is my piston(s) head bad???
- Thread starter Lamer
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Hopeless Diamond
New member
Carbon build up. Build up is never great but it is normal. Keeping fresh plugs/ wires minimizes it but still happens. Seafoam or other fuel additives may help. Engine needs to be worked, lots of long drives
LittleCaesar
New member
Twenty two years worth of oil and hot temps, as long as it isn’t causing trouble, leave it along, gap and install the new plugs and drive. A good injector clean such as BG44k could help.
Having never used this but heard from my friend that it works well, at least on a A4, you may try this before your next oil change:
LIQUI MOLY - Motor Oils, Additives, Car Care - Products - Engine Flush Plus
Having never used this but heard from my friend that it works well, at least on a A4, you may try this before your next oil change:
LIQUI MOLY - Motor Oils, Additives, Car Care - Products - Engine Flush Plus
Lamer
New member
ya I have a bottle Chevron Techron complete fuel system cleaner ready to go at the next fuel up.
I couldnt find BG44K at any local auto store. drove me nuts. I ended up wit the stuff mentioned above.
My college friend works for chevron in their lab comparing their additives to the competition's, and he says bar none, chevron is the best. for fuel and additives.
2016 4Runner SR5
Senior Member
Of course he says that, he works there lol. Chevron is by no means high end. I've used the Lucas stuff for years and I like it. BG44k seems to have a good reputation also and I have no doubt the liquid moly is good quality as well. Seafoam is not for me but have at it if you're into that stuff. I can tell you from first had experience seafoam DOES clean stuff up, maybe too well. I put it in the gas tank of a 96 Grand Cherokee in maybe 2008 with about 150K miles on it. Cleaned the walls of the plastic fuel tank so well that all the crap completely clogged the fuel pump. Had to drop the tank, remove the gas that was in it, remove the pump and clean both screens, and put it all back together. Noticed absolutely no difference other than a few hours of lost time and a headache.
BrianSD_42
New member
Is everything running fine on your truck? Because this is just my 2-cents but if it is running fine then I wouldn't try to solve a problem that hasn't manifested or displayed itself in any way and may not be a problem at all. For example SeaFoaming when there are no symptoms other than some carbon buildup.
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T4R2014
Elite Member
My 4Runners all look like that. I get pinging often as well. Frequent city driving. A good long highway run does a lot to carbon. Your buddy says Techron is the best because they write his paycheck. I personally use a bit of Marvel Mystery Oil every month. I think it did something, because the first time I used it sounded like a ping pong game when taking off from a stoplight.
LittleCaesar
New member
The Techron is good stuff, not on the level of BG44k (can only be ordered or found at a high end auto shop) IMHO but should work just fine.
Nonetheless i wouldn’t worry about it. If it was five years old, then you would be in a different situation.
Nonetheless i wouldn’t worry about it. If it was five years old, then you would be in a different situation.
MaineRunna
Member
It is totally normal and nothing to worry about. If the spark plugs start looking like that or you are using lots of oil you would have a problem. If you do want to clean it up a little, Techron and Seafoam do work pretty well. The problem 2016 4Runner SR5 had with the 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a known issue with the gas tanks in those and not really a problem with Seafoam.
Most plugs come pre-gapped and you really shouldn't double check them either since it'll be more likely to scratch the electrode.
