Turbo Decarb.

[SeanC]

For a number of years I have been getting a fault related to the movement of the turbo boost pressure actuator. This can be caused by the actuator sticking, the turbo vanes sticking due to a build up of carbon or a combination of both. Until recently freeing the actuator by moving it backward and forwards while lubricating it would clear the fault for a fair length of time. But it is getting more frequent. So I decided to try a turbo decarbonisation kit.

I didn’t have a lot of hope of it working but I gave it a try. You remove the turbo hose from the air intake duct attached to the throttle body and spray the solution into it while the engine is running. The instructions said the would be a significant amount of white smoke so I did it in the car park of a sports field instead of in the driveway at home.

They were correct. So much so that a guy with a Jeep stopped to check that everything was alright. He thought the D3 may have been on fire.


The images below is the actuator moving backwards and forwards.
The first image is the best I could get by moving and lubricating the actuator.
The second is after the clean. So despite my doubts it looks like it has worked to some extent.

185542

185543

[DiscoDB]

Interesting outcome. Which brand of decarboniser did you try?

[SeanC]

Interesting outcome. Which brand of decarboniser did you try?
Revive Turbo Cleaner.

[bongaph]

Revive Turbo Cleaner.
Hi, How is the actuator a month and a half after treatment? Any fault codes recently? I am thinking of doing this to my D3 2.7. Do you get the movement % chart of the actuator with the GAP tool? if it is , where do you find it. Thanks

[SeanC]

Hi, How is the actuator a month and a half after treatment? Any fault codes recently? I am thinking of doing this to my D3 2.7. Do you get the movement % chart of the actuator with the GAP tool? if it is , where do you find it. Thanks

No faults. I am also running FTC Decarboniser as a fuel additive.
With the Gap Tool go to Live Values / Select Live Values / Quick List / Engine TDV6 / Boost Pressure Actuator / Chart

[bongaph]

Thats good to hear. Thanks. I am running Nulon Diesel Turbo Cleaner additive. I'll check out FTC.

[Mtelizapete]

I had the same problem with my D4 Tv6se which was well over 300k kms. Under heavy acceleration I would get the fault and car would go into “restricted performance” mode. I was told it was the second turbo causing the fault due to potential carbon build up in the actuator. I put a few doses of the Nulon diesel turbo cleaner through and it stopped faulting after a few days of driving the car lightly until warmed up, and then flooring it at the lights, or on in quiet and appropriate location. Apart from looking like a middle aged maniac it worked. I am now running FTC decarboniser in my sdv RRS as a preventive.
I think they key is to give the engine a really good work out every now and then, which may assist in the prevention of carbon build up.

[bongaph]

No faults. I am also running FTC Decarboniser as a fuel additive.
With the Gap Tool go to Live Values / Select Live Values / Quick List / Engine TDV6 / Boost Pressure Actuator / Chart
Hi SeanC, I did the Revive treatment yesterday. I did get a lot of white smoke after the 3rd spray cycle. I plugged in the Gap tool to see actuator movement and I got Boost Pressure Actuator value was N/A. I have no fault codes and D3 runs well. Any idea why its "N/A" thanks.