Looking for recommendations for using fuel injector cleaner?

[dud]

One of my relatives (who is a mechanic) recomended using FI cleaner to avoid clogging up the injectors in our cars. I've owned many FI cars in the last 30 years and have never used the stuff ... and never had a clogged injector.

So I guess my question(s) are: Do you use/recommend using FI cleaner? do you use it on a regular basis? What's the risk if you do not use it?

Thanks ...

 

[thescreensavers]

There are lots of people who say you don't need too, but it can't hurt to use one.

Google PEA , thats what good FI cleaners use to clean the cylinder.. Etc there is even an SAE paper written to prove PEA.

I wouldn't use one that dosnt have it. Redline Si-1 is popular and you can get it at pep boys

 

[slag]

I believe most gasoline has additives/detergents built in so that its not necessary to clean your injectors, but I might be wrong.

 

[Scarpozzi]

You already use the stuff...you just don't know it.

http://pr.sae.org/saenews/gasadditives.htm

A good way to think about it is if you shower every day with a spray of liquid soap to wash/rinse and never use a washcloth to scrub your skin....eventually you'll get some kind of buildup of dirt or even soap scum on your skin. At some point, typically high mileage, the injectors will need to be replaced. I doubt it's worth the extra money unless as the article states, your model of vehicle requires more than what gasoline additives provide.

 

[LTC8K6]

If your injectors needed extra cleaning, you would know it.

 

[xBiffx]

I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[richardycc]

BG44k - it is only fuel system cleaner that I can feel the 'seat of the pants' improvement.

 

[ummduh]

I absolutely do not ever run anything extra in my vehicles. Complete waste of money. Your fuel already has detergents in it.

 

[Mark R]

In general, nothing you add to the fuel will be particularly good at cleaning fouled injectors.

Most fuel additives contain stuff like alcohols (to allow water to mix with the fuel, aka gas line antifreeze), dispersant (soluble gums which stop dust, grit and debris from settling to the bottom of the tank), solvents (which can unstick ultra-fine debris from filters, allowing it go through the engine, and freeing up fuel flow on the filter), and detergents (to help prevent carbon or varnish build-up on injectors).

Of course, fuel contains all this stuff anyway. However, it may not contain the best blends, or high quantities - just enough to meet the standard that the manufacturer wants to achieve (either the legal minimum, or an industry standard such as "top tier").

Remember that a fuel manufacturer doesn't necessarily want to put the best additives into their fuel, if the additive might improve gas mileage. I have come across anecdotes from chemists working with additive companies that big oil companies have trialled a new premium additive product, but decided not to order after testing found it to improve gas mileage (only a couple of %, but enough to erode their profit margin and catch the attention of the guys in suits).

Aftermarket additive companies don't have this conflict of interest (but they may have others). Quite how an average Joe is supposed to tell which additives are worth buying is anyone's guess.

 

[LTC8K6]

Fouled injectors would be obvious, and then you would know you needed service.