Maybe these fuel additives actually do work!

[Drew99GT]

My Dad's 98 Blazer 4.3L has always seemed to have a pinging problem' especially when driving up steep mountain passes in the summer. The last couple moths or so, my Dad has gone crazy with the fuel additives. I tried to intervene after the second bottle of Techron, but I soon saw some empty bottles of Regane and Gumout Large Vehicle formula in the trash. Now, this truck has 192,000 miles and likely had mega carbon. Today, I drove the truck up to my parents cabin in the mountains to do some work and there was hardly any knock and ping on 87 octane! And the power was THERE; could hold 65 in overdrive up 7% grades with out even a hickup. Before, it would start pinging badly, timing would get retarted and it would downshift and just hold about 55 with your foot danr near to the floor sometimes if it's really hot.

I dunno what to say. It literally felt like driving a different/newer vehicle. I think I may get a few bottles of something and run it in my car cause it's been pinging a bit more than I like in this crazy heat wave we've had in the central US.

 

[grm386wa]

I never really had a pinging issue on my car (96 Taurus) but after changing the fuel filter, doing a seafoam treatment, running a seafoam treatment and 2 subsequent bottles of Techron each in a 1/4 tank of gas ran to almost empty, I can definately feel an increase in performance. Idle is smoother, car has more ooomph, and the recent heat wave we're having isn't enhibiting my performance at all.

 

[GMorg]

I didn't realize that there was still any question, at least for Techron. It does work..

 

[Drew99GT]

Oh, I don't have issues with Techron or any fuel system cleaner. It's just that using only one bottle in his truck never got rid of the ping. It would subside a bit, then return within a few tankfuls. Now it's been a couple thousand miles and it's still kept the performance. More maybe be better

 

[vipergg]

I ceratinly believe in them , they get put in at every oil change and I can honestly say I have never had a fuel system related problem or anything else like pinging . And yes you can generally feel the difference after running 1 or 2 bottles thru , I try to do it when I am going on a highway trip , think it cleans stuff out better...

 

[mechtech]

I think valve deposits and C.C. deposits are cleaned better when there is greater flow [high speeds].

 

[Gary Allan]

It's a shame that they require so much periodic use. I've seen REAL results with Regane® (even the wife noticed

) ..but have found the need to use it more often then the first 80k+ without using any additives. It used to be just mild knocking that the wife complained about ...but then it evolved into other issues (none serious). The cost of these products is too high for the recommended uses.

It may just be the effect of the newer ethanol blends that we're seeing. Gasohol caused issues for a bit in engines before you replaced three fuel filters (the small ones in the carb).

 

[oil pan 4]

That sounds like a realy hard core Italian tune up. Just put better gas in it so it dosen't ping, then flog the crap out of it the hole way up that hill.

 

[Warstud]

The 4.3L is known for carbon buildup. Probably a good idea to clean out the EGR valve also.

 

[Drew99GT]

The EGR was cleaned and associated passages were cleaned with fine tooth comb when the intake gaskets were replaced.

oilpan4, we're already using 87 octane which is midgarde at this altitude so I'd like to get rid of the ping without resorting to high octane. In fact, a few years back, the pinging was soooooooooo bad it would do it horridly even on 91 octane if the conditions were right (like, getting stopped in Woodland Park CO at a stoplight after travelling up a 6% grade for the last 20 minutes, only to have to travel up about an 8% grade right out of town).