Freelander 1 Turbo clean with Mr Muscle.

I’m unsure how the following might be met, but I’m now planning to give my Turbo a clean with Mr Muscle.
See the following link for reference. And yes, it’s not a Freelander but the practice is the same – almost.



The EGR exhaust feed pipe is connected to the four-cylinder exhaust manifold, which is situated directly above the Turbo.
My plan is to feed a plastic pliable pipe down the EGR pipe, twisting and maneuvering it until it’s above the Turbo’s intake.
The EGR outlet is at the far end. The three bolt mounted Turbo intake faces downwards on the car.

By spraying Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner (Caustic-soda – I think) and allowing gravity to pull it downwards into the Turbo itself, any carbon deposits should hopefully be dissolved and blown out during an engine-start and run.
I don’t imagine it will be left in a pristine condition, but if done several times over a period of time, all being well, the Turbo fan and linkages should hopefully work better.
I did mention something similar in the past and the idea wasn’t entirely met with enthusiasm. But I’m willing to give it a try.

If anyone has already done this, or similar, I would love to hear your story? Whether on a Freelander or whatever?

I know quite a few people that have done this with oven cleaner on the EGR and cleaning other engines parts with great results.

I've done it a few times on VW Golf 1.9TDi's and it worked a treat. They have variable vanes in the turbo that gum up over time which ends up with the engine going into limp mode usually on any long uphill stretch.

found this one looking for diy smoke machines - so it the second half where he uses snow foam!! more an inlet clean rather than exhaust...

Great replies - so far guys. Keep em coming.
I hope to do the Muscle clean soon and will photograph the entire process.
In fact, everything will be recorded in detail.
Anything to help LZ members & more.
And to keep our engines in good working order as well.

I carried out a test on my old EGR, and although I had tried to clean it ages ago, the really bad carbon was so solid I coulodn't budge it.
I tried to pick it off with a finger nail before I did the test, and it was hard-as-nails. It wouldn't let go of the metal.
So, I sprayed some Mr Muscle (MM) onto the valve, and left it for an hour. See photo No1.

Then, I inspected the valve, wondering how it was. I gently wiped a finger over the uppermost part, as shown in photo No2.

The carbon has disolved to something similar to a soft gell. A lotion or something similar. Whatever it had become, there was no resistance. I wiped off easily.

Test completed, I will progress further in a few days time. I would really like to do it now, but my wife insists on going out-and-about. I put that down to cabin-fever.

She insists next Wednesday, as our diary suggests that is the 1st chance for me doing the test.
I'll keep you all informed, but it does look extremely positive, so far.

It's pretty common, just rememberise that the stuff eats aluminium. Never really a problem with the amounts used and the low soak time, but keep an eye on it.

Having just posted my findings regarding how soft the carbon had become, I returned to my garage to finish what I started.
I wiped the EGR valve with a rag and the following photo is how it appeared.

I'm pleased to say there are no aluminium parts in the exhaust side of the turbo, not even the gaskets. The tremendous heat wouldn't allow it.
The inlet-air side though is another matter. I would be very hesitant to try and use it there.
The exhaust side though? No problemo.
It's looking good.

Good job mate!

and on that note i realized i never pasted in the link to the youtube video for cleaning the inlet side...

second half of the video

If you want to Seafoam it, remember that there are two main types, Fuel/Oil treatment and Motor treatment. Guess which one is more expensive and harder to find in the U.K.

Okay, with a warm engine I decided to do the job sooner rather than later.

Picture 1. The tools and equipment.

2. Opened the EGR exhaust pipe.

3. Inserted the plastic pipe (56cms) to the pipe’s edge. A further 26cms to connect to Mr Muscle.

4. Injected the foam until it appeared at the opening.
It took a while.
5. Put it all back together.

That took about 35 mins from start-to-finish.

7.Connected my vacuum pump to the vacuum actuator.

8.Exercised the actuator so the guide-vanes would open-and-close within the turbo housing.

9. My vacuum pump kit. It’s well worth having.

10. Taking it for a spin in about an hour, thus having it with the foam for about 2.5 hours.

I’m hoping a warm engine helps the carbon to soften easily.

Awaiting your results whilst contemplating doing the same. Although, I think some more of my Mr. Muscle would be well spent on giving the plastic air manifold another clean, and actually soaking it for more than five minutes, this time.
How does everone else deal with cleaning the gunk from the metal part of the inlet ports that the plastic manifold bolts to? Last time I used brake cleaner, but some must have been left over, as when I started the car afterwards, it dieselled for about half a minute to very high revs. I nearly pooped when I couldn't stop it, until it stopped by itself, lol.

My garage had a different smell when I returned after an appropriate time. It was similar to something cooking. I can only imagine it was linked to the cleaner in a warm engine.
It started okay and sounded crisp to the accelerator. Perhaps because Mr Muscle is inflammable.
The Test results.....
There are carbon spots on my garage floor after a few revs, but didn't go overboard as it's an internal garage.
The car accelerated evenly and with lots of power. There was no evidence of smoke from the rear-end as I floored the pedal. The acceleration was excellent, and although I was on my own it left me feeling there was a monumental difference in its behaviour and performance.
I'm pleased with how it went and more than happy with the results.
I will do this again, although not for s while. Perhaps each time I do an oil change. I reckon it's a job worth doing.

I've just sat down with a beer, thinking about the test, and recalled something at the end that I consider relevant. On the approach to my house there's a sharp lefthand bearing bend on a hill. I hit the gas as my car climbed and turned. The tyres squealed as they accelerated, as if there was too much power being applied. That has never happened before, and I have done the same manoeuvre many times. That, was very different!

Time to get the can of Mr. Muscle from under the sink. Those oily fingerprints all over it are totally not mine from carbon cleaning bits of the Avensis and the Freelander.

Dishwasher works well if you can get the misses out for the day. Let us know how you fare after 9/12 months

Think i'll do this also to her TD4

Cheers for the guidance

RangeRoller dt, my dishwasher isn't big enough to fit the Freelander into and the turbo isn't something I relish the thought of removing from the car.
Aside from that, the dishwasher method would be great!

Did wonders on my inlet manifold.
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/95dt-alloy-inlet-manifold.343494/

You can’t wash dishes in it after though, (can but everything tastes funny) so use an old one or a neighbours you can’t stand