Are gas additives really needed these days??

[WhyMe]

I usually fill up at the local Costco or Chevron, both of which advertise the cleaning additives as being superior.

I have actually found that using either of these 2 brands gives me better gas mileage than Arco.

So with all the additives added, is a fuel system cleaner really needed, or just money down the drain?

 

[Doog]

I say yes. But only once every 15-20,000 miles. They do keep the fuel injectors and throttle body clean in the long haul.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I have never proven them to work consistently on my personal vehicles in over 40 years of on and off use. But I dont carbon up my engines. If a fuel IS formulated to top tier specs (a BIG if) then that would be totally adequate.

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: WhyMe
I usually fill up at the local Costco or Chevron, both of which advertise the cleaning additives as being superior.

I have actually found that using either of these 2 brands gives me better gas mileage than Arco.

So with all the additives added, is a fuel system cleaner really needed, or just money down the drain?



I've NEVER used gasoline additives on a regular basis, and that goes back to the 1970s. Most of them are nothing but snake-oil, the exception being a few like Techron. But seriously- when I finally pulled a fuel injector to replace an O-ring after 90,000+ miles on wife's old 93 Vision TSi, it was spotless. This was about 1998. And the car had NEVER had an additive. They're just not necessary.

 

[electrolover]

These days more than ever! IMHO.
Using good gas like chevron or shell is good but I like to also dump in something with PEA once or twice a year.

 

[HerrStig]

Well, you sure don't need "drygas" with this bleep E 10, and there is a government regulation (agggh) regarding injector cleaner additive presence in gas sold here. Fuel additives can pnly "clean" from the point of injection downstrean.

 

[skyship]

Some engines are more prone to fuel system problems than others, but in general terms fuel additives are not needed if you use good quality fuel, but if that is not the case then it is best to check with your dealer or a type specific forum to see if there is a recommended or even approved fuel additive. Stick to the major brand companies as there is some real rubbish for sale in the way of fuel additives.
One big advantage of doing the occasional UOA is that it will show up a fuel injection faults fairly early and if it does not show fuel contamination then there is no need to use injector cleaners.

 

[Hallmark]

In their U.S. manuals, Hyundai recommends a fuel additive at 7,500 mile intervals if top tier gasoline is not used. The additive product sold with a Hyundai part number is a rebranded Techron Concentrate Plus, but sold at a price premium of ~60% to auto parts vendor sale prices.

 

[JHZR2]

Ive never had an issue, but I have in the past, noticed a difference in fuel pump sound between fuel with the right adds in it and gas without.

So that plus the UCL functionality is what is attractive to me.

 

[HerrStig]

Fuel composition changes season to season per EPA regs, and some blends may pump better than others. The winter stuff has a lot of butane in it which may "cavitate" the pump and make the sound change.

 

[NMBurb02]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
If a fuel IS formulated to top tier specs (a BIG if) then that would be totally adequate.

Top Tier is a performance standard, not a fuel spec, and does allow for intake valve deposits, although at a lower level than EPA requirements (50 mg/valve after 5,000 simulated miles/100 engine hours using ASTM D6201). I still plan on using an in-tank PEA cleaner at least once every oil change, which looks like it will be every 6,000-7,500 miles for the Burb and 8,000-10,000 for the GP based on the factory OLM, despite 90% use of Top Tier gas. With the BOGO offers on Techron pretty regularly or even the full retail cost of Gumout AIO, it seems like cheap insurance.

 

[HM12460]

I like to use a can of Tech-Ron when I change oil and filter at 5,000 miles. Probably not really necessary. Old habits die hard.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

We only have 'name brand' gas around here so I'm sure the stuff we put in our cars is good.

That said, I'll usually put a bottle of Techron in each maybe once a year before a car trip which will use the whole tank in one shot, just for feel-goods.

 

[NMBurb02]

Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
We only have 'name brand' gas around here so I'm sure the stuff we put in our cars is good.

That said, I'll usually put a bottle of Techron in each maybe once a year before a car trip which will use the whole tank in one shot, just for feel-goods.

Actually, the PEA cleaners are supposed to work best when used with short trips, which gives the cleaners time to "soak" the injector components and intake valves.

 

[Smokescreen]

What about putting a full dose in only half a tank or less and then running it until you need to fill? Wouldn't that provide a more concentrated dose for more effective cleaning? The bottles usually say 1 bottle treats up XX gallons etc, but never gives a minimum amount of fuel it has to be added to that I have seen.

 

[TFB1]

The companies that sell the stuff aren't getting rich off me, rarely use them and can't say it ever helped a problem when I did...

 

[BigCahuna]

The only times I've ever used a fuel system cleaner, is in vehicles that have sat for long periods. Like an old motorcycle that's put in the garage and forgotten about for 5 years. You have to clean out the carb, but running some extra cleaner thru the system helps dissolve the varnish out of all the holes in the carb body you didn't reach when cleaning it. Keeping fresh gas flowing thru an vehicle will usually keep the carb or fuel injectors clean so adding chemicals is really not needed.,,

 

[LeakySeals]

I didn't used to think so. But spending time learning about and fixing variable valve timing, in-tank fuel pumps and EVAP problems in high mileage cars has me thinking otherwise. A $6 maintenance dose of PEA fuel system cleaner can save you hundreds in aggravation down the road.

 

[oldhp]

Have always used Techron, SeaFoam and STP Fuel Injection cleaner.
All engines have always idled, drove and performed just like new.
Too wide of "go, no-go" specs of fuel loaded into tankers.
The other day because of a mistake, 100% ethanol was loaded into tanker and delievered. Messed alot of cars up.
Same can happen to every day fuels and you'll never know it until car starts running rough.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
I didn't used to think so. But spending time learning about and fixing variable valve timing, in-tank fuel pumps and EVAP problems in high mileage cars has me thinking otherwise. A $6 maintenance dose of PEA fuel system cleaner can save you hundreds in aggravation down the road.


+1 Exactly.