yact! injector cleaning!

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DurocShark

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
15,708
5
56
The best way is to remove them and send them to a shop that specializes in cleaning injectors.

These guys rock: CruzinPerformance

It's about $12 per injector and they give you flow reports both before and after.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
126
Originally posted by: DurocShark
The best way is to remove them and send them to a shop that specializes in cleaning injectors.

These guys rock: CruzinPerformance

It's about $12 per injector and they give you flow reports both before and after.

that'd be nice, i sorta have need for the car on a daily basis tho
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
I've used STP's complete system cleaner plenty of times after a good interval of miles (6000-10000) and I've noticed slightly smoother idles on a few of my cars, I have yet to try it on the Integra, I just replaced the fuel filter and I'm wondering how a cleaner would help it out further.
 

Oger

Senior member
Sep 30, 2004
438
0
0
Hands down, Chevron Techron, I have in the past tried them all, only the BK and Techron work well.

Drive your vehicle until it is near empty, go to the station, poor in the Techron, then fill your tank.
 

DurocShark

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
15,708
5
56
Originally posted by: Oger
Hands down, Chevron Techron, I have in the past tried them all, only the BK and Techron work well.

Drive your vehicle until it is near empty, go to the station, poor in the Techron, then fill your tank.

:Q

Yay!!!
 

Apex

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
6,511
1
71
www.gotapex.com
Originally posted by: virtueixi
Try Seafoam, that stuff rules! I heard they started stocking it at autozone now.

I heard that stuff absolutely rocks too. I haven't had a chance to try it yet though (my local autozone did not have any). Redline works pretty well, I've used that pretty consistantly the last few years.
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,307
12,824
136
Jeez, you guys.

Forget that crap you put into your tank. It does diddly. Tests have proven this time and again.

Just take it in and have them cleaned properly.

My own Crown Vic's were done at the dealer and at a reasonable price too. The difference was like night and day.

 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
91
Originally posted by: DurocShark
The best way is to remove them and send them to a shop that specializes in cleaning injectors.

These guys rock: CruzinPerformance

It's about $12 per injector and they give you flow reports both before and after.
Yeah, that's PLUS the removal and installation of the injectors. Very expensive and not worth it, unless you have a race engine of some kind.
Just go to a professional, and have the damn fuel system cleaned.

 

flot

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
3,197
0
0
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: myusername
hard starts (or won't start the first crank, have to stop, wait a second, try again; sometimes it sounds like it has caught and then stalls out), cheap gas

car has 34,000 miles on it

afaik, the place that offered just uses 3 different bottles of chemicals, i was wondering if i could just get those myself.

Jesus, what kind of car do you have that runs that badly with 34k miles on it ?!?

Fuel injector cleaning is a load of crap. Or at least, I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of cars out there running great with 150,000+ miles that have never had their fuel injectors cleaned... so I'd hardly call it required preventative maintenance....
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
126
Originally posted by: flot
Originally posted by: ElFenix
hard starts (or won't start the first crank, have to stop, wait a second, try again; sometimes it sounds like it has caught and then stalls out), cheap gas

car has 34,000 miles on it

afaik, the place that offered just uses 3 different bottles of chemicals, i was wondering if i could just get those myself.

Jesus, what kind of car do you have that runs that badly with 34k miles on it ?!?

Fuel injector cleaning is a load of crap. Or at least, I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of cars out there running great with 150,000+ miles that have never had their fuel injectors cleaned... so I'd hardly call it required preventative maintenance....
nissan :(

should i take it to the dealer and make them look at it?
i've had it in there before complaining of hard starts and they've replaced the starter... wonder if the computer got messed somehow?
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
91
Originally posted by: flot
Fuel injector cleaning is a load of crap. Or at least, I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of cars out there running great with 150,000+ miles that have never had their fuel injectors cleaned... so I'd hardly call it required preventative maintenance....
You might want to speak from a standpoint of being a pro in the automotive field before making BS statements.
Sure, there are also cars running around with 50k miles that have never had an oil change.

There are cars running around with steel belts hanging out of their tires but they are still holding air.

Etc, etc.

Injector cleaning IS most certainly worthwhile. Sure, engines will run without it, but not as well or efficiently as they should.
 

myusername

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2003
5,046
0
0
El .. next time you go to start the car, instead of cranking the ignition in one motion, turn the key to the last position before crank (so that power comes on but engine doesn't turn over) and leave it there for five seconds. Then start it and report back if it started up any quicker/smoother.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
126
Originally posted by: myusername
El .. next time you go to start the car, instead of cranking the ignition in one motion, turn the key to the last position before crank (so that power comes on but engine doesn't turn over) and leave it there for five seconds. Then start it and report back if it started up any quicker/smoother.

k.

what does that do/what are you looking for?
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
91
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: myusername
El .. next time you go to start the car, instead of cranking the ignition in one motion, turn the key to the last position before crank (so that power comes on but engine doesn't turn over) and leave it there for five seconds. Then start it and report back if it started up any quicker/smoother.

k.

what does that do/what are you looking for?
Probably letting the fuel pump complete its cycle that happens every time you turn the key on. If that does no good, next time try cycling the key from the off position to "run" several times, but not starting it. Let it sit on "run" for a couple of seconds.
If the car starts okay like this, you may have a fuel pump going bad. It's supposed to hold a certain amount of pressure in the lines so it doesn't have to pump fuel all the way from the tank to the engine while you wind the engine over every morning.

 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
126
Originally posted by: Oger
Hands down, Chevron Techron, I have in the past tried them all, only the BK and Techron work well.

