Fuel Injectors Cleaning Additives
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth NH
Fuel Injectors Cleaning Additives
I am sure this question has been discussed before but my buddy and I are having a difference of opinion on adding fuel injector cleaning fluid (Tectron) to gas every so often. I believe that it definitely will help the injectors along with other things stay clean and he says Chevrolet says you should never add fuel additives to a Corvette. Who is right? I only drive my car about 1500 miles a season so I have been adding it once a year. Some people say you should add it every time you fill your tank. Appreciate hearing replies.
Thanks
Bob
Thanks
Bob
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,431
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
IMO, these cleaning agents do one thing. Clean out your wallet. If you want to make sure the injectors are fine, take them out every few years of say 30K and have them tested. They will clean them and you will know that they are within spec at the time of install. Otherwise, try sweep an indoor gym with all lights off. How do you know it is clean or what you have cleaned with those snake oils?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth NH
IMO, these cleaning agents do one thing. Clean out your wallet. If you want to make sure the injectors are fine, take them out every few years of say 30K and have them tested. They will clean them and you will know that they are within spec at the time of install. Otherwise, try sweep an indoor gym with all lights off. How do you know it is clean or what you have cleaned with those snake oils?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,431
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
Even if you can clean it, you cannot check the flow rates. This is why I think it is best to check the injectors every few years and have them cleaned. You can also flow match them at that time.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth NH
Again thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,431
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
Seriously, I don't remember anymore but I don't think it is too difficult. I am now using the Holley Stealth Ram and the R&R is different. IIRC and this was awhile, I could do it with hand tools. Wait till you try it with the Accel Superram. That is a b1tch.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 3
From: Columbia Maryland
For years I have been using Redline Complete fuel system cleaner.
In a nutshell, it has worked well for me and I will continue to use it.
Doug Rippie, Steve Saleen and the late John Lingenfelter use Redline, if it didn't work, I don't think they would want their name associated with it.
It is not cheap, like $8.00 a bottle, I get mine @ Pep Boys, Advanced Auto used to sell it but they stopped for some reason.
If you think you're having injector issues, try some of the Redline and see if it makes a difference, It can be felt by the seat of your pants after use if you injectors are dirty. I use it in both my dailey drivers, my vettes and muscle cars I own, even use it in my Harley.
Some might say its a waste of money but when you can feel a difference, I think its money well spent!
Thats what I us....
In a nutshell, it has worked well for me and I will continue to use it.
Doug Rippie, Steve Saleen and the late John Lingenfelter use Redline, if it didn't work, I don't think they would want their name associated with it.
It is not cheap, like $8.00 a bottle, I get mine @ Pep Boys, Advanced Auto used to sell it but they stopped for some reason.
If you think you're having injector issues, try some of the Redline and see if it makes a difference, It can be felt by the seat of your pants after use if you injectors are dirty. I use it in both my dailey drivers, my vettes and muscle cars I own, even use it in my Harley.
Some might say its a waste of money but when you can feel a difference, I think its money well spent!
Thats what I us....
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,431
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
If you think you're having injector issues, try some of the Redline and see if it makes a difference, It can be felt by the seat of your pants after use if you injectors are dirty. I use it in both my dailey drivers, my vettes and muscle cars I own, even use it in my Harley.
Some might say its a waste of money but when you can feel a difference, I think its money well spent!
Thats what I us....
Some might say its a waste of money but when you can feel a difference, I think its money well spent!
Thats what I us....
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Melting Slicks
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From: West Chester PA
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 41
From: Corinth TX
Does the stuff with Techron work? Absolutely it does. If you don't believe it, ask the guys with C5s about the problems with the gas gauge problems. The gas gauges in the C5s are notorious for sticking if you use bad gas. Run a couple of tanks through your tank with good gas (tier 5) and it will work good as new once again. Now does it work on injectors? Well take a look at injectors that have been gummed up. Did you see all of that varnish build up? What do you think people who clean them for a living do? They clean them. The injectors will spray the way they are meant to spray and not drizzle out.
That is part of the reason it is recommended to use some before you go for an emissions test. So that the fuel will atomize better. A better mist means a more complete burn. That is what is meant by a SOTP difference. If you don't believe that the cleaner works, take a clogged/varnished injector and soak it in the stuff and then see how it cleans them up.
Not everything sold in a can is made just for the sake of taking your money. Some of it works.
