Came across some mention of this on PH's where folk advocate the occasional use of 4500 rpm to blow out or clean their engines. I suspect this is mainly for counteracting pottering around (not much fear of that on my engine). Find a suitable road, warm engine and build gradually to 4.5K. Lots of soot, then clear and job done

So, anyone else do this?

Same as any engine.

An occasional hard thrash for an hour does it the world of good

Just use all of the revs, and drive it hard. Don't be scared of breaking it.

Yes this works a treat! I just do the odd track day to clean my engine out.

I "clean" my car at the end of every full tank (normally every 3-5 weeks) essential for a diesel car IMO

Also called "Italian tune up"

When I drive home from the nurburgring or a track day my car always runs smoother and feels like its gained a good few bhp also gives better mpg. Those threads with '' I got 200 mpg out of my Tdi on the way to work'' are all good stuff as long as you red line the engine every now and then to clean things up. This theory has worked well for the last 124k miles for me.

Anyway I'm sat by the pool in 32 degree heat in Turkey so I'm off for a chilled beer to cool down.

I feel my vrs really needs this doing to it frankly. What sort of length of time should it be done for, and literally red line it?

If you can take it on a track day or even half a track day that would do the job. Not easy to hold full throttle for any length of time on her majesty's highways with out bother from Mr plod. Revving to the red line in lower gears can be done easily enough though.

How fast would you need to go in say 3rd at ~4K? You need to be travelling to get the air through of course.

A car dealer mate said to me the other day he sees so many messed up diesels due to 'pottering about' trying to get max mpg - 'drive it like you do your Scooby' was his advise... who am I to argue

The key to the Health of a car IMO, drive it normal for a week then drive the **** out of it for a day lol

Edited 24 September, 201213 yr by wilsy7

I always do this, normally followed by the car behind me being covered in soot!

When I drive home from the nurburgring or a track day my car always runs smoother and feels like its gained a good few bhp also gives better mpg. Those threads with '' I got 200 mpg out of my Tdi on the way to work'' are all good stuff as long as you red line the engine every now and then to clean things up. This theory has worked well for the last 124k miles for me.

Just got back from the Ring. I was wondering how I managed to get 90% of the way back to Devon on one tank of fuel the day after doing 4 laps.

Glad you had a good trouble free trip ! I'm off there again on 6th October for Dn6 and Spa.