Fuel Injection Cleaner

[mr.pringles]

I read a tip about cleaning your fuel injectors every 3K-5Kmiles or after every oil change. I was looking through the sale ads for auto stores (autozone & advance auto) and I've came down to a STP fuel injector cleaner and the shell VQ power one. Which ones better, such as the additives they use, the STP or Shell? Also, whats the difference between a fuel system cleaner and just the fuel injectors?

[Curry]

Have you tried seafoam? A lot of guys use that to clean their fuel system/Injectors.

Fill your tank up and throw a bottle in.

[mr.pringles]

seafoam, wouldnt that cause a lot of smoke? Im just trying to get something cheap because my gas lines kind of froze the other day (couldn't go pass 45mph on the expressway with the pedal all the way down), and I need to buy a bottle of HEET to antifreeze it. So I thought, I might as well clean the fuel injectors too.

[Curry]

It only smokes when you toss it into your brake booster line.

I haven't had it smoke on me when I put it into the fuel tank...

Seafoam is cheap... 4-7 bucks depending on where you get it.

[geoff5093]

Seafoam only smokes excessively when you add it directly to the engine via a vacuum line. Adding it to the gas tank won't cause any noticeable difference in terms of smoke.

[1996camry]

i heard chevel fuel injector is better? 7-8 bucks... i bought one and put in a half gas tank....just keep free trouble later...


Where can i buy seafoam? i saw seafoam at Napa is said outside label use for transmission fluid flush...is that right?

[Kep]

Every 3-5k miles seems a little much (kind of like shampoo manufacturers saying to wash and then wash again - just sells more shampoo!). I've never seen a study on one cleaner vs another. The forum members seem to lean heavily towards Seafoam (you can add it separately to the oil, the gas or via the vacuum line for different results). You would add it to the gas to clean your injectors and fuel system. I kind of like Chevron Techroline. I suspect that the STP or Shell would work also. If you stick with the better gases, they have similar cleaning additives in them already, just at a lower concentration.

If one treatment doesn't do it, go ahead and use it two or three times in a row or check into getting your injectors professionally cleaned (essentially, they remove the injectors and clean them or hook to the fuel rail and force cleaner through them). Afterwards run the additive through your system once or twice a year.

Kep

[moocow]

I got lucky buying two bottles of Chevron Techtron cleaner. The lady at the counter rang out my two bottles as one. Either there was a sale I didn't notice or someone was lacking sleep. Anyways I added one bottle at half a tank, and another the next tank at half full again.

Seafoam you should use on your air idle controller/throttle body. It will smoke but its nothing harmful.

How do you add Seafoam to your vacuum line?

[geoff5093]

Originally Posted by moocow

I got lucky buying two bottles of Chevron Techtron cleaner. The lady at the counter rang out my two bottles as one. Either there was a sale I didn't notice or someone was lacking sleep. Anyways I added one bottle at half a tank, and another the next tank at half full again.

Seafoam you should use on your air idle controller/throttle body. It will smoke but its nothing harmful.

How do you add Seafoam to your vacuum line?

You're suppose to add the cleaner to a full tank of gas, not half.

Seafoam Deep Creep is used for cleaning the intake/TB, the Seafoam motor treatment is used in the gas, oil, or engine via a vacuum line.

[virg]

Originally Posted by mr.pringles

I read a tip about cleaning your fuel injectors every 3K-5Kmiles or after every oil change. I was looking through the sale ads for auto stores (autozone & advance auto) and I've came down to a STP fuel injector cleaner and the shell VQ power one. Which ones better, such as the additives they use, the STP or Shell? Also, whats the difference between a fuel system cleaner and just the fuel injectors?

There is no need to add after market fuel injector cleaners to your fuel system. Virtually every brand of gasoline has some form of injector cleaner added. This was a major concern years ago when electronic fuel injection systems became the norm in American automobiles. Shortly afterward injector pintons became a problem due to contamination. After fuel additives were added shortly after; this became a non-issue. Of course if you still want to add additional additives to your fuel, go ahead; but it is a waste of money. If you still want to do it, Chevron's Techron is the best. It's the same additive they already add to their fuel.

Frozen fuel lines are a sign of moisture in the system or fuel. The best way to combat this is to keep your tank topped up, especially in cold weather. Also use a vendor with high customer use. This keeps a constant supply of fresh fuel in his tanks.

good luck...virg

[DFBonnett]

OP,
Be somewhat circumspect about adding FI cleaners to the gas. The solvents contained therein can be deleterious to fuel pump wiring. Typically, the gas you buy has sufficient to keep injectors clean.
For any of you who get your advice from that kid with the two pound zit who sits behind you in homeroom...
Don't!

[gladis]

Hey all, I'm wondering what my mechanic charged me for today.

I seafoamed the car recently and the engine ran noticeably smoother.

Today, my dad took the car to the mechanic to get the oil changed and get a quick look at everything (which he always does for free).

Under the invoice, he also used something called "fuel injection cleaner" for $15.00, and under labor, said "clean throttle body and fuel injection cleaner added" for $45.00

I'm wondering as to what he might've done exactly. Any thoughts?
(The engine did run noticeably even smoother after whatever he did, though not as significant as the seafoam)

I'm wondering if the cost ($60) is justified, keep in mind that I live in Northern California, one of the most expensive places in the states.

[Venom_5]

the cost was definitely not justified ... you can run the same cleaner thru your car for a $6 trip to AutoZone or Wal-Mart

[gladis]

mmm, from what I've read people pour it into their gas tanks, but this should not have immediate effect, so I'm wondering what he might've done.

In the future, I might tell dad to tell his mechanic to avoid running things like that (dad is the type that never does anything on his cars, gives it all to mechanic)

[geoff5093]

Originally Posted by gladis

mmm, from what I've read people pour it into their gas tanks, but this should not have immediate effect, so I'm wondering what he might've done.

In the future, I might tell dad to tell his mechanic to avoid running things like that (dad is the type that never does anything on his cars, gives it all to mechanic)

For the price it sounds like he just cleaned the throttle body and intake using a can of intake/TB cleaner, which can be picked up for about $5 at Auto Zone.