I was on a car-brand-specific forum and the issue of fuel injector cleaners came up. Someone who thought they were very useful made a number of technical comments about them which I believe are incorrect. I asked him which brand(s) he referred to and this is what he said:
"All fuel injector cleaner contains is Dexron III ATF and a small amount of alcohol with other chemicals and additives to hide what it really is. When fuel injector cleaner first came out Buick bought a lot of it, since it worked, to try and find out what it contained. And ATF was what they came up with as the main ingredient and it worked because of the detergents
contained in the fluid."
"I was told that under strict confidentiality so if no one hears from me in a couple of days then STP's hitmen have already kidnapped me and dumped
my body."
"I was told about the ATF by a person who has been working on automobiles since 1973, received his automotive degree in 1978, has attained his
masters degree, owned and now leases out his shop, has taught automotive systems technology for almost 10 years and is on the ASE board. I trust every word he says as he helped in implementing the OBD II emissions standards for NC. I never said they were JUST ATF but that is the main ingredient in most fuel injector cleaners."
I tried to tell this person that there are many different types of cleaners including ester-based as well as many which contain no alcohol but use a petroleum-derived solvent like naptha, etc ... but he's sticking to his guns that they are primarily ATF + alcohol.
Now, it is NOT my intention to make fun of this otherwise helpful individual
but I'd love to see some of the more learned members of this forum comment in general on the various chemistry used in the various types of modern fuel system cleaners.
--- Bror Jace
"All fuel injector cleaner contains is Dexron III ATF and a small amount of alcohol with other chemicals and additives to hide what it really is. When fuel injector cleaner first came out Buick bought a lot of it, since it worked, to try and find out what it contained. And ATF was what they came up with as the main ingredient and it worked because of the detergents
contained in the fluid."
"I was told that under strict confidentiality so if no one hears from me in a couple of days then STP's hitmen have already kidnapped me and dumped
my body."
"I was told about the ATF by a person who has been working on automobiles since 1973, received his automotive degree in 1978, has attained his
masters degree, owned and now leases out his shop, has taught automotive systems technology for almost 10 years and is on the ASE board. I trust every word he says as he helped in implementing the OBD II emissions standards for NC. I never said they were JUST ATF but that is the main ingredient in most fuel injector cleaners."
I tried to tell this person that there are many different types of cleaners including ester-based as well as many which contain no alcohol but use a petroleum-derived solvent like naptha, etc ... but he's sticking to his guns that they are primarily ATF + alcohol.
Now, it is NOT my intention to make fun of this otherwise helpful individual
--- Bror Jace