BG Products - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

billberry12 · 08-12-2011, 08:49 PM

I noticed at my Toyota Service department the other day, they recommended a BG Oil treatment, and also a BG fuel system treatment at 60,000 miles. It seemed kind of expensive. Several hundred $ if I remember correctly.

Then yesterday, my tire dealer also had a big display of BG products and recommended them.

Are these treatments worth the money? What should they cost, and which one should I do?
Thanks.

***Zembonez*** · 08-12-2011, 08:53 PM

They have been around for many years. Frankly most "additives" are snake oil. You do not need an oil treatment. Oil changes are fine. Some people feel better adding "fuel system treatment" which can be had on the cheap at any auto parts store, but it's pretty much unnecessary if you keep fresh gas in your vehicle.

Profit in a bottle.

billberry12 · 08-12-2011, 09:01 PM

That's what I've always thought too. I guess seeing them at my Toyota dealership shocked me. I couldn't believe they would be recommending this stuff.

***Zembonez*** · 08-12-2011, 09:02 PM

It's just a way for the service department to make additional profit.

Really no harm at all in running a premium fuel system cleaner/additive through it if it makes you feel better though. You can pick them up for about 10 bucks at the parts store or even a WalMart. You just add it to a full tank.

EDIT: By the way, BG products do have a good reputation.

billberry12 · 08-12-2011, 09:08 PM

Thanks for you comments. But me "feeling better" doesn't really matter to me as much as making sure I am taking good care of my car. I want to drive it a long time, and was just wondering if these products would make a difference. If they are snake oil designed to make a dealership money and make me feel better, I'd rather keep my money in my pocket. Does these make sense?

Thanks,
Bill

***Zembonez*** · 08-12-2011, 09:10 PM

Well... by feeling better I mean some people actually think it does some good to run fuel system cleaners. I have never run any in my cars and never had any issues. I say it isn't going to hurt anything, especially at a cheap parts store price.

Hope that helped!

OpticNerve · 08-13-2011, 05:28 PM

First, I do not believe that the cost benefit for ANY of the services from most dealerships are worth the expense. I do all my own work and this is what I would recommend. The 30, 60, 90 etc recommended service maintenance items are extremely expensive. If you ask for and look carefully at what parts are actually replaced, you will be amazed at how little you really get in new parts. An oil/filter change, new air filter, maybe new wiper blades, but mostly checking this and inspecting that. I am a big believer in Syn oil, I get mine at WalMart, and high end oil filters, Mobil 1, K&N, Pure One. I change the oil when it gets dark brown, which in my 2000 Avalon is about every 7500 miles. I do use BG products such as 44K and Part No 206 Air Intake System Cleaner every other year. The 44K goes in the tank, the AISC goes thru the brake vacuum hose. There are many YouTube videos on how it is done. I have had great success in getting rid of moldy smell from the ac using BG Part 708 Frigi-Fresh. I take out about 4qts of trans fluid, and add 4qts of Toyota Type IV every 25,000. I don't recommend any i.e trans, power steering, cooling system flushes. If you drive, a mix of 50/50 highway-local miles and use a decent grade and tier one gas i.e. Shell, Sunoco, BP, I think you will not really need to do much else for the first 100k. If you drive a lot of local short trips, I do recommend doing an air-fuel cleaning service every 30K. Motor Vac, BG, Run-Rite all do about the same and should run no more then $139.00. Learning how to DIY and not being conned into thinking you are really getting something important is the key. If you don't want to DIY, try to find an honest mechanic, like the instructor at the nearest vo-tech, or someone who has a good repetition around the area you live.

billberry12 · 08-14-2011, 07:54 PM

Thanks to all for the info. You verified what I thought.
Bill

CISA93 · 08-15-2011, 09:46 AM

I've used BG products for over 15 years. First it was recommended by two master technicians and service advisors from Honda and Nissan. A few years later I began working at an import shop as a service advisor, again, they used BG products. I know their 44K works, one can every 15k miles. They have a product called BG 109 and it purges (cleans) the dirty oil when you drain it. I witnessed a teardwon of an engine that had alot of sludge and another engine after having used the engine purge, huge difference in getting rid of engine sludge.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I certainly can't show you these results, but I KNOW they work! ANything you purchase from the dealership is going to have a substantial mark-up. I can get my can of 44K at about $21.50. However, for one can every 15K instead of these "off-the-shelf" products at Orielly, Autozone or Pepboys where they need to be used every 3-4k miles, it comes out to be a much better deal. I use their synthetic motor oil (it's has a patented MOA cleaner in it), Throttle body cleaner, A/T fluid and 44K cleaner on every car I service. I haven't had any EFI problems on any car as long as I change the fuel filter once every 15K and drop in a can of 44K.

Contact your local 44K distributor he'l give you all of the lab. testing/performance data. Good luck!