New to the OC, recently purchased a '92 Mx5 1.6 Eunos.
Have carried out a few servicing bits, and got a few more jobs left to do still.
July/August I’m driving to Spain and back over a 2 week period, hence the reason for a major service (plus who doesn’t spend at least a grand within a month of buying a “new” car?).
Been looking at Carbon clean and Terraclean to decoke the guts of the engine, carbon clean I know is hydrogen fed through intake manifold and terraclean is fed through fuel rail.
Which one would you say is more beneficial in these engines? I’m inclined towards Carbonclean, but then again I could always go down the route of the spray bottle with engine revved up to steam clean the inside.
I would say save your money and after driving across Spain you will have given the engine a good internal clean. I would have a full service done and that would be it.
In 2013 someone in the Eastern region of the club organised a group booking at a garage that was a Terraclean agent. 16 cars went from memory, mine was one of them.
The car was given an emissions test before and after the Terraclean process and I think every car had a significant drop in hydrocarbons and CO readings. This was done on a gas analyser used for mot testing so the results couldn’t be rigged. My car before the process gave the following readings;
CO 0.169
HC 24
Lambda 1.000
After the Terraclean process;
CO 0.124
HC 16
Lambda 1.000
On a roadtest afterwards the engine ran smoother and pick up was better. I can only say what I saw and was pretty impressed as I went along slightly sceptical. It cost £50 with the discounted group booking, I think it’s closer to £100 now which is more than I’d pay to be honest.
Wanted to give my findings as someone who has witnessed the results rather than just saying ‘snake oil’ without any contact with the product.
At the end of the day it’s up to you whether you feel your car needs this or not.
I’ve also had my NC done with the Terraclean system (several others within South Central too) and all I can say is there was an immediate and noticeable improvement in emissions and engine performance which has continued to date, some 9 months later. Fuel consumption has also improved by several mpg/gallon even though I drive the car the same way as before the treatment was done. Whether or not Terraclean is as good as advertised may be up for debate but for what it’s worth, I thought it was £99 well spent. It’s certainly not like the lead pellets in the fuel tank scam that many classic car owners fell for.
30 minutes at 70mph in 3rd gear? Personally I like my gearbox in one piece…
I also had my Mk2.5 Terracleaned and noticed the same improvements that Pete experienced. Discount is offered to MX5 members at most garages offering the service, hence the £99 price tag. Well worth the money.
Car certainly runs well, and I’m averaging 29/30 mpg with a heavy foot most of the time, but like I said I’m off to Spain in it this summer and every mpg helps! Plus emissions lowered is always a bonus come MOT.
I stick to using premium fuels, been using tesco momentum 99 for a year or so now and no problems to report. Not sure if it actually cleans anything but cars generally feel perkier on it, not that expensive either where i am.
I do as well, I always use shell vpower or BP ultimate.
just a quick note on momentum, I used to use that on my golf gti years ago, until I found out how they achieved 99Ron.
vpower is a true 99 octane fuel, where as momentum is simply a 95 unleaded with added ethanol to make up the 4 octane points. Ultimately momentum is still supermarket fuel, it’s not as refined as shell or BP.