Is "Gummout" a good product worth purchasing?

Saw this stuff in the store. Is this worth $4.99 a bottle to "clean" engine internals? Any thoughts?

 

I’m under the impression that “top tier” fuels (and most modern gasolines) already have “detergents” in them that accomplish the same thing as gumout and other similar products.

The products may have had a place back in the 1970’s. But today, they’re redundant. I could be wrong, but that’s what many will tell you.

 

Leave the canned miracle crap on the shelf.

Today's fuels are formulated with everything your engine needs to run clean and burn efficiently.

Use the $4.99 for Top Tier fuel.

 

I've watched youtube videos using multiple name brands. Use cameras to look at components before and after product use. most all show minimal to no change. Some might show a little less top layer carbon build up, but not much for one bottle.

 

The only thing that is going to be cleaned out is your wallet, looks like your wallet is now $30 lighter. Modern vehicles do not need any sort of tune-up in a can. In fact many of these old school products can damage modern sensors, cat converters, etc.

 

I won't use fuel additives that claim to clean carbon deposits. I do have some faith in Seafoam added to oil, and actual fuel injector cleaning run through the injectors. The best cleaner is probably water, as it will steam clean your engine very well.

 

I used it in the late '60's and early '70's and it worked. I had a carburated motorcycle, it got screwed up and the carb needed to be removed cleaned too often. I swore by Gumout or a product called "B-12" back then. Formulations have changed and I haven't used either or needed either in a long time.

https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/

 

The only stuff I ever had work, was Techron and that was years ago when I owned an injected VW Golf, I assumed it was some dirty gas. The car started to idle/run ruff and I poured the whole bottle in the tank while the car was idling. After a few minutes of idling the car started to smooth its idle out. From what I've read, today's gasoline has plenty of cleaning detergents in them, and with the alcohol they put in, there's no need for de-icer.

I will add that I have added between 5 to 6 ozs of Seafoam or Gumout to my oil and let the vehicles idle for about 10 minutes before I changed the oil.

 

Those early VW's (and Audi's and BMW's) used a funky continuous injection system that's completely different than modern EFI.

My Rabbit GTI required a regular dose of injection cleaner as well to stay hoppy. Regular routine was dump it when the tank was kinda low anyway. Take it out on the highway. Hold town throttle and observe rear view mirror for black cloud of soot/smoke. When cloud cleared, release go-pedal and drive home.

On modern EFI...the best thing I've found is pull the injectors and take them (or ship them) to an injector cleaning service. My guy charges $15 or $20 per and returns them cleaned, with new seals, and a printout on what they flowed before and after cleaning. I've had them check as zero flow as received. That was on a V8 though. Means it was really a V7.

Phil

 

2nd on Seafoam. I've been using it for years. It's not a magical panacea, but I can help clean components if build up exists.

Project Farm did a couple of episodes on it:
https://youtu.be/agAWXnT4-EQ
https://youtu.be/prXiQgVVnDY

 

STP Ultra 5 In 1 Fuel System Cleaner best stuff out there in my opinion.

 

Berryman's Poor it and Floor It!

 

Conventional oil is proven better than synthetic in cleaning the internal engine components.

 

O maaaannnn.....here comes the

 

But it's FRIDAY!!!

 

Oh boy. I didn't know we were heading here... :-/

 

@sprucemica I prefer the techron fuel system cleaner based off reviews and comparisons online, but at the end of the day it's up to you. I am not standing by these cleaners as being some sort of miracle, but I do run a bottle in a full tank of gas on a long trip as a preventative measure.

 

SEAFOAM THE WORLD.

 

Hmmm.....interesting.

Shouldn't the "preventative measure" be completed BEFORE a long trip????

 

Preventative measure, as in, preventing gunk and carbon buildup in the engine and prolonging the life of the motor. Pre-trip prep is a whole different story.