# another car question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-car-question/689560
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 29, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-car-question/689560 "2014-05-29T14:50:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-car-question/689560/1 "2014-05-29T14:50:14Z")
When I was a young person most car did not have fuel injection and I was told it was a good thing to go out on a highway and " blow out the carbon from the engine".
Is this still a good thing to do ? If so, how often and for how long ?
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### Author:  [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-car-question/689560/2 "2014-05-29T15:52:50Z")
The ol’ Italian tuneup was only ever really (maybe) useful if you had a car that mostly got used for short trips at low speeds. With modern fuel injection, carbon buildup shouldn’t be a problem, but if you do have a “couple of blocks to church every Sunday” type car, it’s not a bad idea to do a bit of highway driving occasionally to drive out any condensation and light hydrocarbons that might accumulate in the oil. No need to run it at top speed or anything like that. 5-10 miles of normal warmed up highway driving ought to do the trick.
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### Author:  [@Fishtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fishtar)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2014, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-car-question/689560/3 "2014-05-29T15:54:14Z")
Italian Tune Up? No really needed anymore, with modern additives. But if you make lots of short trips, where the car never gets up to ideal temperature, might not be a bad idea to let her gallop once week or so.
> **[Italian tuneup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_tuneup)**
>
> Italian tuneup is a slang automotive term for attempting to restore engine performance by driving a car at high engine speed (RPM) and load.
> The term originated from Italian mechanics in the 1950s using this practice to burn off carbon deposits from the spark plugs of sports cars. However, modern fuel injection and ignition systems have rendered Italian tuneups obsolete for that particular purpose.
> The practice is sometimes used prior to emissions testing, particularly for diesel engines.
> This...
Edit: got greased by Jack.
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### Author:  [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-car-question/689560/4 "2014-05-29T17:02:18Z")
There are products available these days that will handle the problem better than trying to run the car hard enough to burn the “junk” out. One of the best is a foam from Mopar, Mopar Combustion Chamber Cleaner.
> **[Amazon.com: Genuine Chrysler Accessories 4318001AD Combustion Chamber Cleaner -...](https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Chrysler-Accessories-4318001AD-Combustion/dp/B00BV4D97K)**
>
> Cleans carburetors, intake manifolds, intake and exhaust valves, pistons and combustion chambers. Removes deposits, eliminates carbon knock and restores performance.
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### Author:  [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-car-question/689560/5 "2014-05-29T17:08:11Z")
Over here, diesel engines have a particle trap which needs a good run to get it cleared out. Anyone using a diesel engined car for short runs is advised to take it for a sightseeing trip once a week or so.