STP vs Tech2000 injector cleaner

[Jacob]

I was looking at some injector cleaner at Walmart, they got the Tech 2000 (350ml, Made in Canada) for $2.30 and they have the STP (350ml, Made in USA) for 7.49. Is the 2$ stuff just as good as the 7.49 stuff?

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

I can't tell which is better but the ST sold here says to add to every tank at fillup.
It's a pretty expensive proposition.

On my old cars the Chevron Techron worked best and I only used it maybe every 3k miles.

 

[Jacob]

don't they all have the same ingredients?

 

[55Test]

While on topic, what's the big difference between carb cleaner, fuel injector cleaner, fuel system cleaner, gas treatment, etc. Aren't they all the same?

 

[Dr. T]

It's just concentrations...the gas treatment (red STP bottle) or fuel injector cleaner (white STP bottle) are both to be used "at each fillup" and are roughtly $2.50.

The complete fuel system cleaner or super concentrated fuel injector cleaner are $15 and $7 respectively and are to be used "twice a year" or "at every oil change" (3k OCI's) respectively.

I've used them last year for a full year. Not sure how much change they made compared to my current regimen of FP. Hard to keep track of all the different bottles and keeping them in stock in my trunk. Easier and cheaper to just continuously use FP....

 

[Tosh]

I've recently started to seek answers to keeping the injectors, valves, and combustion chambers clean, and it seems to me that it makes more sense to use a lower concentration cleaner mixed with the fuel, but in continuous use. After all, a higher concentration, a shock treatment, just gets wasted in a puff of smoke and then it's no more.
I believe my best options are to either use FP or a Top Tier fuel. (Chevron presumably: just filled up with 89 octane, and have never noticed it run smoother.) And here is where Dr.T's logic can be expanded on: Why fuss with FP dosing when I can just drive a few blocks farther, pay my 10 cents per gallon extra, and be done? Is FP that much better than a Top Tier fuel that I should dose out a gallon's worth, six to eight ounces at a time? I like messing around with my car, but all the time, pouring a little in the tank every fill-up? Life's too short....

 

[Dr. T]

Good question. I've used 94 Octane Sunoco Premium for my car's entire life (215k mi.) thusfar and have just started to use FP.

I still don't believe that ANY gas (incl. premium) will have the cleaning power of a constant dosing cleaner eg. FP.

My immediate observations: Quieter, smoother running engine. Smoother idle, less run-on, erratic idle. Better, smoother, readily accel. right up to redline. Lower emissions.

 

[Tosh]

Sorry about hijacking this thread, but just wanted to point out something to Dr.T: Sunoco isn't a Top Tier retailer, and the Chevron I just got seems to have the effect of a smoother idle (psychosomatic?), which is (possibly?) an effect of having mo'better detergents (and maybe appraoching FP60 in effectiveness?). OK, I don't really want to add any undeserved credibility to what it means to be Top Tier, but with my car manufacturer (Honda) and others creating this standard (behind the oil companies' back), I'm willing to give it a run for now....