My Layman Review of STP Fuel System Cleaner

[axelfox]

I have 1998 Toyota Rav4 with 108K miles on it. About 6 months ago, it was idling rough, sometimes when I turn on the engine, sometimes off the line. It would be on and off, so somedays it would run fine, somedays, it would idle pretty rough.

I did some research and I thought it could possibly be dirty fuel injectors. I was at Target already, so I went over to the auto department and picked up some STP Fuel System Cleaner (a bit more comprehensive than the Fuel Injector Cleaner) for about $6.

I filled up my tanked and it has worked great so far through a 1/2 a tank. No more rough idling and I even got 30 more miles at the half tank indicator.

I've heard Techron is pretty good also, so I'll probably pick up a case at Costco next time I'm there. I'll reserve full judgment on STP Fuel System cleaner after a couple of tanks, but so far, it's worked great.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

do you buy cheap, no-name gas?

 

[axelfox]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
do you buy cheap, no-name gas?

Costco mainly.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

most brand-name (shell, mobil) will already have the detergents contained in the bottle.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
most brand-name (shell, mobil) will already have the detergents contained in the bottle.

Yes, that prevents deposits, but as it builds up from cheap gas just switching to better gas won't unclog them.

Car Talk's opinion of injector cleaner

 

[LTC8K6]

Could be water in the fuel tank.

Clogged injectors aren't likely to be intermittent.

If the injector cleaner has alcohol, it would help with the water.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
most brand-name (shell, mobil) will already have the detergents contained in the bottle.

ALL gas has detergants. There have not been any independent studies that show "name brand" gas performs better then the "cheap" gas.

On top of that lowwer priced gas from a station with good pumps, tanks, and filters will be better then any over priced "brand-name" gas from a station with old tanks, dirty filters, etc...

 

[JulesMaximus]

I put some fuel system cleaner in an older car once and it immediately threw a CEL. Had to replace the O2 sensors.

No thanks, I'll leave fuel system cleanings to my dealer.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

i've heard good things about the techron stuff.