[edf8fde]

This car has 14,500 miles on it. I decided to clean the valves while I had the manifold off to tap for a larger bov barb. Even after 15k miles it's this bad. The charge pipe was coated with oil.

[MysticRob]

I'd say that looks pretty normal for the mileage. The intake runner between valves isn't even caked in crud yet. LOL
Wait twice as long and you'll really be impressed!
Wish I knew how many miles ago mine had been done when I did mine last year with 134k. Couldn't see any bare aluminum anywhere, and my charge pipe was dripping a small puddle of oil.
There was so much buildup on mine I scraped most of it off with a flathead screwdriver before even trying to walnut blast it.

[4 Doors]

Originally Posted by MysticRob

I'd say that looks pretty normal for the mileage. The intake runner between valves isn't even caked in crud yet. LOL
Wait twice as long and you'll really be impressed!
Wish I knew how many miles ago mine had been done when I did mine last year with 134k. Couldn't see any bare aluminum anywhere, and my charge pipe was dripping a small puddle of oil.
There was so much buildup on mine I scraped most of it off with a flathead screwdriver before even trying to walnut blast it.

^Rob, this makes me want to walnut blast mine now...as in this week! Just reached 114k miles on my 335. Are you running stock chargepipe? I have been debating upgrading to an aftermarket (non-plastic!) chargepipe.

Also, OP, as Rob said, these pictures of your intake is nothing compared to some nasty ones I have seen on here and in person!

[Wolf 335]

148,000 miles on mine never cleaned.

Now that the weather is getting nice I'm gonna open it up and see what's hiding in there.

[edf8fde]

Man, you should notice a huge improvement after they're cleaned.

[NoQuarter]

Originally Posted by edf8fde

Man, you should notice a huge improvement after they're cleaned.

No he won't. There isn't enough there to be noticed.

Even after 125,000 miles it helps smooth out idle is all I have see after doing this on three different cars.

Edit.... Didn't notice who was who. After 148,000 it certainly is due.

[edf8fde]

Well I did it on another car at 90k miles and the idle was much smoother as well as acceleration. Lookup other posts. Some people get back 15whp after cleaning them. Maybe huge was not the correct term, but it should be noticeable.

Haha, saw your edit, all good man.

[MysticRob]

Originally Posted by 4 Doors

^Rob, this makes me want to walnut blast mine now...as in this week! Just reached 114k miles on my 335. Are you running stock chargepipe? I have been debating upgrading to an aftermarket (non-plastic!) chargepipe.

Also, OP, as Rob said, these pictures of your intake is nothing compared to some nasty ones I have seen on here and in person!

I was running the stock CP up until just a couple months ago when I swapped over to a massively discounted Xmas-presented VRSF CP for stock DVs. I didn't want to risk blowing the 8yr old OEM one far away from home on any given boosted day -- that's my kind of luck. The OEM CP was much cleaner, with only a light sheen of oil, upon permanent removal since I'd cleaned it only 5k miles before. If you're concerned, it's easiest to buy an aftermarket CP and swap it out at the same time you clean the valves.

[4 Doors]

Originally Posted by MysticRob

I was running the stock CP up until just a couple months ago when I swapped over to a massively discounted Xmas-presented VRSF CP for stock DVs. I didn't want to risk blowing the 8yr old OEM one far away from home on any given boosted day -- that's my kind of luck. The OEM CP was much cleaner, with only a light sheen of oil, upon permanent removal since I'd cleaned it only 5k miles before. If you're concerned, it's easiest to buy an aftermarket CP and swap it out at the same time you clean the valves.

Originally Posted by MysticRob

I was running the stock CP up until just a couple months ago when I swapped over to a massively discounted Xmas-presented VRSF CP for stock DVs. I didn't want to risk blowing the 8yr old OEM one far away from home on any given boosted day -- that's my kind of luck. The OEM CP was much cleaner, with only a light sheen of oil, upon permanent removal since I'd cleaned it only 5k miles before. If you're concerned, it's easiest to buy an aftermarket CP and swap it out at the same time you clean the valves.

That is what I am planning to do. Clean intakes, new CP, and an oil catch can. Then FMIC?

[blau iii]

what barb and tap are you guys using to put a new BOV vacuum line in? i bought one on amazon but they weren't the same size, went to Home Depot and the barbs were all much bigger than the taps.

[edf8fde]

Get a 1/4 npt 6mmID barb. I ordered mine online so it wasn't a brass fitting. Lowe's sells a 1/4npt Tap with drill bit for 10 bucks. I'll link the fitting I bought. What bov do you have?

http://koolance.com/nozzle-single-ba...s-steel-npt1-4

[dpaul]

Typical catch-can isn't going to help you unless you spend all your time at high boost.

Install the RB external PCV kit. It collects the oil blow-by that occurs when manifold pressures are negative i.e. where they are 95% of the time the engine is on.

I have both a BMW catch-can and the RB installed. The BMW collects a few teaspoons in 5K miles; the RB 3-4 ozs in 1000 miles.

The low speed circuit is where the buildup on the intake is coming from.

After installing the RB, no more walnut blasting required. Well, more precisely, the intake still looked clean after 20K miles.

[blau iii]

Originally Posted by edf8fde

Get a 1/4 npt 6mmID barb. I ordered mine online so it wasn't a brass fitting. Lowe's sells a 1/4npt Tap with drill bit for 10 bucks. I'll link the fitting I bought. What bov do you have?

http://koolance.com/nozzle-single-ba...s-steel-npt1-4

Cool, thanks. I'm going to head to lowe's tonight. So if I get a 1/4 and 1/4 npt a 1/4 tap would work? I'm not understanding the tap sizes. I have a Tial BOV and a VRSF CP. Currently plumbed into the OE Vaccum line that also powers by boost gauge.

Originally Posted by dpaul

Typical catch-can isn't going to help you unless you spend all your time at high boost.

Install the RB external PCV kit. It collects the oil blow-by that occurs when manifold pressures are negative i.e. where they are 95% of the time the engine is on.

I have both a BMW catch-can and the RB installed. The BMW collects a few teaspoons in 5K miles; the RB 3-4 ozs in 1000 miles.

The low speed circuit is where the buildup on the intake is coming from.

After installing the RB, no more walnut blasting required. Well, more precisely, the intake still looked clean after 20K miles.

I just did my Valve COver and installed the RB PCV valve, is that the same thing you're talking about? I did my valve cleaning at 75,000 miles and when I looked last night at 95k, they were a mess. Again. I just installed the RB a week ago though.

[dpaul]

No, not just the PCV valve, the EXTERNAL PCV valve kit
http://www.rbturbo.com/rb-n54-external-pcv-kit

There's a great thread on this somewhere on e90post

[nathanacura]

I just posted pics of mine valves at 104k in a new thread ... it is .... uuuugly.
I have noticeable idle stumble and get misfire codes at high loads(JB4 turned off -- I can't use any extra boost at all right now).