Fuel additive dilution?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
931
Location
OR
So, we all like to use various bottles of fuel system cleaners like Techron, etc. Most say to "add to a tank of gas" and something like "treats up to 20 gallons", but they never specify an exact ratio.

Does that mean you should add it to a 20 gallon tank? Or would it be more effective if used in a higher concentration in say 5 or 10 gallons? Or 2 bottles in a 20 gallon tank? Can I overdose on Techron?
grin2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Any 12 oz of anything dumped into 20 gallons is not going to do much cleaning anyway.



it might if it's PI !
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Any 12 oz of anything dumped into 20 gallons is not going to do much cleaning anyway.

Run the the tank down to 2-3 gallons and dump the juice in.

That's what I was thinking. I mean, GAS itself is a pretty strong solvent, especially with 10% ethanol.

I wonder if you could do a "shock" treatment to a small engine and run it on 50/50 gas/techron for a few ounces? Let's say you were using 100% Techron, (or insert your favorite cleaner add here) would you have to worry about damaging carb parts?
 
Originally Posted By: SecondMonkey
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Any 12 oz of anything dumped into 20 gallons is not going to do much cleaning anyway.

Run the the tank down to 2-3 gallons and dump the juice in.

That's what I was thinking. I mean, GAS itself is a pretty strong solvent, especially with 10% ethanol.

I wonder if you could do a "shock" treatment to a small engine and run it on 50/50 gas/techron for a few ounces? Let's say you were using 100% Techron, (or insert your favorite cleaner add here) would you have to worry about damaging carb parts?


Years ago I did just that, a shock treatment. I tested if first in a small engine, filled the carb with Gum Out carb cleaner [before the Regane days] and ran the engine till the bowl was emptied. I later graduated to making a IV type set up with fuel hose for my 66 Falcon. I took a bottle of carb cleaner, poured it onto a container with a plastic tip which had a rubber hose to it. I hooked that up so it would go into the carb bowl on the old Falcon. All I did was turn the bottle upside down so the carb cleaner would fill the carb bowl and have a friend start the engine and keep it running by fanning the gas pedal. I ran this mix through until the bottle was empty. No problems or damage to report. I did this as part of a tune up. Not sure if there was any real benefit, that carb lasted over 100K until the Falcon was totaled.

I have a 88 Evenrude 15HP outboard engine, which sits for year and years w/o use. Till this day it is like new. Anyway last time out that engine had sat for about 8 years, I got it running and had some bogging issues. I made about a 6 ounce batch of carb cleaner, gas, [60/40] mixed with some TCW3 and MMO, very small amounts, so I would be lubing the engine while my mix was being burnt. I connected this IV to a warmed up engine and ran it through. I set up a small smoke screen, but freed up whatever problem was causing the engine to bog. We took the engine and my raft to Lake George and had a weeks worth of fun with it. I will probably have to do the same thing again since it is sitting over 5 years since then.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: tomcat27
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Any 12 oz of anything dumped into 20 gallons is not going to do much cleaning anyway.



it might if it's PI !


I doubt it. Maybe very light deposits.
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Any 12 oz of anything dumped into 20 gallons is not going to do much cleaning anyway.

It doesn't and that's why you need to keep using it. My use of PEA is approximated by exponential decay. If an engine has serious carbon I use a few bottles at 12oz per tank then steadily reduce to the maintenance dose. Engines already reasonably clean I just stick with the maintenance dose.
 
Originally Posted By: severach
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Any 12 oz of anything dumped into 20 gallons is not going to do much cleaning anyway.

It doesn't and that's why you need to keep using it. My use of PEA is approximated by exponential decay. If an engine has serious carbon I use a few bottles at 12oz per tank then steadily reduce to the maintenance dose. Engines already reasonably clean I just stick with the maintenance dose.


Makes a lot of sense.
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Any 12 oz of anything dumped into 20 gallons is not going to do much cleaning anyway.

Run the the tank down to 2-3 gallons and dump the juice in.


Man! Wouldn't that shock your 02 sensor, too? I know the products say "02 safe" on them, but you are now talking 10X their recommended concentration!
 
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Any 12 oz of anything dumped into 20 gallons is not going to do much cleaning anyway.

Run the the tank down to 2-3 gallons and dump the juice in.


Man! Wouldn't that shock your 02 sensor, too? I know the products say "02 safe" on them, but you are now talking 10X their recommended concentration!


Nothing in modern fuel additives that will "shock" the O2 sensor.
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Any 12 oz of anything dumped into 20 gallons is not going to do much cleaning anyway.

Run the the tank down to 2-3 gallons and dump the juice in.


Man! Wouldn't that shock your 02 sensor, too? I know the products say "02 safe" on them, but you are now talking 10X their recommended concentration!


Nothing in modern fuel additives that will "shock" the O2 sensor.


If an OD of MMO or FI cleaner would shock an 02 Sensor, half my fleet would be on life support.
 
In line with this, the instructions on the Techron bottle say to add to a nearly empty tank, then add up to 12 gallons. Right now my car has just about 12 gallons in it. Must it be mixed by the addition of new fuel, or could I just pop it in now?
 
It is best to mix it at the pump when you fill up. You could add it now, it will take a little while to mix as you drive. A few bumps, and fast stops will get it mixed in. When ever possible I like to add it at the gas station just before a fill up. HTH
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom