What Is Walnut Blasting and How Does It Revitalize Your Engine?

You’ve likely had mechanics recommend something called walnut blasting after discovering tremendous amounts of carbon buildup in your engine. These deposits are stubborn and difficult to remove, and attempting to clean them without using the proper methods can result in engine damage.

But what exactly is walnut blasting, and what makes walnuts one of the safer ways to get rid of carbon deposits?

What is Walnut Blasting?

Much like sandblasting, walnut blasting is a technique that’s used to remove carbon buildup from the engine, specifically the intake valves and intake ports. The walnut shells are finely ground and crushed before being blasted with compressed air through a machine. The abrasive material of the shell gently removes the carbon buildup inside the engine.

Why Use Walnuts?

Though sandblasting and walnut blasting are similar in many ways, walnut shells are much better for cleaning engines. Though it’s technically possible to sandblast an engine to clean it, walnut shells are fibrous and softer than sand, which makes them less likely to damage the different components. Walnut shells won’t scratch or etch metal surfaces. On top of that, walnut shells are biodegradable. Similarly, walnut shells are eco-friendly engine cleaners that don’t use harmful chemicals, making them better for the environment.

What is Carbon Buildup and What Makes it So Problematic?

Carbon deposits in your engine accumulate as a result of combustion, specifically incomplete combustion, which occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen available for the gasoline to burn completely. The carbon builds up and collects in a chimney, hardening over time and clogging critical engine components such as injector nozzles, cylinder walls, and intake valves.

These carbon deposits lead to many engine issues that can potentially worsen if left unaddressed. One of the best ways to stop carbon buildup from causing serious problems is to walnut blast your vehicle’s engine. Failing to fix the problem can lead to complications such as:

• Rough idling and stalling
• Increased exhaust emissions
• Slow and unresponsive acceleration
• Knocking noise in the engine
• Problems with starting the engine
• Decreased fuel economy

What Are the Benefits of Walnut Blasting?

Walnut blasting doesn’t just remove carbon deposits, but it also cleans engine parts. This provides many benefits like better performance, increased fuel efficiency, and a longer lifespan for the various engine components. Here are some of the many benefits of walnut blasting:

• Eco-friendly alternative to other engine cleaning methods
• Increases lifespan of engine parts by reducing stress and friction
• Boosts engine performance by getting rid of carbon buildup
• Prevents misfires, idling, and engine stalling
• Ensures engine is responsive and runs smoothly
• Improves engine mileage by boosting fuel efficiency

Which Vehicles Need Walnut Blasting the Most?

Walnut blasting is typically done on vehicles with direct injection engines. This is because these engines tend to accumulate carbon deposits the quickest, which means more frequent engine cleaning is required to keep them in good condition.

More often than not, vehicles made by European automobile manufacturers use direct injection systems. This includes cars from brands such as BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche.

Can You Walnut Blast Other Engine Types?

Yes, you can walnut blast other engine types beyond direct injection engines. Carbon tends to gather and harden in vehicles that have internal combustion engines. Even if walnut blasting is most commonly used in vehicles with direct injection systems, it’s a process that can be done on any vehicle capable of accumulating carbon deposits.

When Should You Walnut Blast Your Engine?

It’s strongly recommended to walnut blast your vehicle’s engine every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. However, if your vehicle has too many carbon deposits and exhibits reduced performance, it might be a good idea to have your engine walnut blasted sooner rather than later.

Are There Walnut Blasting Alternatives?

There are alternate methods you can use to remove carbon deposits, such as using a chemical cleaner or manually removing the deposits with a scraper and steel wool. However, most mechanics agree that walnut blasting is arguably the quickest, easiest, and safest way to clean your engine without damaging its components.