FI cleaners, how soon to start?

[Jeffy_D]

Our 2012 sonic just rolled past 10k. Me and my wife both notice we are getting less miles per tank for the last 1000 miles. I noticed a loss of power too.

Ive heard that the fuel injectors on these newer ecotecs have small nozzles that clog easy. Can anyone confirm this???

Anyway, i thought about grabbing some techron or si-1 and run it with some v-power gas.

Am i overthinking this? I I thought after a new vehicle is broken in, they perform better and or get better mileage, we seem to experience the opposite. Thanks in advance.

 

[V8man]

Sounds like you can start using a FI Cleaner.

 

[147_Grain]

I'd start using F.I. now.

 

[NHGUY]

What kind of mileage does it get? The previous generation Aveos didnt get great mileage to begin with for such a small car.

 

[Jeffy_D]

Was averaging 32, now its about 29-30.Was getting about 350 miles on a 12 gallon tank, now its in.the mid 330 range.

Seriously, the sonic is not just a remodeled aveo, they dont feel or drive like one at all. Engine, transmission, suspension are lightyears ahead of the old aveo

 

[SteveSRT8]

At 10k miles you are extremely unlikely to be experiencing clogged injectors. It's just too young...

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I was going to say something about winter blend gas, but that's not a problem in your neck of the woods.

Gas mileage was good on my Focus. Then at 15000, it went up by 2 or 3 average ... not sure why, actually.

 

[donnyj08]

maybe your just getting used to the car and not babying it as much as when it was brand new. also check tire pressure and rotation.

 

[FoxS]

Chevron found carbon built up every 3000 miles so yes at 10k it is certainly possible to lose some performance.

What gas brands have you been using? Have you been using the specified grade? If you go with higher grade than required you will have more unburnt fuel and less performance / mpg

 

[Coprolite]

*My comments are what I would do for any car and are not manufacturer specific.*

-A bad tank of gas can hurt your performance and fuel economy over that tank and the next few (1-3).
-I like to run Techron with each OCI. Now that OCIs are lengthening, I try to do it every 5k miles.
-BMW happens to recommend running Techron right before each Oil Change.
-Properly filled tires are important


In any case, it would not hurt to use up as much fuel as you can in that tank. Dump in a bottle of Techron and fill up the tank with a Top Tier gasoline. Try to get it from a high volume(busy) gas station, I view this as a step to help minimize chances of getting bad fuel. If you did happen to get a bad tank of fuel, using it up and going to a new tank will show a big delta in fuel economy over mixing in half a tank of good fuel.

The Techron will have more time to work if you are putting around town and it can sit in the tank and work on that part of the system. The more time that the treated fuel sits in the fuel line and injectors (shut off @ the office or in the lot while you shop), the more cleaning it can do. This is in contrast to blowing through a complete tank in one day on a road trip.

If none of that works, you won't have done anything to harm the car and will only be out the cost of the Techron.

 

[mechtech2]

Once or twice a year.