Fuel injector cleaner
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 264
From: Near Charlotte NC
Yep.....I run a can of Techron (Black container) in my newer cars at every OCI.
For older cars with high mileage,I use BG44K once a year.
\db2
For older cars with high mileage,I use BG44K once a year.
\db2
Last edited by dbaker; Oct 15, 2018 at 03:58 PM.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,044
Likes: 12,410
From: NE South Carolina
The issue with the C7 is to replace a fouled fuel sender requires dropping the rear drive train to get the tanks and cross over down! One poster said he was horrified when he say it all on the garage floor. Really don't want a dealer doing that and hoping they get it back properly!
Last edited by JerryU; Oct 15, 2018 at 04:35 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 857
Likes: 223
From: San Diego
It's cheap insurance for peace of mind if you ask me. Just chalk it up to the Corvette Tax. Rather spend a few bucks on Techron than deal with replacing the fuel sender, especially now that I'm out of warranty.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,044
Likes: 12,410
From: NE South Carolina
GM Corvette has been recommending ACDelco 88865595 Fuel System Treatment - 12 oz since 2013 in their Corvette and other GM products since 2013 to help resolve the sulphur problem with the fuel sending unit. If you check you will find the recommended product chemistry is "not" relabeled Techron.
The ACDelco Product is manufactured by:
Excelda Manufacturing
12785 Emerson Dr.
Brighton, MI 48116
Techron is manufactured by:
Chevron Products Company
a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd.
San Ramon, CA 94583
These products appear to have different chemistries.
The ACDelco Product is manufactured by:
Excelda Manufacturing
12785 Emerson Dr.
Brighton, MI 48116
Techron is manufactured by:
Chevron Products Company
a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd.
San Ramon, CA 94583
These products appear to have different chemistries.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of Fuel System Treatment PLUS, part number 88861013, added to the fuel tank at every engine oil change, can help. Fuel System Treatment PLUS is the only gasoline additive recommended by General Motors. It is available at your dealer.
The 2017 Owner's Manual just says:
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment Cleaner added to the fuel tank at every engine oil change, can help. GM Fuel System Treatment Cleaner is the only gasoline additive recommended by General Motors. It is available at your dealer.
Last edited by JerryU; Oct 15, 2018 at 10:39 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
The 2014 C7 Owner's Manual says:
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of Fuel System Treatment PLUS, part number 88861013, added to the fuel tank at every engine oil change, can help. Fuel System Treatment PLUS is the only gasoline additive recommended by General Motors. It is available at your dealer.
The 2017 Owner's Manual just says:
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment Cleaner added to the fuel tank at every engine oil change, can help. GM Fuel System Treatment Cleaner is the only gasoline additive recommended by General Motors. It is available at your dealer.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of Fuel System Treatment PLUS, part number 88861013, added to the fuel tank at every engine oil change, can help. Fuel System Treatment PLUS is the only gasoline additive recommended by General Motors. It is available at your dealer.
The 2017 Owner's Manual just says:
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment Cleaner added to the fuel tank at every engine oil change, can help. GM Fuel System Treatment Cleaner is the only gasoline additive recommended by General Motors. It is available at your dealer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,408
Likes: 2,203
Techron is the best in my experience. But, I use Costco gas which is a Top Tier fuel that comes WITH the chemicals to clean injectors. If you don't use a Top Tier rated fuel, I'd dose it with Techron twice a year before an oil change.
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E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,044
Likes: 12,410
From: NE South Carolina
I use to use Techron until I viewed all the YouTube videos that show it to be ineffective. Save your $$$. I would recommend you use something like Stabil in your gas tank this winter if your car will be garaged most of the winter. Ethanol is a killer for gunking up fuel systems.
