Fuel injector cleaner

[brown0809]

Does it work well with our cars or work at all? And if it does what are good brands? People have told me they suck.

[Bitter]

depends what you're trying to do with it...what are you trying to fix or make better?

[brown0809]

Originally Posted by Bitter

depends what you're trying to do with it...what are you trying to fix or make better?

Gas mileage

[MrGiggles]

It cleared up a rough idle problem we had on our Previa. We just used the cheapest we could find.

[Bitter]

Originally Posted by brown0809

Gas mileage

if you're over 90k miles replace the primary O2 sensor, clean the filter to the MAP sensor (or replace it), clean the throttle body and throttle plate, change the cap/rotor/wires/plugs, and some good injector cleaner. better yet, have it ran on an injector cleaning machine at a shop.

[speedy25]

Lucas

Another way is to fill up with Premium fuel every so often. I'm told there are extra additives in that fuel that help to clean engine and fuel system parts.


-SP

[spinthetension]

I've heard Lucas is good.

Redline is another good one. Can usually be found at Pepboys. Dump a whole bottle in when you fill up your tank.

Don't know if it'll increase your gas mileage. Maybe 1 mile/gallon. If anything you'll just notice better engine performance (i.e. smoother idle, better acceleration, etc.).

[cipher93]

Originally Posted by speedy25

Lucas

Another way is to fill up with Premium fuel every so often. I'm told there are extra additives in that fuel that help to clean engine and fuel system parts.


-SP

I'm pretty sure this is a myth; the only difference you're likely to see is if you change fuel brands. I have however had good luck with Lucas, so another vote to that.

[badquenga]

Originally Posted by cipher93

I'm pretty sure this is a myth; the only difference you're likely to see is if you change fuel brands. I have however had good luck with Lucas, so another vote to that.

It is a myth and you're right, changing fuel brands is the best way to go. If you get just 1 mpg more, it won't change much in cost. If you get 2, you're pretty much saving money.

25mpg @ $3.60/gal = $0.144/mile. Arco
26mpg @ $3.80/gal = $0.146/mile. Chevron (miniscul difference)
27mpg @ $3.80/gal = $0.141/mile. Chevron (saving money)

Cheap gas adds ethanol, upwards of 15%, 10% most likely. The cheaper the gas, the more ethanol. The more expensive the gas, the less ethanol (generally). Despite all the green crap you hear, Ethanol is not good for your cars. Not only does it consume a lot of resources to produce, it's bad for your engine and creates higher NOx levels. Ethanol corrodes most hoses and attracts moisture. (Which is why you see so many products for 'Ethanol Treatment'). It also raise the temperature of the exhaust gas. NOx is created by high temp and high pressure. So, while it may 'burn' cleaner, it creates more NOx, which is the bad stuff California is afraid of. Ethanol also lowers your MPG.

The grading of gas doesn't mean it's 'better' gas either. It simply refers to the temperature at which it will ignite. When you compress air it heats up, the hotter you can get the air, the bigger the bang. If you put 87 gas into a high performance motor, it's will ignite before the spark plug ignites it. Same as if you put race gas into your Corolla, it might not ignite. So technically, 'premium' gas is worse. It takes higher compression to ignite, which means it doesn't always burn. A 'trick' I've learned when taking my M3 into smog is to put 87 gas in, even though I use 91. It burns at a lower temp, which means more of it burns. The left over fuel that isn't burned off is called Hydrocarbons. (See HC on your Smog paperwork). HC is bad for smog, so the more fuel you burn, the less HC's in your exhaust. I have no proof of this, but it's not my idea either. Plus, even in theory it makes sense.

If you're trying to get better MPG out of the bottle, I would say it's useless. Say the bottle costs $5 and you pick up 2 mpg. If you get 25mpg buy gas @ $3.60/gal, it's $0.144/mile. If you get 27mpg on the same gas, it's $0.133/mile. Difference of $0.011/mile. So, to get your $5 back, you'd have to drive 455 miles to make it worth it. Which, doesn't seem that bad...about 1 3/4 tank. However, I haven't actually seen 2 mpg increase in using fuel injector cleaner. It does work, but you get what you pay for. Best way is to have the pro's hook your injectors up for a cleaning. I personally just use it as a maintenance thing. Every oil change, pop it in. Cheap insurance.