Water injection for a 355? | FerrariChat

Water injection for a 355?

Discussion in '348/355' started by Shootfighter65, Jul 30, 2015.

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  1. Shootfighter65

    Shootfighter65 Formula 3

    May 13, 2014
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    Randy..alluneedtokno
    The 355 is known for carbon buildup on the head and valves. Someone on here suggested adding a water injection kit and every stays squeaky clean. Has this been done before? I don't really know what a water injection kit is how it works or if it can be installed on a 355. Is this a real and practical solution?
     
  2. kenneyd

    kenneyd Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2014
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    Water injection as far as i know is only used in short term, high boost applications ( like 1/4 miles runs0. meth is usually the preferred fluid, but it its sprayed in the intake usually well before the motor, in order to fully evaporate in order to cool the pressurized air.

    It would have zero benefit in our cars unless you slappin some turbos on.

    Look into fuel treatments or seafoam for internal engine cleaning (after some research)
     
  3. ShineKen

    ShineKen F1 World Champ
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    It will help with steam cleaning your motor if that's the question.
     
  4. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
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    Jun 10, 2007
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    No
     
  5. Shootfighter65

    Shootfighter65 Formula 3

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    I have but there is so many opinions on what works and what doesn't. I try to run Shell 93 all the time and just ran a can bg44k through it. Not sure if it helps or not. Wondering how often or not to run it through. My motor runs strong. I believe if it keeps running this way the car will fall apart around it. Just want to keep it in the sweet spot curious what other owners are doing
     
  6. kenneyd

    kenneyd Formula 3

    Sep 30, 2014
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    My personal opinion as a car nut and aviation mechanic is there is no benefit to a fuel additives/cleaners. Gas is already a solvent. only fix for a clogged injector is removal and professional cleaning.

    As for carbon build up, warm it up, drive it hard. it will burn it off.

    I've used seafoam on a few of my other cars with good success, but the risk outweigh any benefit to me on a ferrari. I would not recommend it.


    Stop worrying, just drive.
     
  7. Shootfighter65

    Shootfighter65 Formula 3

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    Fair enough. How many 355 owners don't worry? Lol
     
  8. GTO Joe

    GTO Joe Formula 3
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    Anyone on here remember (Johnk possibly) the old '63 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire with the 215ci aluminum engine that had a turbo with FACTORY water injection? Nothing like some sixties GM engineering for our F cars. :)
     
  9. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    IMO there is no real use for WI on our cars ..... but I've working on a new heatshield system that will reduce intake temps enough to see some HP gains ............ before and after intake temp data will be shown along with dyno data .... we'll see how the numbers turn out ... :)
     
  10. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Aug 10, 2002
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    #10 fatbillybob, Jul 30, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I will be the lone dissenter. I can guarantee you that if your naturally aspirated sport car or racecar was on track at Buttonwillow raceway today that water injection would increase your horsepower. And yes I have done this. WI works even better with compressors. There is a mild cleaning action of the fuel air water mixture to mildly improve the valve cleanliness. But the reason for WI is not to reduce carbon but increase performance. A much easier way to have cleaner valves is just to make valve cleaning part of your routine major service as done here on this Ferrari motor. It takes 10 seconds per valve with the proper equipment and experience and scares the begeezzers out of people who don't really understand. It ain't magic folks, it is just an engine and they all get dirty.
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  11. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
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    But the way to keep them clean is to use good gas and drive the car all the time.
     
  12. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    Nice work .. :)

    +1 .......... driving the car often does a lot of good in this respect ... :)
     
  13. Shootfighter65

    Shootfighter65 Formula 3

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    How is it done?
     
  14. ShineKen

    ShineKen F1 World Champ
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    There are expensive systems and inexpensive systems. There are systems that are completely mechanical, but i've only seen it demonstrated on boosted engines. Some systems run off boost levels, some systems run off what your fuel injectors are doing. If you just want to clean the motor, I suggest looking on youtube for some mechanical systems built cheap. Use distilled water.
     
  15. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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    Hydrogen cleans really well and speed up flame travel speed heheheh

    :)
     
  16. 4rePhill

    4rePhill F1 Veteran

    Oct 18, 2009
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    Phill J
    Quite a few issues in engines occur because they get driven too cautiously too often.

    Good quality petrol/gas is a must, regular use is ideal, and the occasional "Italian tune-up" works wonders on engines!

    Sometimes you've just got to blow the cobwebs out of them! - It's for their own good! :)
     
  17. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
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    I had always thought the water and methanol injection were to lower the fuel charge temperature for greater density and, consequently, more power. I am not sure what the actual benefit would be but I wouldn't try it unless I was on a track and it meant something. For the street, bah, wasted.
     
  18. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
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    Walnut shell blasting, bmw and others sell a tool that's basically a sand blaster hooked to a shop vac for this exact purpose. You could do it yourself if you had a decent wand for your sand blaster and got the right media. Just need to be very careful not to make a mess and be sure the valves are all the way closed on each cylinder when you do it.
     
  19. Shootfighter65

    Shootfighter65 Formula 3

    May 13, 2014
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    Not sure how that will clean up the area where the valve seats and the face of valve and head where carbon builds up. I can see it cleaning up part of valve stem but that's it.
     
  20. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

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