Techron is Chevron’s patented cleaning additive and is what at least started the Top Tier gas when BMW and others said a gasoline clealing additive was needed to stop intake valve "coking" when cars used port injection, but that’s another story! Several gas companies paid Chevron a royalty to use it and now many have developed their own, “gas cleaners.” The "stuff" works. In fact, one of those detailed YouTube Video tests showed it was somewhat effective in cleaning baked on deposits on some cylinders. That was all they could "see" with their fiber optic camera. They could NOT check to see is it was doing anything in the injectors, for exapmle. A small amount of deposit in the very narrow injector passages can have a significant effect on performance.
Adding a container of Techron does help remove sulfur depositis from the fuel senders and is probably a help with injector deposits. By the way, cleaning additives are required in all gasoline, just not at the level needed to meet Top Tier.
I posted the pic below from when gas companies were advertising their Cleaning Additive Package to prevent "intake valve coking." Note it can do NOTHING for the backs of DI engine intake valves as there is NO gas passing over the hot intake valves to clean off baked on PVC “stuff.”
Only posting so others don’t read what I consider those video's and your incorrect conclusion as a reason NOT to use a gasoline additive like Techron!
Last edited by JerryU; Oct 16, 2018 at 06:36 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,651
Yep, have watched some of those videos! They are attempting to show how effective Techron is in "removing" carbon deposits from the combustion chamber! Once the "stuff" is baked on not easy to get off! IMO, it was a limited narrow goal test based on what they could measure using a fiber optic camera!
Techron is Chevron’s patented cleaning additive and is what at least started the Top Tier gas when BMW and others said a gasoline clealing additive was needed to stop intake valve "coking" when cars used port injection, but that’s another story! Several gas companies paid Chevron a royalty to use it and now many have developed their own, “gas cleaners.” The "stuff" works. In fact, one of those detailed YouTube Video tests showed it was somewhat effective in cleaning baked on deposits on some cylinders. That was all they could "see" with their fiber optic camera. They could NOT check to see is it was doing anything in the injectors, for exapmle. A small amount of deposit in the very narrow injector passages can have a significant effect on performance.
Adding a container of Techron does help remove sulfur depositis from the fuel senders and is probably a help with injector deposits. By the way, cleaning additives are required in all gasoline, just not at the level needed to meet Top Tier.
I posted the pic below from when gas companies were advertising their Cleaning Additive Package to prevent "intake valve coking." Note it can do NOTHING for the backs of DI engine intake valves as there is NO gas passing over the hot intake valves to clean off baked on PVC “stuff.”
Only posting so others don’t read what I consider those video's and your incorrect conclusion as a reason NOT to use a gasoline additive like Techron!
Techron is Chevron’s patented cleaning additive and is what at least started the Top Tier gas when BMW and others said a gasoline clealing additive was needed to stop intake valve "coking" when cars used port injection, but that’s another story! Several gas companies paid Chevron a royalty to use it and now many have developed their own, “gas cleaners.” The "stuff" works. In fact, one of those detailed YouTube Video tests showed it was somewhat effective in cleaning baked on deposits on some cylinders. That was all they could "see" with their fiber optic camera. They could NOT check to see is it was doing anything in the injectors, for exapmle. A small amount of deposit in the very narrow injector passages can have a significant effect on performance.
Adding a container of Techron does help remove sulfur depositis from the fuel senders and is probably a help with injector deposits. By the way, cleaning additives are required in all gasoline, just not at the level needed to meet Top Tier.
I posted the pic below from when gas companies were advertising their Cleaning Additive Package to prevent "intake valve coking." Note it can do NOTHING for the backs of DI engine intake valves as there is NO gas passing over the hot intake valves to clean off baked on PVC “stuff.”
