do any of you run a fuel injection cleaning additive to your gas?
if so wich one?
I know inside my engine is dirty, and would like to "clean" it out a bit, I have used the lucas fuel injection cleaner a fiew times but im wondering what the best way is to help get all the crud out. - I was at the dyno a fiew days ago, and 5000rpm in 3rd gear my car was puking out some awful looking stuff from the exaust. im shure there is more crud in there as well.

wondering about water mist. - have heard from some that a super fine mist of water ( in verry small amounts ) can help raise combustion preassure while reducing detonation. some how water can help "break up" the carbon deposits? and keep the engine running clean? - the sorce I heard this from is long gone, and not shure if its creadable to begin with, so before I get out my squirt bottle and ruin things, what do yall think about it? - apparently some exotic race engines use a water injection to help control detonation so it can be done
how do you combat carbon build up in the engine? is there a better way?

 

From what I've been told it is a preventative tool, to an extant, rather than a curative tool.

I use the Chevron stuff every coupla months. I was told that they make the stuff GM sells. I really can't say that it does anything that is mearurable. I recently had the occasion to look down my injector housings into my secondary ports and they were a lot cleaner, not clean, than they were the first time I had that stuff apart to r&r my injectors. The first time it was shocking the varnish build-up after only 9k miles, and this last time after about 16k miles the ports were visabily cleaner. Only thing I don't know for sure is was it the Techron or my right foot or both???

A lot of guys say use SeaFoam as it is more of a curative tool. I would stay away from the old time trick of water....too risky IMHO. We also used to use auto trans fluid for the same thing, less of a chance of locking but still it's an acquired feel.


Tom

 

I have used water many times with good results, but don't try it unless you know what you are doing. you can ruin the motor real fast. I like seafoam it works and is safe

 

I love the oldschoolers here that know about water and trans fluid *tear*

 

I use the Chevron Techron (it is not the cheapest product at Wal Mart ) in all my cars. I use a bottle in each car every six months and I think I can feel a difference in the engine performance I do not recommend the use a an injector cleaner in Corvette years 89 thru 91 where the engine has the stock, Multec injectors.

 

yea the other people in the shop would like you to use water because the trans fluid really smoked up the place. ahh the good old days

 

Old-schoolers used to pour a quart of ATF into a full tank of gas, too, as fuel system cleaner. The detergent package in that stuff packs a heckuva wallup.

 

Chevron Techron, definately. I worked as a Service Writer(yeah, that guy everybody hates to see) at a Chevy dealership for a few years, and all my techs swore by it, and a few of them were BIG into performance modding and engine building, and they said everytime they ripped into their motors they could see a difference if they had used it.

So, I try to use a tank of Chevron Gasoline(which has their Techron in it) every few tanks, and a bottle every other oil change(6 months) or so. Its pricey, but the piece of mind alone that it gives me is worth it!

 

Don't use anything though I'd tried 3M Port Injector Cleaner through the fuel rail once on a couple of cars without any results. Everything in CA has a legislated/regulated % of cleaner/detergents in it. Never had any faith in Techron either. Maybe it does something, but every brand sold in this town comes from the same storage tank. Supposedly, the additives are added as the truck is filled up. Have visions of the driver adding some bottles he picked up at Walmart since it's just up the street from the storage facility.

Biggest problem out here was MTBE. GM - to avoid a CA recall - issued a special 200k injector warranty on '96 through '98 or '99 vehicles to cover that and the one time I started throwing misfire codes a Dealer cleaned my injectors up under that program. The best thing you might do is change the fuel filter. When the new one is on, disconnect the inlet at the rail and clamp on a hose. Put the hose in a coffee can and turn the key on - should squirt out a pint or so and if there's nothing in it, you're fuel is good. If you're concerned about your injectors, replace them or have them reworked.

As to your engine needing some type of top end treatment, really rare unless there's sludge (Common to certain Toyotas but not GM). Checking compression may be old school, but it's a good way to find out if there's any problem to be concerned about. Otherwise, the ECM does a good job of compensating for wear unless it's flat worn out or won't pass an emissions test and misting water into the plenum isn't going to cure that.

 

Techron is great I have used for years, cleans well and does not destroy the 02-sensor.

Hope this helps..............

 

See if you can find BG 44K at a local repair garage or dealer. You can check their web site for the locations of garages that carry the product. www.bgprod.com is their web site. Put it in your gas tank when you are going to a lot of stop an go driving not a highway trip. Run the tank down as far as you can before fill up. This stuff works great but don't use it more than once every 7,500 miles.

 

How much is a bottle of this Techron stuff you guy use?
I am about to replace my injectors hopefully soon.. but just wanted to give a try with that product to see if it makes any difference. I got injector issues

 

GIJoe: I see you have an 89 model car and it came from the factory with Multec injectors which look like this:



If your car still has these injectors, do not use any fuel injector cleaner as this accelerate the failure of the injectors. The Multecs cannot be repaired and are not worth cleaning. There is a very easy test for shorted coils. Let us know if you need more info on this.

You asked a question on the cost of Techron and this is about $6 per bottle. I usually put a bottle in the tank when the fuel level is about 50%......and I do not have Multec injectors in my 89 car!

 

.......i've an 88 and use marvel mystery oil 50 miles before an oil change and use 1/2 can seafoam through intake and 1/2 in tank twice a year.

 

@Why? My 91 loads up at idle and I think it is a leaky injector. I was hoping injector cleaner might help. It didn't start loading up untill I used Chevron with Techron Fuel.

 

firstvette: If your car has stock Multec injectors, the use of a fuel injector cleaner has accelerated the failure of your injectors. Here is a bulletin on GM on this issue:



Suggest you check the resistance on each injector as the spec should be 16.5 +/-.3 ohms when cold. All eight injectors should be very close to the same value. Sorry for the bad news

 

SamLam: Thanks for the information. I am hoping that the ammounts of injector cleaner that Phillips and Chevron put in their fuel have a minimal affect on Multec injectors. Was having a miss when my mechanic suggested Chevron fuel. No more miss but now the loading up at idle.

 

By far the most impressive additive I ever put in my gas tank was Greased Lightning, it made the engine run like it had 50hp more and it ran smoother and idled great. I can't say if it is OK with your injectors? I bought it at Advance Auto.