CE Light caused by Fuel Injector Cleaner (Techron?) - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Agrippa · 07-04-2009, 05:54 PM

So I bought a 01 Camry for my brother and was trying to get it up to tip top shape since he is a car novice. I replaced the plugs, air filter, and put some Chevron Techron Fuel Injector cleaner in the tank, which had about a 1/2 tank of gas left. I was planning on topping it off but didn't get a chance to.

Well today when I drove it for the first time since putting the cleaner in, I got a CE light code P0401 Insufficient EGR flow. I am intimately familiar with what causes this as I had the same thing on my Camry.

My question is, is there a chance that the Techron cleaner caused this? I mean, it just seems weird that if it did cause it, why it threw a P0401 and not like an O2 code.

Any thoughts before I start trouble shooting/replacing VSVs/modulators/EGR valves? Thanks.

***ASG14*** · 07-05-2009, 01:30 AM

Noty a chance. The fuel system is not even related to the EGR Valve. Just a weird Coincidence.

Take the EGR Valve off and try cleaning it. Thats the best bet to start.

Agrippa · 07-05-2009, 09:14 AM

Yea, thats what I thought. Thanks.

***Tony the Tiger*** · 07-08-2009, 01:42 AM

I have seen cases that concentrated does of fuel system cleaner can unlodge heavy craploads of carbon from the motor. It is actually quite possible that a lot of carbon has made its way through and gummed up the EGR valve or EGR pasages...lol

***ASG14*** · 07-08-2009, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony the Tiger

I have seen cases that concentrated does of fuel system cleaner can unlodge heavy craploads of carbon from the motor. It is actually quite possible that a lot of carbon has made its way through and gummed up the EGR valve or EGR pasages...lol

REALLY?!??!?! Wow....thats something I have never heard of.

Xen2050 · 07-08-2009, 05:51 AM

Maybe it's an old code from the previous owner? They could have had the same check engine light, but didn't want to deal with it so pulled the fuse/battery to clear the light so they could sell it, and after you drove it a few times the light came back on? Only if it's one of the codes that takes a few start/drive/stop cycles to show up, and it's not an instant-MIL-on code, I'm not familiar with that one, but for codes about a bad CAT they'll be cleared for a few days before the light comes back on... just imagining the worst-case seller