From what I have gathered in searching other threads is that there are groups of people who think fuel additives like Techron are a complete waste of money -- they do nothing good and if anything do more harm by causing varnishes clog up the system.

For those of you who are Techron believers, how much and how often do you need to use it to be effective? Is one fill-up every 3000 miles (or so) at a chevron station good enough? Is it equivalent to adding a bottle of the concentrate every 3000 miles?

Any input appreciated

 

I recently went through this whole debacle like 2 weeks ago.

Basically if you use top tier gas all the time, there is no need for fuel additives. Since those companies have their own additives in their gas to prevent any varnish or other stuff that can ruin a fuel system.

With my experience, i was ALWAYS a shell v-power guy. I put it in all my toys, my motorcycle etc. Just 2 times i had to put sunoco 93 because my shell station was under construction and my car is too low to get into it's rebuilding entrances/exits so i had to go to another station.

That caused my fuel gauge to be stuck at ZERO with a low level fuel warning. I put 1 bottle of techron, drove about 60 miles to let it do it's thing and reset the codes, and all is well now.

You might not have a CEL pop up, because i didn't but when you hook up your OBD2 scanner, the codes will pop up. This is of course if your fuel gauge is acting up.

If you just wanna add techron for maintenance, i say do it if you're not using a top tier gas. Or if you really wanna be OCD about it, maybe once a year.

 

I have used it but not often. I'll buy a box when it's on sale at Costco if I notice it (that will last a few years). Don't recall ever using it in the C6 though. You kinda wonder how a small amount of liquid will have a meaningful affect on 16 gallons of fuel that passes through the engine. I don't really think that its necessary or that effective with today's fuels...just like changing oil before it's really necessary. I guess it's a "feel good" purchase.

 

Seafoam is better,had the dreaded gauge problem on my C5 years ago and after using a bottle of techron it didnt help ,about a month later my brother told me about Seafoam,bingo,the gauge was back in full use,a year later the gauge in my F350 Diesel did the zero thing,one bottle of seafoam and gague is fine,dont use it as a maint. Use it for problems.

 

I use it and think it helps, but can't quantify that statement. I put a bottle about once a year in the tank. Don't think one tankful of Chevron or Texaco once every 3000 miles will do the trick ... just use their gasoline all the time. Or at the least, use a top tier gas, not Jet Pep or something's that just cheaper than name brands. That's what I do, so there's probably no need to add Techron from a bottle, but I don't think it hurts. My gas gauge has never malfunctioned so maybe it's doing its job.

GM sells the same thing for about 3 times the price. If you look at the bottle on the bottom it says it's Chevron, molded into the plastic. I've forgotten what it's called ... something like Fuel System Conditioner maybe. The bottle is even the same shape.

 

I put it in when I'm less then 1/4 of a tank, then I go to Exxon & put in 10 gals only. It works for me..

 

Anyone have input on how many additives are already in the gas we buy?????
NSF

 

I run Techron through all 3 of my cars a couple of times a year. But I do use a top tier gasoline too so I'm probably good to go.

 

How about the gasoline itself? I hear so many times about the delivery truck going from some no name station to a well known brand filling their tanks with the same gas.

 

Techron didn't help me in my C5.

 

neither techron nor seafoam helped the fuel gauge in my DD Buick. still I drop it in the tank of all my cars every 6 months or so

 

I run Lucas injector cleaner in a tank a couple times a summer. Does it help or prevent clogged injectors? I don't know because I've never had that problem. I do it to prevent carbon build up on the underside of the valves.

 

I have read reviews and they have all indicated that Techron is one of the best additives for preventing carbon build up on the valves. I generally fill up with Chevron, which has Techron as an additive. My wife uses various fuels so occasionally I put some in her Lexus. Really only needed for long term ownership. I got my info from Car Talk, Click & Clack the Tappet Brothers several years ago.

 

Top tier brands like Chevron, Shell, Mobil, Texaco etc. all have high levels of detergents in there fuels. Adding more of it does not help. (It doesn't hurt either except in the wallet) So, If you want the benefit of extra additives, Try this: Use Chevron for about 1500 miles, switch to Shell or Texaco for 1 or two tank full's then switch back to Chevron and repeat the cycle using a different major brand, What this does is allows the additives already in the different fuels to clean the deposits of left by the other fuels !! This is a great way to have all the additional cleaning additives you want with out having to spend any extra $$$ !!!

 

That's correct. All "gasoline" is the same, and current regs (smog) require - by law - that a detergent be added. All of the MOGAS must meet the same specs. Those specs depend on things like 49 state or CA, region/climate, elevation, season, etc. California has their own specs. I think we are on (or beyond?) CARB phase IV now. Don't get me started, LOL...


Region is primarily based on temperature. Example; if you buy fuel in the Mojave desert in July, and then take your car to Truckee, it won't start as easily in January, as locally purchased fuel. The RVP is different. Higher VP (vapor pressure) can cause more fumes to evaporate, and that causes more smog. However, more volatility is required in super cold climates to help start your car.


Chevron uses a proprietary blend additive as mentioned (Techron), that they claim is the best. Most top tier fuels are probably a little better, that's what the premium is they claim to offer.


What is bad is the Ethanol. I think most every metro area now has E15. Boaters have paid dearly when that change was made. E has a lower BTU content, but higher octane. It's just bad, IMHO but I digress. All of the MOGAS normally has the E blended at the truck, and that's when the truck will receive the "standard" fuel or whatever...


The blends re refined as pre-E blends, making an on-test product only after getting the E blended in. CA gas is called CARBOB, and 49 state gas is called RBOB...


TMI, I know...I'll stop.

 

Yeah i wish we have a chevron by me. They already have the techron in it.

But like someone said, use techron when there's a problem, not for maintenance. I have GM fuel additive or probably a rebadged techron and like 2 more bottles of actual techron. I was just gonna dump everything when i had my gas gauge problem lol. Nah jk but i do believe it worked in my case, as well as the others if you do a search on it.

All i know is that my gauge went bad when i filled with sunoco 93. You would think a fuel sponsored by nascar, it's gotta be good right? LOL

Well it gave me some problems. And a shell station is literally 3 blocks from me. That's going to continue to be my second home lol

 

I WISH we had 93 octane here in Commie CA, LOL...


Not sure, but I think the fuel gauge reader/card problem results from a build up over time?


I do use Chevron, cause I do think it's the best...and never had a fuel related problem in any car or boat - but I'm sure others have had the same experience with non top tier fuels...

 

I use it at every oil change.

Can't tell if it helps, but gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.. 2k

 

Do you have Texaco in your area? It's the same as Chevron.

 

Do you mean metro areas in California? Ours is still 10%, although I've heard of a move to go to 15. Hope it doesn't happen. We have a few stations around that have 0% ethanol, but only one is top-tier (Phillips 66) but it's a pain to get and costs over a dollar more per gallon than their standard premium. The pump is so slow that it'd take 15 minutes to fill up a tank. I use it in my lawn mower and other small engines.