Fuel injector service.... is it necessary

I just finished my spark plug. doing my lsd next weekend.

Toyota is saying I need to have a fuel injector service.....$90.00.

I asked if it was just ana additive added to the tank and they said allot more is involved.

 

For 90? I doubt they are doing more than running an additive through the tank.

If you've been using quality fuel and not getting gas in Mexico or water in your fuel, you aren't likely to need it.

How's your power and MPG compared to when it was newer?

 

I had that done a couple months ago along with the spark plugs. I had been getting some bad MPGs for the past few months, and I didn't really notice a difference in MPG.
You would probably see a performance gain. However, I am pretty sure it is something you can also just use a bottle of something, and do yourself. (Not seafoam)


http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/69518-fuel-injector-cleaner.html

 

Gas mileage has gone down as mods have gone up so it has been hard to keep track. Anyone recommend a good fuel injector additive.

 

Yeah. The best thing you can buy is Techron.

 

The "fuel injector service" is nearly BS and not needed as rich said using decent gas anywhere in the USA. The inlet filter pressed into the injector is a 1 micron filter ( nothing is getting into the injector ). Note that a human hair or even a few skin cells inside of a modern fuel injector will cause it to seize ( open, closed or part way between ). Notice I didn't say could cause, it will cause it to seize. Very close internal tolerances all metal to metal sealing inside. The only way to clear this 1 micron filter is to remove the injector from the engine and back flush it while energizing the coil. Unless you are putting shit into the tank this isn't an issue.

There could be buildup in the nozzle area of the injector ( on the outside ). this could cause an irregular or muted spray pattern. This could effect power etc... Two ways to clean this is to remove the injector and use an ultrasonic cleaner or use a fuel tank additive. This is also not an issue when using non-shitty gasoline.

Short story: There is nothing the dealer is going to do worth 90 dollars that a bottle of additive from the auto parts store of your choosing for a few dollars isn't going to do. Just make sure that whatever additive you use is O2 Sensor safe, all are not.

 

No

 

Thanks everyone. That is why I love these forums.

The only gas that has ever gone into my truck for the last 4 years is Chevron.

 

Speaking of Chevron . . . I've always heard Techron was good stuff. I ran across this post on a Honda Pilot forum:

 

I was just told at my dealership I needed injector service. Showed me this video from another dealership. $270. I have 141,000 on the 2016. But it runs like day I drove it out of showroom. So I declined. It never called for it in the factory manual. And I have never ever in 40 years of driving been asked this ever before. So I don’t think it would do a damn thing. I’ll run a bottle of cleaner through the tank maybe at some point. They were very creative to convince me later. Did you notice your fuel economy has dropped off by 10%. Of course it has. It’s winter. Winter blends of fuel always do that. Nice try. Lol

here is link to vid. https://youtu.be/suzFEuuMPXE

 

I wonder why they don't suck the cleaner through a vacuum port in the air intake tract
otherwise it's not starting high enough to clean carbon from valves in a 3rd gen DI motor.

and how they figure out which fuel line works to run pressure into the rail with relay disabled
given that the Taco has like 2 or 4 fuel line connection points on the driver side of the engine (2nd gen)

this video makes it look like on a 1GR-FE 4L that the frontmost fuel line is used



if injecting higher up stream through vacuum I suppose that could leave some chemical film residue along the inside of the intact tract, which is half plastic. Not sure if that is harmful or not.
Because after that nothing is cleaning it since you're just running outside air through it.

You can always do it yourself
tool:




+ air compressor to power it, parts, and way to vent exhaust fumes it causes

 

Runs like day I drove it out of showroom. I only go back because I get feee oil changes since I bought it there. Do everything else myself.

 

Their parts department had a Toyota fuel system cleaner made for Toyota. So I picked up a bottle of that and dumped it in. Just to be on safe side. Was $10.

 

Clean the MAF, TB with their respective cleaners and a bottle or 2 in the gas at fill up, between oil changes.

MAF and TB will give the biggest bang for the buck. Especially if they've never been cleaned before.

 

Why, are you still going to a dealer?
Find a good local mom n pop store, they need your business and will treat you right.

 

Dang my last Tacoma injectors only had 320K on them maybe I should have dumped some gook in it and kept it a bit longer.

 

Techron and piss colored gumout are both good and easy to find. I think redline and jectron are better but not easy to find.

 

if you have the know how to pull the intake, I highly suggest sending the injectors out for refurb. Its about $25 per injector but they deep clean, flow test, replace the filters and gaskets.

I did it at 180k miles and it made a noticeable improvement on how the truck ran. I regularly used techron before this as well, still do.

 

My friend swears by this stuff...
https://www.bgprod.com/catalog/gasoline-fuel-system/bg-44k-fuel-system-cleaner/
He claims that he was told by one of the Toyota dealership tecs that's what they put in when they do there "pretend" $100 fuel injectors service..

 

depends on what you need
active current repair manual information and special tools for warranty repairs and someone who can figure out an issue because they've already dealt with it 3 times?

An independent shop I once worked at literally didn't use a repair manual
it was a "Pop" shop. Pop made himself all the money
Sometimes, a person working at an independent shop will move to a dealer for higher wage, among other things, because they start to take themselves seriously. I imagine that is the type of person you'd want working on your vehicle, regardless of what color logo is on their shirt that day or who their boss's boss is

Another option is finding a guy direct, who, after work and tired of work, will probably not want to do more work

$24 BG44K BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner Power Enhancer 11oz.

BG44K is not bad

I have done this before. Replaced filters on injectors that looked like shit as well.
Was only possible at the time due to having another car to drive while the one with injectors mailed out was disabled
additive is probably not as good as ultrasonic cleaning, flow test, and flow match