To use or not to use fuel system cleaners?

[loganss]

I'm sitting here pondering about if I should use any type of fuel system cleaners in my car. I figured I'd ask you guys before I did anything like this.

Does anyone have any recommendations for fuel system cleaner products or products to stay clear of?

[95ProLeila]

Just go to napa and get STP, it's less than $3. I usually just use fuel inj. cleaner once every oil change. It's more a preventative thing, my last car had problems starting, poured in a bottle of FI cleaner and the problem got much better.

[turbonium959]

I also use this from time to time. I usually use STP or Gumout. Can't notice difference between the two, so what you fancy would not be a bad choice.

[loganss]

So the fuel injector cleaner won't possibly damage anything in my engine?

Someone recommended GUMOUT fuel injector cleaner. I'll probably just get that one.

Does this stuff remove any gunk that restricts a fuel pump?

Thanx for the input guys.

[turbonium959]

I do not think that any of these additives will clean your fuel pump, but they do a decent job cleaning the injectors and valves.

[JJB]

This is all from recollection so do not take it for anything more than that... a while back there was a web site where they went through and tried a bunch of the different "fuel injector cleaners" and that one found that the ones that contain Techron (a Chevron brand chemical) worked best.

Annecdotally, my old chevy would get really loud (you could hear the injectors) and the shop I used to take the car to recommended I try one of the cleaners before they did their "professional" job. I ran two bottles of the stuff through and it did quiet down quite a bit... after that I got in the habit of running two bottles through every year or so... the car made it to 150,000 on the engine and that part of it still ran strong at the end (same fuel economy as at 15k miles)...

[95ProLeila]

Don't worry about damaging your engine, the best way to do that is A. put water in your tank, and B. use BP gas. FI Cleaner will not damage anything.

[mig360m]

I use STP cleaners for years it work.

[loganss]

I bought Techron Fuel injector cleaner and used it.

I'm just wondering whether these Fuel injector cleaners can possible hurt the oxygen sensor and catalytic converters.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[95ProLeila]

FI cleaner won't damage anything, stop worrying about it.

[loganss]

FI cleaner won't damage anything, stop worrying about it.

Okay that's good enough for me. Sorry about asking picky questions about my car and the things I do to it. I'm just trying to learn more about the way my car works.

Thanks for all the input. I'll rest easy as far as this thread topic is concerned. As far as other stuff ... loganss will strike again.

[Boricua]

where did you get the Techron fuel injector cleaner? is it specifically a Chevron brand or was it like an STP or other brand that had Techron in it? I'd like to purchase some for myself.

[davens]

Do a little research on "Toluene". Cool stuff when dickering with fuel additives.

Start here: http://www.sebringmiata.com/page15.html

[loganss]

where did you get the Techron fuel injector cleaner? is it specifically a Chevron brand or was it like an STP or other brand that had Techron in it? I'd like to purchase some for myself.

You can get it at Autozone/AdvanceAutoParts/similar auto stores.

I'm not sure about your second question, but it's probably just a chevron brand. Hopefully someone else can comment on this.

[JJB]

where did you get the Techron fuel injector cleaner? is it specifically a Chevron brand or was it like an STP or other brand that had Techron in it? I'd like to purchase some for myself.

Thecron is specifically a Chevron branded product. Usually more expensive than the others on the shelf.