Only posting so others don’t read what I consider those video's and your incorrect conclusion as a reason NOT to use a gasoline additive like Techron!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Setting aside the Sulphur/fuel sender issues. Injector cleaner is only useful if you have dirty injectors, and if your car is running right, and there's no check engine light, then its pretty unlikely you have a dirty injector problem.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
Just two posts up from yours there is mention that it could harm the catalytic converters though, so I still say the safest plan of action when you buy a new C7 is to start using nothing but Top Tier gas and never add anything else to the tank.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 258
Likes: 105
From: Corvallis, Oregon
thing knower
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,404
Likes: 943
From: wpb
it doesn't matter where you fill, just find the newest station, or at least the ones with the newest tanks...
don't go to old stations, think about the crap on the bottom of ten year old station tanks
don't go to old stations, think about the crap on the bottom of ten year old station tanks
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,044
Likes: 12,410
From: NE South Carolina
The topic of burning fuels and combustion by-products in the automobile is an amazingly complex topic. ....General Motors fuels engineer Andrew Buczynsky says the various engine-cleaning additives available at auto-parts stores should be used with caution. He said some work but most don't, and that care must be taken when using these additives because some may contaminate the catalytic converter. .... My own experiences with fuel additives, mostly with the product Techron was it offered very little benefit even with long term use. This was confirmed with an engine tear down and rebuild after 6 years of using this product. However YMMV.
Two days ago OWC6 in a Post on the subject, stated:
“Mine took 8 or 10 bottles (Techron) before it seems to be finally fixed.
It's always had top tier fuel since new, but still had a problem at about 95,000 miles. I wasn't going to plow a bunch of money into it if I could help it. I just set the trip odo when filling up and kept track of miles and mpg.
The range function on the DIC didn't work when it was misbehaving, but the on Star app still had the range accurately, somehow.
It took 5000 miles, but (knock-wood) , it seems to actually be fixed, now.”
Suggest quoting Wikipedia is NOT the best source. Heck I contribute to it in my area of expertise-welding! I get two SAE publications each month and will buy an SAE tech paper when I see one of interest! I have run an engine on a dyno in undergraduate classes (recall covering the overheat light with book so the Prof didn't see it as I was leading a Lab team and we needed more time to get volumetric efficiency and some of the many parameters we had to measure!
)Recently attended a combined SAE/ASME joint Section meeting (I Chair our local ASME Section) in Rock Hill SC where we toured the USA Porsche Racing team facility. My opinion is based on some facts. My technical expertise is welding and was the 2007 President (a volunteer position) of that 70,000-member organization (actually <5% welders as members are mostly professionals.)
From forum posts I am convinced a steady diet of Top Tier is best but it does not hurt to add a bottle of GM (and I believe Techron) cleaner to help the fuel sender issue if nothing else.
Last edited by JerryU; Oct 16, 2018 at 03:26 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,254
Likes: 4,363
From: Chirper Island
I thought I'd clarify to what Jerry quoted (which is accurate from what I related in another thread, btw):
Mine didn't fail until 95,000 miles, and when it did, it failed in the first half of the tank level at about 50-80 miles after fill up. Then about 40-100 miles later, a CEL came on. (P2066) The fuel gauge generally (usually, but not always) started working at about a quarter tank. Sometimes, the CEL cleared , sometimes not. This repeated even after several doses of Techron. Fairly repeatable.
After many doses( I honestly lost track of count), it started behaving more normally, and it has been behaving for about a thousand miles, except for one random CEL (no code known and the gauge was behaving at the time) for about 50 miles.
My guess is that a portion of the unit (which senses the top half of the tank level) was contaminated (sulphur) after all the miles despite having only Top-tier gas (Shell predominantly ).
I plan on throwing another bottle or two of Techron at it in the immediate future, and one every so often.
Mine didn't fail until 95,000 miles, and when it did, it failed in the first half of the tank level at about 50-80 miles after fill up. Then about 40-100 miles later, a CEL came on. (P2066) The fuel gauge generally (usually, but not always) started working at about a quarter tank. Sometimes, the CEL cleared , sometimes not. This repeated even after several doses of Techron. Fairly repeatable.
After many doses( I honestly lost track of count), it started behaving more normally, and it has been behaving for about a thousand miles, except for one random CEL (no code known and the gauge was behaving at the time) for about 50 miles.
My guess is that a portion of the unit (which senses the top half of the tank level) was contaminated (sulphur) after all the miles despite having only Top-tier gas (Shell predominantly ).
I plan on throwing another bottle or two of Techron at it in the immediate future, and one every so often.