Fuel Injector Cleaner

How many of you guys use fuel injector products?

Please share why you do or don't. Also, if you do, how often.

I've never run these products in either of my prior trucks. My 250 has over 200k miles on it and no issues. I'm just wondering if it's a good preventive maintinence product or a waste of money. I would like to run my Taco for at least 400k miles.

My dad warns against using things like this because he ran a bottle in his BMW and not long after had to replace his 02 sensors. He thinks the cleaner caused it. I'm not so sure.

 

In days gone by, I've used a variety of snake oil treatments to include FI cleaners. I noticed no difference in performance, smoother idle; mpg.

I did; however, use a can of BK 44K in a '91 Mercedes gas engine once and OMG!!! The car bucked and kicked like a rabid mule. After that tank of gas, things smoothed out and the car seemed to run a lot better.

 

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=80&pcid=12

 

Chevron techron fuel system cleaner every oil change (5000 miles). I wait until Advance Auto has a buy one get one free deal.

 

Redline Si-1 will do the trick for you. Run an entire bottle in your tank of gas prior to an oil change, I've been using it in mine and family member's vehicles for over 20 years and no problems. PEA is the chemical that does the cleaning/carbon breakup; Chevron calls it Techron, Gumout calls it Regane, everyone has a name for it.

If you can afford a few days down time, there is the option of removing and sending the injectors off for ultrasonic cleaning. It costs a little bit but you can return the injectors to their desired flow rates and function. I know at least one place will install stainless steel filter baskets for an extra $1.50 each to help combat high ethanol fuel problems. I bought a couple sets of injectors on here and sent them to a guy on the East Coast to be rejuvenated. Running a set now and had the other set prepped/lubed for storage as spares for later on.

 

Once a year when I take a trip, I usually get a can of Seafoam and put it in the gas tank. Don't know if it really helps, but to me it's a little preventive maintenance in my mind. Throttle body is where it mostly gums up, that's the area where you'll notice a hesitation and realize something needs to be addressed. Their's several discussions on youtube about this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6UeJXkzDW8

 

Mostly I use straight gas. Occasionally I use Lucas and Techron concentrate, they are dirt cheap on Amazon. Lucas every 3-4 fuel-ups, and Techron once per year. The Lucas provides upper cylinder lubricant in addition to chamber/injector cleaning and slightly improved MPG. The Techron is a powerful cleaner (cleans the entire fuel system including fuel tank) and should not be needed more than once per year unless there are other issues going on.

 

I recently started using Lucas fuel injector cleaner at 6 ounces per 20 gallons of gas in my Tacoma. After a couple tanks my MPG went up from mid 17's to high 18/ low 19's.

I put it in my wife's Corolla which started to shake slightly at idle in drive, now it doesn't.

I'm not sure if it is actually cleaning the injectors or just conditioning the fuel as it claims to negate bad gas.

I have used it in my 13 year old Honda push lawn mower for many years now. It starts first pull even after sitting for a month.

 

I have to be perfectly honest. I don't think I notice any significant difference between the before and after there.

 

I tend to agree, but if you look real close amazingly it did a little. That's why I do it only once a year to help prevent it from gumming up. To each his own as far as doing things, as preventive maintenance.

 

The most important thing is Make sure the product says on the container that it is O2 Safe.

 

+1 Sea foam

 

I have heard of (and seen) many people have o2 sensors among other things fail after using seafoam. It's pretty much because it cleans it so well, the deposits all try to rush out the exhaust and cake on the filters and in the catalytic converter(s,) causing failure.
But if you do it regularly, so there are not super large deposits, you may have better luck. I run Valvoline full fuel system cleaner every oil change. Just dump it in my tank, fill it up, (so it mixes with the fuel a little better than just dumping it in on top) and roll. Some people say it's snake oil, meaning it's a load of crap, and it may be. But if done right, (meaning it's done at intervals, not just when the system is already loaded up with trash) it shouldn't cause any problems.
I know some mechanics that swear by this sort of stuff, and some that will urge you to steer clear of it. I'm of a rather mixed opinion, myself, but everyone's gotta formulate their own opinion, and the only way to do such is to do it and learn from it.

 

I try to stick with Top Tier Fuels so I don't have to bother with any cleaners

 

Excuse my ignorance but how does one do that?
How do you know what truck dropped off what gas at a certain station?

 

Actually, I went through and watched all that guys videos and the Seafoam actually performed better than everything else he tried.
I also wonder if that product is better because it doesn't go into your fuel system. I wonder what kind of harm (if any) can be caused the the fuel filter by adding cleaners to the fuel tank.

 

Like others have mentioned, I too use Chevron Techron every oil change for peace of mind. I have a few bottles stocked up when they are buy one get one free from Autozone. I also run a bottle when I go on a road trip when I know i'll burn through a few tanks before I get to my destination.

 

Your point is well taken - I wonder the same.

http://www.toptiergas.com/retailers

 

Yes I agree I guess I'm just a negative Nancy when it comes to stuff like this. Same as claims that some produce is grown organicly. How often is this verified and even if it is how bout the neighbor that is spraying pesticides all over the place LOL.

 

I have also run chevron techron. I also run Berryman. Not sure if it is axualy doing anything but like other have said , it's proventative maintain. I also run nothing but shell gas .