Servicing GDI and TDI Engines

High output, low displacement engines arrived on the scene in the mid to late 2000’s. These designs included the common rail Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) and the Turbodiesel Direct Injection (TDI) high performance models. These high performance engines were designed to address the ongoing government mandates for fuel economy and lower emissions. They continue to be re-engineered and improved as new models are introduced to address the ever changing government regulations.

Direct Rail Technology for Efficient Combustion

The concept of delivering fuel directly into the combustion chamber is the same on both gas and diesel models. The direct rail technology involves inserting the fuel injector directly into the combustion chamber. This improvement eliminates the need of having the injector in the air intake whereby the injector pulses the fuel into the combustion chamber mixed with the air. Taking that efficiency and combining it with a turbocharger, and you have an engine that creates the perfect scenario for power and performance.

Challenges in High-Performance Engine Maintenance

While this engineering excellence checks all the boxes for power, performance and optimal fuel economy, inherent problems have developed since the inception. Because of the tremendous pressure created within the combustion chamber during combustion process, demands on fluids and components are higher than ever before. Perfect combustion combined with intricate engine tolerances create additional heat. Heat, no matter where it may be, is the enemy of all types of engines. The oil companies have spent incredible resources on developing the proper oil viscosities to address the increased demands. The introductions of low viscosity oils and high output filters are critical in addressing these inherent demands. With heat, comes pre- mature additive package breakdown and ultimately deposits.

Transition from Preventive to Predictive Maintenance

While the days of preventive maintenance are in some cases a thing of the past, “predictive” maintenance is necessary more than ever before. The goal of any vehicle owner is to keep their high performance engine (gas or diesel) running at optimal performance levels. The goal of the service provider is to take ownership of the customer’s vehicle and provide a thorough inspection of all systems. The most effective way to accomplish this goal is to advise step by step what was uncovered during the inspection process. Having a detailed inspection report that creates a checklist is imperative when informing the customer of their inherent service needs. This method of review not only educates the customer on necessary services but creates the predictive maintenance schedule for future services. The common denominator in all high performance engines, GDI or otherwise, is changing the fluids consistently and cleaning the engine on a frequent basis. The OEM’s recommend changing fluids by system and have a detailed predictive maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual. Your job is to review these mileage recommendations and develop a schedule to fit the customer’s needs. Having fluid exchange services by system gives you the opportunity to explain what these services provide. The big debate for years has been the mileage recommendation for changing oil. With the proliferation of synthetics and longer life filters, the debate continues. My only comment is that no matter what oil you use, the additive packages that protect continue to break down, and now more than ever before.

Fluid Exchange Services and Mileage Recommendations

While oil is the lifeblood of any engine, gas or diesel fuel is what ultimately runs the engine. With the introduction of the injectors into the combustion chamber, the injector tips are now exposed to the tremendous heat within the chamber. The increased heat and pressure create a perfect recipe for deposits and oil blow-by. Baked on injector deposits and oil blow-by cause premature carbon deposits to form on the injector tips and in the oil pan. This vicious cycle of dirt and deposits continues to build up creating performance issues. Combine this phenomenon with recirculated dirty air through the PCV system and the deposits even worsen.

Fuel System Challenges and Innovative Solutions

Like the engineering marvel of the high performance engines, the fluid and additive manufacturers have developed new formula technologies to address these hardened deposits. The days of old generation conventional oils and fuel injector cleaners are gone. Oils and additives have all been re-engineered to address these stubborn deposits. While the oil manufacturers offer oils in conventional, semi-synthetic, high mileage and full synthetic formulas in an array of viscosities, the additive companies have done the same. However, it is imperative that the new generation gas and diesel engines need predictive maintenance on a consistent basis. The proper fuel cleaning additives for today’s engines are amine hydrocarbons (polyetheramine - PEA) at a high concentration level (minimum 30%). The newest technology is now a combination of a PEA and a polyisobutylene (PIB). In essence, the additive molecule is a PIB wrapped in a PEA. There are many pop and pour formulas available, but make sure you are getting the best formula. Your additive supplier can educate you on the options available.

In addition to your fuel tank additives, educate your customer on the complete fuel induction cleaning services you offer. Whether a one, two or three step version, explain to your customer the options. The choices should include either a total intake system cleaner aerosol formula or a liquid top engine cleaner delivered through positive vacuum. The aerosol formulas come with a misting tool delivery device while the liquids are delivered with a drip canister. The new generation delivery devices give you precise control by utilizing a needle valve for perfect “low and slow” delivery of the liquid cleaner. Ask your supplier for the options available and determine what method works best for your shop. No matter what service you provide, it is imperative that a fuel tank additive is part of the package. The fuel tank additive combined with the vacuum intake solutions provide a combination cleaning effectiveness. Keep in mind that the fuel additive needs a full tank of fuel to do its best job. The longer the additive is circulating through the fuel system, the better job of cleaning it will do.

Creating a High-Performance Package

An effective way of offering your fuel and oil cleaning service is the create a “High Performance Package” that includes an oil change, fuel induction service and an air filter replacement. You can mix or match the services that you combine to whatever works best for your shop. Keep in mind that if you have diesel engine customers, the same applies. There are concentrated cleaners made specifically for diesel engines that combine cleaners and lubricity agents for optimum cleaning and protection. By creating a predictive maintenance schedule for your customer’s vehicle, you will be guaranteeing that their vehicle will be running at optimum performance levels.