectors I did a Seafoam treatment through the air intake.
Within about 5 miles of the treatment the check engine light went off and has been off since (about 1 month ago now)