Fuel System/Injector Cleaners

Bird · Aug 2, 2012

I've got a question for you automotive folks. A car dealer used to recommend a fuel system flush or cleaning every 30k miles. They no longer have that recommendation. At one time a service writer told me it was a much more concentrated cleaning than using the gasoline additives that Walmart and the auto parts stores sell. I've occasionally added a bottle of Gumout fuel treatment to my gasoline, but don't honestly know whether it does any good or not. At least I've never had a problem with the fuel injectors on our vehicles.

Now I've recently read on the Internet that when the early fuel injection systems came out, the gasoline at that time had a "wax?" that could clog the injectors, but now the modern gasoline doesn't so you no longer need to use an injector cleaner.

Walmart and others have a number of brands of gasoline additives that are supposed to clean your fuel system.

So the questions are: (1) is some kind of additive, or other fuel cleaning system, needed periodically, and (2) if so, which would you recommend.

Gator6x4 · Aug 2, 2012

Bird I think it was the throttle body injection system they used to clean. Vehicles today have individual injectors for each cylinder. NASCAR is the only one I know of that still advocates a throttle body. Of course I know better than say anything against this fifty year old technology. Remember the huge fine that was imposed on a driver for pointing out to the media it was a fifty year technology.

JESSE1 · Aug 2, 2012

Years ago the dealer we used recommended Chevron Techron for cleaning the fuel injectors. I would suspect the major brands of gasoline have a detergent that should keep the fuel system clean. The dealers do have a method for cleaning the injectors, my sister had her GMC Acadia cleaned this past winter. Whether this is necessary or just a means of generating sales is the question.

Bird · Aug 2, 2012

I do remember them talking about throttle body cleaning. When did it change? Our Ford Ranger is a 2001 model and our Ford Crown Vic is a 2002 model.

Diamondpilot · Aug 2, 2012

I know a couple of station owners and its a waste of money and time according to them. Nothing compare to the cleaner your gas already has in 10% concentration, ethanol. Its the only thing its good for in my opinion but it is a excellent cleaner.

The one station owner I know said when they switched over to ethanol blends they went from changing the pump filters once a month to twice a day for the first few days, then once a day, the once a week, then back to the once a month schedule after about a dozen filters per pump. It was just that good at cleaning out all the junk in the tank, pipes, and pumps. This particular station is a Shell that sells V Power and does 8,000 to 10,000 gallons per day so its a high volume station that always has the freshest fuel but its just that good of a cleaner.

Chris

newbury · Aug 2, 2012

Bird said:
So the questions are: (1) is some kind of additive, or other fuel cleaning system, needed periodically, and (2) if so, which would you recommend.

Depends on how often you empty the tank.
I've 2 gas vehicles that see less than 2,000 miles a year. Sometimes they won't be driven for 6 months. I like to put StaBil in them.

Diesel will set for years, gas, especially with ethanol won't.

Gary Fowler · Aug 2, 2012

One of my cars, a 2003 with 90K on it has never had any injector cleaningor fuel treatment and still runs just like new. Same with my 2007 truck with 40K. I think they are a waste of money with todays fuels. I put Stabil in all my lawnmower gas because it can set for a month or more before it gets used. That seems to keep it fresh enough to not gum things up but I only use pure gasoline in my lawnmower which is available in several stations close to me.

Bird · Aug 2, 2012

If I left mine sitting like newbury, I'd probably use Stabil in them, too. But in the last year, the Crown Vic has gone about 7,300 miles and the Ranger about 9,000. The Ranger is coming up on 90k and I'll let the dealer do about $400 worth of service; transmission, coolant, oil, oil filter, maybe the air filter, and even possibly brake pads. I may spend more than I need to on maintenance, but I want everything working all the time just as it did when it was new. But their service writer doesn't recommend the high priced injector cleaner. So I know I'm not hurting anything by adding the Gunout fuel system cleaner to the gas, but am I doing any good at all? I've added a bottle of the Gumout about every 2,500 miles.

Diamondpilot · Aug 2, 2012

Bird said:
So I know I'm not hurting anything by adding the Gunout fuel system cleaner to the gas, but am I doing any good at all? I've added a bottle of the Gumout about every 2,500 miles.

You are not hurting anything and if it gives you piece of mind go for it. I really do not think its necessary for the miles you drive, especially with todays ethanol fuels.

Chris