Hey Scotty,
Valvoline oil change locations now offer an EasyGDI service to clean out carbon buildup. Does this service actually work or is it a scam?
I have a 2017 GTI standard transmission and am worried about carbon buildup, but haven't noticed any issues as of yet.
I just read their service process. The fuel system cleaning part is just a waste of money and can be done by going to Autozone and buying a bottle of Chevron's Techron Fuel system cleaner. Sure that Valvoline hooks up a tool to the fuel rail and use a more concentrated formula, but the Techron cleaner works great (from my experience). Fuel these days are a lot cleaner, and our cars have dedicated fuel filters to filter out any contaminants that may clog fuel injectors.
As for the carbon cleaning, nothing is better than WALNUT BLASTING the intake valves. Valvoline is basically doing the same process you would do with a bottle of CRC GDI Intake Valve cleaner by using their "special tools". I've used the CRC intake valve cleaner myself, and it does offer a noticeable difference, but it doesn't clean ALL the carbon. It's more of a short-term solution compared to walnut blasting.
Here is the service process:
https://www.shoptca.com/images/871999_PI.pdf
