Fuel injection cleaner

[Michael Roberson]

What's the general opinion on fuel injector additives? Before and after performance experience? Is it hype? Seems like every improvement product that's advertised actually has a negative affect according to the consumer. I've never used any of them. According to my Auto Zone guy it will add miles to the gallon. I don't believe it. Thoughts?


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[JP98]

For the most part the fuel injector additives will not do you any good. The fuel here in the US already has additives to keep your fuel system in top shape. You will not see any improvement in MPG.

 

[CRGR]

For the most part the fuel injector additives will not do you any good. The fuel here in the US already has additives to keep your fuel system in top shape. You will not see any improvement in MPG.

This^^^

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Fuel injector cleaning additives have been a 100% waste of $$$ for years, ever since the EPA started requiring all gasoline manufacturers to include sufficient quantities of it around 1996. We used to need to use FI cleaners years ago when fuel injection first started becoming common but eventually most gas manufacturers started adding it on their own. Then the EPA started requiring it so there's no longer a need for it here in the US.

I had a bunch of Jeep dealers as clients years ago and I usually BS'd with the mechanics while visiting. I asked a number of them how many times they had seen actually dirty fuel injectors. None of the younger mechanics ever had and the older mechanics all said it had been a long time. They all agreed the 'fuel injection system cleaning service' their service advisors pushed on customers was never really needed, it was just an easy way for the dealership to make more $$$.

 

[JP98]

If you are looking to improve MPG. Make sure you keep your air filter changed and spark plugs are in great working order.

 

[Michael Roberson]

I'm not going the chase the MPG dragon. I'm happy with my 15/20 on a good day. I had a suspicion the cleaners were snake oil. Thanks!


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[Jerry Bransford]

I had a suspicion the cleaners were snake oil.

They work and are effective so they're not snake oil but they're just not needed with today's US gasolines that already contain sufficient fuel injector cleaning additives.

 

[Michael Roberson]

Thanks Jerry!


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[Bird]

So are beloved TJ's are ill effected by ethenol.
I always add Lucas to every other tank to combat the effects of ethenol which i do know has a major effect on small engines, according to all the local small engine repair shops.

 

[Blade]

So are beloved TJ's are ill effected by ethenol.
I always add Lucas to every other tank to combat the effects of ethenol which i do know has a major effect on small engines, according to all the local small engine repair shops.

I use StarTron on all my vehicles, including my lawn mower and gas trimmer.

 

[BretStep]

What's the general opinion on fuel injector additives? Before and after performance experience? Is it hype? Seems like every improvement product that's advertised actually has a negative affect according to the consumer. I've never used any of them. According to my Auto Zone guy it will add miles to the gallon. I don't believe it. Thoughts?


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I posed the same question a few years ago to a friend who spent 40 years in the shop, 20 of which were as a service manager for a GM dealership. He basically confirmed that the majority of them you see on the shelf at the parts store are ineffective, with a few exceptions. The basic age old adage of "you get what you pay for" comes into play here.
I was having problems with knocking on my high mileage Ranger and the problem was isolated to a carbon buildup inside the heads, which increased the compression ratio beyond what the ECU could compensate for with retarding the ignition.
He suggested a fuel system cleaner called TECHRON manufactured by Chevron which was rather expensive. I bought two bottles and went a little heavy on the ratio and within a couple hundred miles of driving, the knocking problem disappeared.
Buy the Techron Concentrate Plus. If it will dissolve the built up carbon on a head, it will work on an injector.
It's the exact same product used by the service department in dealerships, just labeled as GM. Goodwrench system cleaner.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Plain water used with the proper technique does a more effective and faster job cleaning carbon out of combustion chambers. True.

I could have my combustion chambers sparkling clean and free of all carbon deposits in about five minutes with 12-16 ounces of plain tap water and the engine running

 

[BretStep]

Plain water used with the proper technique does a more effective and faster job cleaning carbon out of combustion chambers. True.

I could have my combustion chambers sparkling clean and free of all carbon deposits in about five minutes with 12-16 ounces of plain tap water and the engine running

Yes, it you want to take the time to do it, it will. I was just making an effort to point out that there are a few chemical options that do indeed work at dissolving deposits.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Yes, it you want to take the time to do it, it will. I was just making an effort to point out that there are a few chemical options that do indeed work at dissolving deposits.

Take the time? 2 minutes is too much time? That is about how long the process takes and at $0 cost.

 

[Chris]

They're a 100% waste of money, no question about it. It's marketing gimmicks and placebo effects, that's all.

Just another snake oil scam as far as I am concerned.

Others will disagree (and that's fine, everyone can have their own opinion).

 

[bobthetj03]

I add a bottle of Lucus at every oil change. Have for years. Just piece of mind at very little cost in my mind. I'll add a bottle of Seafoam to my coach because it has the fuel stabilizer cause the coach sits.

 

[egclassic]

I use StarTron on all my vehicles, including my lawn mower and gas trimmer.

X2, been using this to combat the ethanol "phasing" in my boats for years.

 

[Bird]

Plain water used with the proper technique does a more effective and faster job cleaning carbon out of combustion chambers. True.

I could have my combustion chambers sparkling clean and free of all carbon deposits in about five minutes with 12-16 ounces of plain tap water and the engine running

Funny Jerry, a retired race car mechanic told me this all the time and he actually used this technique.....who am i to question.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I add a bottle of Lucus at every oil change. Have for years. Just piece of mind at very little cost in my mind. I'll add a bottle of Seafoam to my coach because it has the fuel stabilizer cause the coach sits.

In my personal opinion, both of those are absolutely a 100% waste of $$$ and time.

And if you could see the damning lab test video of the Lucas additive that used to be viewable on Bob is the Oil Guy site, you'd instantly stop using it. Lucas sued to suppress it and when that failed, purchased the Bob is the Oil Guy site to suppress/remove the video.

 

[DC0046]

Funny Jerry, a retired race car mechanic told me this all the time and he actually used this technique.....who am i to question.

That's a damn fine buck in your profile pic.