That is part of the reason it is recommended to use some before you go for an emissions test. So that the fuel will atomize better. A better mist means a more complete burn. That is what is meant by a SOTP difference. If you don't believe that the cleaner works, take a clogged/varnished injector and soak it in the stuff and then see how it cleans them up.
Not everything sold in a can is made just for the sake of taking your money. Some of it works.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,431
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
The gas gauges in the C5s are notorious for sticking if you use bad gas. Run a couple of tanks through your tank with good gas (tier 5) and it will work good as new once again.
Now does it work on injectors? Well take a look at injectors that have been gummed up. Did you see all of that varnish build up? What do you think people who clean them for a living do? They clean them. The injectors will spray the way they are meant to spray and not drizzle out.
If you don't believe that the cleaner works, take a clogged/varnished injector and soak it in the stuff and then see how it cleans them up.
Not everything sold in a can is made just for the sake of taking your money. Some of it works.
Now does it work on injectors? Well take a look at injectors that have been gummed up. Did you see all of that varnish build up? What do you think people who clean them for a living do? They clean them. The injectors will spray the way they are meant to spray and not drizzle out.
If you don't believe that the cleaner works, take a clogged/varnished injector and soak it in the stuff and then see how it cleans them up.
Not everything sold in a can is made just for the sake of taking your money. Some of it works.
I think they disassemble them and replace the pintle caps, o-rings, filters and spacers in them. Then there is the little matter of testing them for spray pattern. In that case, you will know that you have cleaned the thing. Dumping stuff in the tank and you are like sweeping a gym floor in the dark. You don't know if you got everything or not.
That is not how it works from the can, is it? It is way more diluted and just runs thru as opposed to soaking in concentrated cleaner.
So far, most of them have turned out to be that way.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 3
From: Columbia Maryland
aklim-when a car starts faster, idles better and overall feels more responsive, thats SOTP to me, don't need a dyno for that!
For a mere $8.00 investment, made me a believer. I **** that much or more away every day for lunch.
This stuff works for me and I will continue to use it. There are some cheaper products that I feel are useless, the product with techron is one of them.
Good Luck to the original poster...
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 14
From: Cumming Ga
I am sure this question has been discussed before but my buddy and I are having a difference of opinion on adding fuel injector cleaning fluid (Tectron) to gas every so often. I believe that it definitely will help the injectors along with other things stay clean and he says Chevrolet says you should never add fuel additives to a Corvette. Who is right? I only drive my car about 1500 miles a season so I have been adding it once a year. Some people say you should add it every time you fill your tank. Appreciate hearing replies.
Thanks
Bob
Thanks
Bob
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth NH
good question. the problem with in the tank cleaners is that it also loosens sediment in the line before the injector, big particles get trapped in the tiny filter in the injector. We service a lot of injectors, I can always tell one that has had cleaner put in the tank because the filters look like crap. Any GM car with Multec 1's like the 89-92 should NOT use any of these products. 03 up can but, you run the risk of prematurely clogging the injector. On a LT1 it is a 30 min job to take them out. The best thing to do is send them in and have them serviced properly.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 579
Likes: 2
From: High Bridge New Jersey
Do not
I am sure this question has been discussed before but my buddy and I are having a difference of opinion on adding fuel injector cleaning fluid (Tectron) to gas every so often. I believe that it definitely will help the injectors along with other things stay clean and he says Chevrolet says you should never add fuel additives to a Corvette. Who is right? I only drive my car about 1500 miles a season so I have been adding it once a year. Some people say you should add it every time you fill your tank. Appreciate hearing replies.
Thanks
Bob
Thanks
Bob
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth NH
I want to thank everyone for the input into my fuel injector additive question. From most of the replies it appears that my friend is right and I should not use the additive i.e. if it is not broke don't fix it. Thanks again for the help
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,431
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
aklim-when a car starts faster, idles better and overall feels more responsive, thats SOTP to me, don't need a dyno for that!
For a mere $8.00 investment, made me a believer. I **** that much or more away every day for lunch.
This stuff works for me and I will continue to use it. There are some cheaper products that I feel are useless, the product with techron is one of them.
Good Luck to the original poster...
For a mere $8.00 investment, made me a believer. I **** that much or more away every day for lunch.
This stuff works for me and I will continue to use it. There are some cheaper products that I feel are useless, the product with techron is one of them.
Good Luck to the original poster...