Fuel Injector Cleaners like Techron / Gimmick or Good ?

[iratoyota]

I want to use an injector additive or fuel system cleaner and want all your input please. Or should a get a professional service done at the dealer?
I have a 1994 Camry V6 XLE with 65K that runs great and averages about 22 MPG in mixed driving.

[ONE_to_HATE]

seafoam is the favorite here by a mile.. comming not too far behind is techron. Im a firm believer in Seafoam myself because i was having so much trouble w/my EGR valve - replacement was a damn near $400- i seafoamed twice and its cured the problem since! also, i ran it in my gas tank!

[frenum49]

Originally Posted by iratoyota

I want to use an injector additive or fuel system cleaner and want all your input please. Or should a get a professional service done at the dealer?
I have a 1994 Camry V6 XLE with 65K that runs great and averages about 22 MPG in mixed driving.

Use seafoam if you like for a complete system cleaning. However, if your specific target is the injectors, any proclaimed injector cleaner is a bit of a waste considering the high amounts of detergents in todays gasoline right out of the pump.

[kkyser]

I used some Techron in my tacoma and I had good luck. I used either Texaco or Chevron with a bottle of Techron for every fillup for 6 months. I was having a pinging problem and it is now eliminated. I am now running gas without the additive. One can will not do it. You have to have a regular routine with multiple cans. I have not seamfoamed it due to the cost. IF you use a "top tier" gas with the additive you might help the problem. I know that you cannot hurt anything so it is worth it. Give it a try and let us know how it is does.

[Gibson99]

Originally Posted by kkyser

I know that you cannot hurt anything so it is worth it.

Actually you CAN hurt things. Notice that the directions on the can say to mix X amount of addative with Y amount of fuel. If you go too high on the concentration (ie: entire bottle of seafoam or b12 chemtool added to less than 1/4 tank and then driving it that way), you WILL eat through some seals and cause fuel leaks. Could also possibly damage the injectors themselves. So stick to the mfg'r's guidelines (always add to a FULL tank!) on the package and you'll be fine.

[Mike Gerber]

Click and Clack, the 2 brothers on public radio, often recommend Techron.

Mike

[TheKevin]

i highly recommend Chevron Techron Fuel System cleaner, not fuel injector cleaner. Shell V-Power fuel system cleaner is a good one as well. Another suggestion is to use it no more than twice a year.

[iratoyota]

Thank you. Is their a big price difference between seafoam and techron ?

[mikered30]

I recommend Gumout Regane or Redline Sl-1.

[TheKevin]

Originally Posted by iratoyota

Thank you. Is their a big price difference between seafoam and techron ?

at my local kragen, they are usually the same price. no more than $1 difference.

[flyeri]

About every 6 months or so it is not a bad idea to run a bottle of fuel treatment with a tank of fuel. Add additive at the gas station then fill tank. Run most of it out before refilling. Techron or Seafoam would be good. If you use and injector cleaner (solvent) use it when you can run most of it out quickly, like on a road trip.

I have done a good bit of research on the seafoam and I only have one reservation about the instructions I see on this and several other websites. I would not put it in my oil on an older car as it may remove some build up that is preventing some leaks. There have even been instances where an older engine has been flushed with a solvent and then spun brearings. I know seafoam is not a solvent but it does do a good cleaning.

I would use the 1 ounce per gallon in the fuel tank as reccommended. I believe that several consecutive tanks of fuel with Seafoam will do a good job of cleaning the intake valves and the injectors based on what I have read on other sites. I have used the "fog" method but I would use a small diameter hose to slowly introduce the Seafoam to the engine rather than the larger brake booster hose. Maybe get an adapter from the hardware store and a piece of small hose.

[iratoyota]

how much does it cost actually and does it ever go on sale? thank you

[iratoyota]

Originally Posted by flyeri

About every 6 months or so it is not a bad idea to run a bottle of fuel treatment with a tank of fuel. Add additive at the gas station then fill tank. Run most of it out before refilling. Techron or Seafoam would be good. If you use and injector cleaner (solvent) use it when you can run most of it out quickly, like on a road trip.

I have done a good bit of research on the seafoam and I only have one reservation about the instructions I see on this and several other websites. I would not put it in my oil on an older car as it may remove some build up that is preventing some leaks. There have even been instances where an older engine has been flushed with a solvent and then spun brearings. I know seafoam is not a solvent but it does do a good cleaning.

I would use the 1 ounce per gallon in the fuel tank as reccommended. I believe that several consecutive tanks of fuel with Seafoam will do a good job of cleaning the intake valves and the injectors based on what I have read on other sites. I have used the "fog" method but I would use a small diameter hose to slowly introduce the Seafoam to the engine rather than the larger brake booster hose. Maybe get an adapter from the hardware store and a piece of small hose.

thank you for the detailed response. we are all curious to know if you got better mileage or better performance