What are peoples' thoughts on this new Terraclean system that is being used all over the country?

 

Do we think it could be worthwhile on our VG engines? Or is it something that could damage 20-odd year old seals and components...?

There was a discussion on it last year I think.

There were a couple of members who had it done.

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?170811-Engine-cleaning-internals&highlight=terraclean

Since that thread I have also Terracleaned my Astra and a Saab 9-5 1.9Tdi that I had picked up. The Astra had little noticeable difference in performance, but it is petrol and Low mileage, but the Saab must of been pretty choked up as it was much quicker, more responsive after the clean.

 

Having now done five vehicles on Terraclean I would say there is a performance gain as well as a running improvement (smoother) on the engines, but Diesels seem to benefit far more. I except there is a school of thought about this cleaning all the old crap carbon from your engine and in this case fuel system deposits with the result that you may expose any worn issue with the engine in doing so, but what's the point of driving around in a choked up performance car because your worried about exposing the wear that's really going on! If your serious about running an engine efficiently then this potential wear issue still needs to be sorted.

 

Terraclean certainly improves performance and the running of your car engine, as to whether you have other issues after that, is down to the individual car and its inherent condition.

always wondered about terraclean after seing it in wheeler dealers

I've not researched this at all, but I would like to see real, scientific, repeatable proof that there is a performance/running improvement. It's very easy to say it "feels" different, but having paid out for that you'd want it to feel different. Most fuels are supposed to have cleaning agents in them now anyway, so the build up of deposits should be reduced, compared with 10+ years back.

Agree with Andy! I'd hate for this to be a 'placebo'. I've never been too keen on additives etc, probably because I don't know enough about them and in days of old, the additives were almost added to mask faults rather than fix them.

I've not researched this at all, but I would like to see real, scientific, repeatable proof that there is a performance/running improvement. It's very easy to say it "feels" different, but having paid out for that you'd want it to feel different. Most fuels are supposed to have cleaning agents in them now anyway, so the build up of deposits should be reduced, compared with 10+ years back.

 

^^ This

The very fact that modern fuels have cleaning agents in them and yet still fuel systems get clogged up suggests that they have little effect at all, just a feel good marketing stroke for the oil barons to exploit! of course premium grade fuel with performance additives may improve an engines running, but at 7-10P a litre who "feels" the difference to prove it has a real time performance advantage over standard fuel to see if the hype really works.

 

As for the "feel" I am capable and aware enough to work out whether I am seeing real time benefits to the performance of my car, the CO2 reading produced on paper shows there is an improvement, but when I overtake and now have power on tap when I need it, whereas before it could be embarrassing, then I know this is a real time improvement. If my car engine appeared rough and you felt this through the Chassis when idling and now it isn't then I know this is a real time improvement. My BMW 5 series found a new lease of life after a Terraclean and as I say the Saab for all its horrid Fiat TDi power is now an enjoyable experience.

 

Will this work for every car to get a noticeable change in performance, probably not! The two petrol engine cars I had done showed little noticeable change but then they were both relatively low mileage, but then I knew my cars and vans were down on power or had poor running issues and having tried both Tec 2000 and Terraclean, they all to some extent had a measurable improvement...part on paper and part on "feel".

 

I would think if your car has had a decent rebuild or runs with little miles there probably is little or no value to getting a Terraclean and certainly in my experience a Diesel seems to benefit more from the service, but it's up to the individual to decide if they feel their car is missing something and if these solutions will sort the issues.

I use only BP Ultimate in my 300zx so I hope this is keeping my engine in top condition.

 

http://www.bp.com/en_gb/bp-plus/uk/fuel-expertise/bp-ultimate-unleaded.html

I agree with AndyP and Noz. In addition, they make 4 claims on their website some of which can be tested directly:

1) Claims to clean the Injectors - this should have the same effect as replacing injectors (with clean ones, natch)

2) removes carbon from combustion chamber and on intake valves - do any of you guys who work on Z engines notice carbon encrustations on "uncleaned" engines?

3) cleans dirty O2 sensors - so same effect as replacing old O2 sensors

4) cleans catalytic converter - can't see how this would effect running or mpg or performance.

 

For sure, in the "good old days" you would have to de-coke engines but haven't come across this being needed with modern engines / fuels.

I wouldn't have it done, my brother got it done on his 80k Volvo V50 2.0 dti, he said yeah feels better etc......

not 12 months later the fuel pump seized and took the valves out and a few other things, I stripped it all down and I kept saying how much carbon and gunk and shite there was everywhere he then reminded me he had terraclean done. He wasn't happy lol