What will fuel injector cleaner do

In fact, it's a very popular upsell at smaller shops, in addition to fluid flushes. The truth is, most franchised dealers, which are the ones that sell new vehicles, do not offer this service and for very good reasons. Many manufacturers are now instructing its dealers to not offer fuel injector cleaning or even the containers of cleaner to add to the gas tank.

Prior to the mid s, this type of service or product may have been beneficial to the proper operation of the vehicle. But today, it's just not necessary and can even do damage. Removing components as part of 'routine' maintenance can cause unintended damage.

Some of these chemicals can even damage fuel injectors and emissions components, such as oxygen sensors and catalytic converters. There's really no one verifying many of the statements on the product packaging.

In fact, there's really no way to tell what's included in these cleaners without sending them off for lab testing. Fuel systems are designed to remain closed, not to be opened up regularly.

But they are also designed to be robust. Many vehicles even have fuel filters now that last the life of the car. Manufacturers don't list fuel filter replacement as a recommended service anymore and virtually none have ever recommended fuel injector cleaning, whether professionally or by adding a container to your fuel tank.

The manufacturer will list certain procedures that you should regularly do. Even though fuel filter prevents debris from entering the fuel injection system, small particles and gummy residue often pass through. Know what are the symptoms of a bad fuel filter. Three of the most common ingredients in the fuel injector cleaner are polyether amine, polyisobutylene, and polyisobutylene amine.

Polyether Amine: Polyether amine is used for both petrol and diesel applications. It is said to reduce misfiring and knocking from the engine. Polyisobutylene: Like the Polyether amine, the Polyisobutylene also has similar cleaning qualities. In fact, both on them are quite close in chemical composition. Solid deposits can clog up the fuel system and this reduced the drivability of the car. Reduced fuel delivery could also increase the chances of knocking.

This is a much stronger chemical than the previous two, therefore adding too much of it can cause problems too. But, only if used correctly. In case of severe depositing and injector clogging, the injector cleaning machine is most effective.

This requires injectors to be removed from the car and cleaned using pressurized cleaning chemical. This machine is used to clean severe clogging of injectors video :. Fuel companies say that they already add additives that prevent carbon buildup. But the truth is that carbon buildup is a real problem that requires using fuel injector cleaners.

The back of the intake valve can collect a layer of carbon. This can reduce the velocity of fuel mixture and also prevent the valve to seal properly. Apart from this, there are other areas that are prone to carbon buildup as well. This includes piston head, intake manifold and cylinder head. Fuel injector cleaner is the best solution to clean this carbon deposit. You can expect to see a better running engine after using an injector cleaner.

However, excess carbon buildup on the valves can only be cleaned by opening up the engine. The modern fuel injectors run on close tolerances through which pressurized fuel is pushed. For proper functioning, the injectors need to deliver an atomized mist of fuel when asked for. The clogging of the fine channels inside the injectors can disrupt its functioning.

When the spray pattern and pressure is not what is required, the car might start running rough. This also reduced fuel efficiency as the fuel droplets in the mist is not properly atomized. Fuel injector cleaner works well to solve this issue. By using a cleaner every 1, miles on a gasoline engine or with every tank for a diesel engine , you can get rid of sediment buildup before it reaches a noticeable level, and avoid the symptoms associated with clogged injectors. You should note, however, that using a cleaner every 1, miles is simply a rule of thumb, and many products have their own specific instructions associated with frequency of use for optimal fuel-injection cleaning.

Fuel injector cleaners are just one kind of fuel additive, or product that can be added to your fuel to affect your vehicle's performance and overall condition. There are other additives that affect the fuel itself. For instance, a fuel stabilizer can be added to a car that won't be used for a long period of time in order to preserve the gas and prevent it from causing damage to the engine.

There's no harm in adding fuel injector cleaner and fuel stabilizer to the same gas tank. Even if a fuel injector cleaner isn't also a fuel stabilizer, it's still OK to leave it in your tank for extended periods of time.

The worst that could happen is that the cleaner goes stale and becomes useless after quite some time. Nothing to be worried about. Some consumers also express concern about whether or not fuel injector cleaners can be used in turbocharged or supercharged car engines. He has been published in the US and Europe. Finally, when it comes to selecting the best fuel injector cleaner, your vehicle type will affect your choice, but certain features are universally helpful -- namely, the presence of PEA and the shape of the container.

PEA is especially effective when it comes to dissolving sediment and cleaning engines, and its presence should be a priority in your selection.

Many reputable cleaner brands will make their products' ingredients public via safety data sheets. Additionally, some containers have spouts and are measured to exact application amounts, making pouring easier.

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Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Roadshow editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Roadshow staff. Jump to details. Best fuel injector cleaner for Hemi engines Amsoil P. Performance Improver. Read more : Best place to buy tires in Best fuel injector cleaner overall. Best fuel injector cleaner for diesel engines.

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