How do YOU Italian tuneup?

"cuts_off_prius" (cutsoffprius)
12/27/2014 at 23:28 • Filed to: None

An Italian tuneup usually refers to a process whereby a motor vehicle engine is run at full load for extended periods in order to burn carbon buildup from the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and exhaust system.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_t…

Apparently there are different ways people do this. My commutes around town are short (like 2 miles one way) and my automatic usually shifts around 2k rpm, low rpm stuff my car mostly sees. So Italian tuneup is perfect to do once every few weeks, I think. Top Tier 93 octane gas also has detergents that supposedly clean the injectors and such, so that's a plus.

What I do is go to the usual back roads location and simply do a bunch of 2nd gear pulls until redline, maybe a 1st-2nd pull, and let off each time (don't want to be caught wayy above the speed limit). There's even a tight corner section with some elevation changes, so I floor it in 2nd during the short straightaways and let off coming into the corners, which slows the car down without the use of brakes.

Edit - here's the tight corner section (my video)

I've read of people cruising on the highway with the rpms above 4k rpm for around 10-15 minutes, but I'm not too sure about that.

DISCUSSION (12)

AM3R shamefully returns > cuts_off_prius
12/27/2014 at 23:31

hey, that's my gauge cluster! (e90)

I usually downshift (auto) and bring it up near redline and then ease off, rinse and repeat on empty roads like once a week.

dogisbadob > cuts_off_prius
12/27/2014 at 23:32

Instead of keeping it in D, I start out in L, go to a relatively high rpm, and then shift through the gears.

cuts_off_prius > AM3R shamefully returns
12/27/2014 at 23:33

Me too! But not my actual cluster, found it on google.

claramag, Mustaco Master > cuts_off_prius
12/27/2014 at 23:50

Small highways north of Waco are usually flat and empty, perfect to stretch the ol OHV's legs out and tap that glorious 5200 redline

Anon > cuts_off_prius
12/27/2014 at 23:57

when I drove my mini on the interstate I was at about 4500 cruising.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > cuts_off_prius
12/28/2014 at 00:34

Kinja'd!!!

pip bip - choose Corrour > cuts_off_prius
12/28/2014 at 00:59

i rarely do short trips in mine , so don't have that issue , as most weekends involve long drives of 200-300kms each day for fun , so car gets a good long hot run.

Jonathan Harper > cuts_off_prius
12/28/2014 at 01:10

Careful of the deer! I think it's not necessary to be so aggressive with leaving it in gear if you just kind of go out and drive it hard. Doesn't have to be purposefully keeping the revs high even not under load, just go drive hard somewhere.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > cuts_off_prius
12/28/2014 at 04:45

I have 2 ways of doing it. One's a run-up on a 55 MPH road in 1st and 2nd up to the speed limit from a light about once a week.

The other is what I like to call "The Bellevue Kessel Run"

Pretty much driving form Redmond, WA to Bellevue, WA, but it includes doing 3rd and 4th gear pulls on the highway.

Thunder Tucano > cuts_off_prius
12/28/2014 at 10:36

I didn't even know that this was a thing. Always did it without knowing.

Because I travel a lot, always did strong pulls after toll booths or tight corners, taking the engine to redline through the gears.

Good maintenance of your ignition system, and good fuel helps a lot too.

1337HPMustang > cuts_off_prius
12/28/2014 at 10:49

I italian tune up once a week lol.

DipodomysDeserti > cuts_off_prius
12/28/2014 at 13:18

Most of the CBU on direct injected motors happens in the intake. No amount of detergents or revs will clean it. Spirited driving will help prevent it from forming, but once it's there you need to walnut blast the intake. I had to have this done on my 335d.