Fuel System Cleaner -- Techron
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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Fuel System Cleaner -- Techron
When I purchased my '14 CPO C7 Z51 w/ 3900 miles in June, I mentioned what I thought was a "lumpier" idle than I was used to in both the LS1 and LS7 engines in the C6s I owned. Several responded that was very common in the LT1, and the high-pressure GDI injectors were more finicky. A discussion of Top Tier gas also ensued. Slightly rough idle notwithstanding, the throttle response was always great through WOT w/ no other reason to be concerned.
I have no idea what type of fuel the previous owner used, but I've been using Shell Nitro Plus 93 octane exclusively, so I have the Top Tier thing covered. I have over 6K on the car now.
I remembered back in the 80s before Top Tier, BMW and other manufacturers recommended using Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner periodically. So I picked up a couple of bottles and have now added it to 3 successive tanks of fuel. I know it's NOT my imagination that the idle is now considerably smoother.
I know some will cite the placebo affect, but it really is a noticeable difference.
I have no idea what type of fuel the previous owner used, but I've been using Shell Nitro Plus 93 octane exclusively, so I have the Top Tier thing covered. I have over 6K on the car now.
I remembered back in the 80s before Top Tier, BMW and other manufacturers recommended using Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner periodically. So I picked up a couple of bottles and have now added it to 3 successive tanks of fuel. I know it's NOT my imagination that the idle is now considerably smoother.
I know some will cite the placebo affect, but it really is a noticeable difference.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
Likes: 2,887
From: Toronto
Interesting..... a rough vs. smooth idle is pretty easy to feel. If you want to do a test....stop using the stuff for a while and see if it goes back rough.
Another thought - why would a new car with a clean fuel system need a fuel cleaner? Maybe there is something else in it that's having and effect.
Another thought - why would a new car with a clean fuel system need a fuel cleaner? Maybe there is something else in it that's having and effect.
Last edited by Maxpowers; Aug 26, 2016 at 02:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
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It probably doesn't "need" a fuel system cleaner, but just a little restriction of flow in those high-pressure injectors could explain a slightly lumpy idle.
Of course, it could be a number of things. Perhaps the previous owner wasn't using Top Tier, and over time it slowly cleaned things out, and/or perhaps the previous owner babied the car, and/or didn't drive it a high rpms like I do, and/or the combination of Top Tier and Techron additives scrubbed everything a little bit better. It's often recommended that Top Tier is especially important in GDI engines, and that driving it at high revs routinely is also recommended.
The thing is, I put about 2000 miles on the car before adding the Techron, and it's only been the 3rd tank w/ Techron, when I really started noticing how much smoother the idle is.
My plan is to run the rest of this tank, and then go back to straight Shell for awhile to see what happens.
Of course, it could be a number of things. Perhaps the previous owner wasn't using Top Tier, and over time it slowly cleaned things out, and/or perhaps the previous owner babied the car, and/or didn't drive it a high rpms like I do, and/or the combination of Top Tier and Techron additives scrubbed everything a little bit better. It's often recommended that Top Tier is especially important in GDI engines, and that driving it at high revs routinely is also recommended.
The thing is, I put about 2000 miles on the car before adding the Techron, and it's only been the 3rd tank w/ Techron, when I really started noticing how much smoother the idle is.
My plan is to run the rest of this tank, and then go back to straight Shell for awhile to see what happens.
Last edited by Foosh; Aug 26, 2016 at 02:43 PM.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,982
Likes: 12,383
From: NE South Carolina
When I purchased my '14 CPO C7 Z51 w/ 3900 miles in June, I mentioned what I thought was a "lumpier" idle than I was used to in both the LS1 and LS7 engines in the C6s I owned. Several responded that was very common in the LT1, and the high-pressure GDI injectors were more finicky. A discussion of Top Tier gas also ensued. Slightly rough idle notwithstanding, the throttle response was always great through WOT w/ no other reason to be concerned.
I have no idea what type of fuel the previous owner used, but I've been using Shell Nitro Plus 93 octane exclusively, so I have the Top Tier thing covered. I have over 6K on the car now.
I remembered back in the 80s before Top Tier, BMW and other manufacturers recommended using Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner periodically. So I picked up a couple of bottles and have now added it to 3 successive tanks of fuel. I know it's NOT my imagination that the idle is now considerably smoother.
I know some will cite the placebo affect, but it really is a noticeable difference.
I have no idea what type of fuel the previous owner used, but I've been using Shell Nitro Plus 93 octane exclusively, so I have the Top Tier thing covered. I have over 6K on the car now.
I remembered back in the 80s before Top Tier, BMW and other manufacturers recommended using Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner periodically. So I picked up a couple of bottles and have now added it to 3 successive tanks of fuel. I know it's NOT my imagination that the idle is now considerably smoother.
I know some will cite the placebo affect, but it really is a noticeable difference.
A knowledgeable poster who is an oil expert said it's not as good as using a steady does of Top Tier but it helps. I also recall his comment about not using it too often. FWIW
Last edited by JerryU; Aug 26, 2016 at 03:09 PM.
