REVIEWS
The Mazda 3 is a popular car because of its unique styling, comfortable features, and luxury feel at a competitive price. Whether in the coupe or the hatchback configuration, the Mazda 3 is a fun drive, and offers great value to owners.
One of the features of the Mazda 3 which makes it rather unique compared to other cars in its class is direct injection. In this article, our team of local automotive pros discusses a by-product of direct injection, carbon buildup.
If your Mazda 3 isn’t running like it should, we can help. Check out this article to learn if carbon buildup could be to blame for your car’s issues, as well as some insight into how we approach correcting it.
Cause of Carbon Buildup
Carbon buildup is likely to occur at some point or on multiple occasions during the lifespan of any direct injection vehicle. Most cars have a fuel intake port through which gasoline flows before entering the combustion chamber. Direct injection cars instead feed the fuel directly into the block. This improves fuel economy and also performance, but it also means gasoline doesn’t wash over the entire intake manifold. Because of this, carbon accumulates over time.
Symptoms of Carbon Buildup
While it might seem like a small problem, carbon buildup eventually can form a blockage large enough to hinder the flow of fuel into the engine. When the engine doesn’t get the fuel it needs, you might experience some alarming symptoms. The most common symptoms are engine misfires, sudden loss of power, poor fuel economy, and difficulty starting. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, don’t wait to get your car checked out. Running your vehicle with carbon buildup can cause major engine issues.
Diagnosis and Repair
When we see a car with the symptoms listed above, carbon buildup is among the things we check for. This is an easy issue to spot if you know where to look. Once we get into the intake manifold, we can inspect for carbon buildup. If we see carbon buildup, there are two ways to address it. The first is by using chemicals and elbow grease to scrub off the carbon. If the buildup is severe, we clean it using walnut blasting. While it might seem strange, we use a special machine to blast walnut chunks against the carbon. This loosens them without causing damage and makes for easy cleaning.
Fast, Friendly, Fair Service
Don’t delay getting your Mazda 3 checked out if you’re experiencing symptoms of carbon buildup. We’re happy to be a leader of automotive services in the San Jose area, and we treat carbon buildup often. This issue can often be corrected quickly, and we will be happy to answer any questions about this service if it’s needed for your vehicle. To book an appointment or learn more about our services, give us a call today.