Drive your vehicle until it is near empty, go to the station, poor in the Techron, then fill your tank.

damn, and i filled up today :disgust:

ah well i'll have to fill up again on monday :roll:
 

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Either use Chevron Techron Complete Fuel System Cleaner or Redline SI-1 fuel system cleaner. Both of them are loads better than STP, IMO. Redline can be had for about $4.50 for a bottle at NAPA. Chevron is about $6 for a 12oz bottle.



You do know that Chevron Techron and STP Fuel system treatment use the same base cleaner right, unless either has changed in the last year. So saying one is better is not right.

But the last I checked the bottle of Techron was cheaper. So if the STP is cheaper then get that.
 

Crucial

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
5,026
0
71
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: myusername
El .. next time you go to start the car, instead of cranking the ignition in one motion, turn the key to the last position before crank (so that power comes on but engine doesn't turn over) and leave it there for five seconds. Then start it and report back if it started up any quicker/smoother.

k.

what does that do/what are you looking for?
Probably letting the fuel pump complete its cycle that happens every time you turn the key on. If that does no good, next time try cycling the key from the off position to "run" several times, but not starting it. Let it sit on "run" for a couple of seconds.
If the car starts okay like this, you may have a fuel pump going bad. It's supposed to hold a certain amount of pressure in the lines so it doesn't have to pump fuel all the way from the tank to the engine while you wind the engine over every morning.

This condition would more than likely point out a faulty fuel pressure regulator than a fuel pump. The fuel pump isn't what holds the pressure. The regulator does that. If it only starts hard after sitting for long while I would skip the fuel injector cleaner and put a fuel pressure tester on overnight. If it bleeds off then I would replace the pressure regulator. They aren't usually that expensive. I'm suprised a mechanic wouldn't ask you these kinds of questions forst before recomending fuel injector cleaning. Than again I'm not. Too many of them are just parts changers that don't actually try and troubleshoot what caused the problem.
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
5,575
0
0
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Either use Chevron Techron Complete Fuel System Cleaner or Redline SI-1 fuel system cleaner. Both of them are loads better than STP, IMO. Redline can be had for about $4.50 for a bottle at NAPA. Chevron is about $6 for a 12oz bottle.



You do know that Chevron Techron and STP Fuel system treatment use the same base cleaner right, unless either has changed in the last year. So saying one is better is not right.

But the last I checked the bottle of Techron was cheaper. So if the STP is cheaper then get that.

It is right is techron wokred better for me than STP. I have had better results with techron(not pro-guard) and redline SI-1 than any stp products i have tried.




"Here is what some commonly used ones are made of, in % by weight:

Pennzoil Gumout Regane
60-70% kerosene
30-40 Polyether amine
Analysis: I don't see anything in them that would harm a car

Gumout Xtra
90-95% kerosene
5-10% detergent
Analysis: I don't see anything in them that would harm a car

Chevron Techron:
30-50% hydrotreated petroleum distillates
10-25% Stoddard Solvent (similar to kerosene)
5-10% Naptha
1-5% Benzene
.1-.5% Xylene
Analysis: Naptha, Benzene, and Xylene are strong solvents, but I do not believe they are used in enough volume to cause problems.

Valvoline Complete Fuel System Cleaner:
52 - 62% Kersosene
28-38% Light hydrotreated petroleum distillate
6-16% Stoddard Solvent
Analysis: A good formula, should have no negative affects on seals, similar to Techron but without the stronger solvents.

Amsoil Performance Improver
80% petroleum distillates
No other compounds identified
Analysis: Safe, but without full disclosure of any other compounds, one must reserve judgement against the other, more technically advanced cleaners like Techron and Red Line SI-1.

Red Line SI-1
1-5% Alkenylamine
1-10% Isoctanol
1-10% 1,2,4 Trimethylbenzene
5-20% Aliphactic Napthta
Analysis: A very complete formulation: detergent/dispersant, corrosion inhibitor, fuel additive. It has an alcohol which will help disperse any water, several strong solvent cleaners, and a detergent. Very comparable to Techron, perhaps a bit stronger, so be sure to use it full strength only when properly titrated, or in smaller amounts for continuous cleaning." Taken from Text
 

flot

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
3,197
0
0
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
You might want to speak from a standpoint of being a pro in the automotive field before making BS statements.
Sure, there are also cars running around with 50k miles that have never had an oil change.

There are cars running around with steel belts hanging out of their tires but they are still holding air.

Etc, etc.

Injector cleaning IS most certainly worthwhile. Sure, engines will run without it, but not as well or efficiently as they should.

And you're a pro in the automotive field?

Here's a quiz for you - how long have fuel injected engines been around in cars?

Now how many years ago did Jiffy Lube start trying to convince consumers they needed their fuel injectors cleaned every time they went to get an oil change?

Get back to me and let me know what exactly people were doing for that 20 year gap...
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
5,575
0
0
Originally posted by: flot
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
You might want to speak from a standpoint of being a pro in the automotive field before making BS statements.
Sure, there are also cars running around with 50k miles that have never had an oil change.

There are cars running around with steel belts hanging out of their tires but they are still holding air.

Etc, etc.

Injector cleaning IS most certainly worthwhile. Sure, engines will run without it, but not as well or efficiently as they should.

And you're a pro in the automotive field?

Here's a quiz for you - how long have fuel injected engines been around in cars?

Now how many years ago did Jiffy Lube start trying to convince consumers they needed their fuel injectors cleaned every time they went to get an oil change?

Get back to me and let me know what exactly people were doing for that 20 year gap...


Fuel injection has been around since the 1920s (Diesel engines), though cars started using it around 1955; Mercedes 300SL. Electronic fuel injections was introduced in 1966 in Britain.


Text
 

Aimster

Lifer
Jan 5, 2003
16,129
2
0
None of them work. Marking plot.

before you flame me, there have been numerous government test that found no proof they work. Even the oil cleaners you mix with your oil don't work.