Fuel injectors cleaners/service cleaners. Can they hurt anything?

[shDK]

Hi all.

I was considering using a petrol injector cleaner/service cleaner every 7500 km for maintenance. The kind that often comes as a one shot solution you just empty in your gas tank.

Probably the würth power cleaner petrol/hybrid.

But can it hurt anything using it so frequent?

Have a nice day.
Kindly
Søren

 

[rstcso]

Hi all.

I was considering using a petrol injector cleaner/service cleaner every 7500 km for maintenance. The kind that often comes as a one shot solution you just empty in your gas tank.

Probably the würth power cleaner petrol/hybrid.

But can it hurt anything using it so frequent?

Most "Complete" fuel system cleaners recommend every 3k to 5k miles (5k to 8k kilometers). Many add a bottle (or whatever instructions say) and running their last full tank down with the fuel additive right before an oil change.

Not all are created equal. My understanding is that you want to find one having the highest quantity of PEA available. There are many others on this forum with the technical expertise to articulate why this is important.

 

[Patman]

They won’t hurt anything at that treat rate but they are a waste of money because top tier fuel is all you need to keep your engines clean. I stick with Costco gas in my Civic and Shell gas in my Corvette and have never added anything to either tank.

 

[melk]

I feed em to all my vehicles. For the cost I’m happy

 

[BobsArmory]

Just in case you were wondering PEA is short for polyether amine. I would offer product advise but I don't know what is available in Denmark.

 

[twX]

PEA fuel cleaners are known to contribute to sludge and varnish if used too many times per OCI. Other types of cleaners might cause similar issues. If you use a fuel cleaner once per OCI, a couple of fuel tanks before an oil change, this won't be a concern.

 

[BobsArmory]

PEA fuel cleaners are known to contribute to sludge and varnish if used too many times per OCI. Other types of cleaners might cause similar issues. If you use a fuel cleaner once per OCI, a couple of fuel tanks before an oil change, this won't be a concern.

Interesting, do you have a link to this claim? I would like to learn more about this interaction.

 

[twX]

Interesting, do you have a link to this claim? I would like to learn more about this interaction.

A study by Lubrizol from 2020. If you click on Preview, you can see most of the important bits.

They studied two types of PEA, one causing a lot more deposits than the other. I'd presume that the one that performed better might be what Lubrizol is now using in Techron. The increase in varnish with the other type of PEA was pretty extreme when used 3 times per OCI.

 

[shDK]

I want to point out that it's specific fuel injector cleaners I'm talking about. And not the fuel system treatments in general.

The kind you just empty an bottle. And not the ones you have to meassure yourself.

 

[shDK]

Just in case you were wondering PEA is short for polyether amine. I would offer product advise but I don't know what is available in Denmark.

I use this local brand. Well respected here. But I don't think you know it in the US.

https://www.belladd.dk/en/products/

It's this product I use. Maybe the browser can translate into English.

https://www.belladd.dk/produkter/servicerens-1b-hybrid/

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Hi all.

I was considering using a petrol injector cleaner/service cleaner every 7500 km for maintenance. The kind that often comes as a one shot solution you just empty in your gas tank.

Probably the würth power cleaner petrol/hybrid.

But can it hurt anything using it so frequent?

Have a nice day.
Kindly
Søren

Your fuel l, by law, probably already had detergents to keep injectors clean. Using a cleaner every 40k-50k km wouldn't hurt and wouldn't be excessive like every 7500km.

 

[shDK]

Your fuel l, by law, probably already had detergents to keep injectors clean. Using a cleaner every 40k-50k km wouldn't hurt and wouldn't be excessive like every 7500km.

I'm aware that every 7500 is excessive. I'm more interested if it will harm anything in the engine

 

[Slick3914]

GM recommends it in my ‘21 Traverse owners manual.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I'm aware that every 7500 is excessive. I'm more interested if it will harm anything in the engine

Anecdotally I know a guy whose BMW developed a leaky injector when he was using excessive doses of a cleaner. He blamed it on the cleaner because the leaking allegedly stopped when he stopped using the injector cleaner.