Techron and Valvoline differences?

[wemay]

Is there a substantial difference between Valvoline and Techron complete fuel system cleaners?

 

[walk23]

Techron - good for 3 K
Valvoline - good for 6 K

 

[Nate1979]

I searched on google and found this for you:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/valvoline-complete-fuel-system-clean-contains-pea.156704/

They are pretty much the same.

 

[fdcg27]

What you're paying for in a fuel system cleaner is the stuff that cleans, PEA.
The rest of the bottle is just cheap combustible filler or carrier.
Compare the MSDS sheets for the two.
If neither even lists PEA content, it's pretty minimal.
For a little more money than either, you can buy Red Line SI-1, which is 30-35% PEA per the MSDS.
3M also offers a cleaner high in PEA content which is sometimes attractively priced.

 

[wemay]

Thanks all.

20-30% PEA for Valvoline, I'm sticking with it. Easy to find and not expensive.

 

[Dominic]

How much PEA is in the Techron exactly? I have a shelf full of them that I got 50% off on Advance Auto's sale.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: wemay
Thanks all.

20-30% PEA for Valvoline, I'm sticking with it. Easy to find and not expensive.


Where are you getting this figure from?
The MSDS?
If it's real, the Valvoline is a great bargain at the price.

 

[wemay]

From Ashland:

Contact Information
By PhoneValvoline Products
1-800-TEAM-VAL
1-800-832-6825

 

[wemay]

After reading this study (i only posted a portion) conducted by one of our BITOG members (Sciguyjim), I may just stick with Techron, every oil change IF i use any...

TEST RESULTS
RELATIVE EFFICIENCIES AT WHICH VARIOUS CLEANERS WILL DISSOLVE HIGH BOILING RESIDUES (tars) FROM GASOLINE AND CARBONACEOUS (decomposition) DEPOSITS FOUND IN USED MOTOR OIL, (10=BEST):

· 10 Gunk Gas Treatment
· 10 Toluene (a common ingredient)
· 9 Castrol Syntec Power System
· 8 Duralube Fuel System Cleaner
· 7 Gunk Fuel Injector Cleaner
· 6 Redline SI-1
· 5 Gunk Air Intake Cleaner
· 4 Naphtha (a common ingredient)
· 4 STP Fuel System Cleaner
· 4 Seafoam Motor Tuneup
· 4 Trak Fuel Injector Cleaner
· 4 STP Intake Valve Cleaner
· 4 CD-2 Emission Cure
· 4 Prolong Fuel System Treatment
· 3 CD-2 Fuel Injector Cleaner
· 3 Techron Concentrate
· 0.5 Butyl Cellosolve (a "COMMONLY" used "AUTO INDUSTRY DETERGENT" for oil and grease)

THE FOLLOWING CLEANERS DO NOT HURT NYLON (LISTED RANDOMLY). They can be used freely in the gas tank. (The letters in parentheses indicate how well they dissolved the material from used oil, A=best.):

· Toluene (A)
· 2-Phenoxyethanol (A)
· Duralube Fuel System Treatment (B)
· B-12 Chemtool (B)
· Trak Fuel Injector Cleaner (C)
· Techron Concentrate (D)
· STP Intake Valve Cleaner (E)
· Seafoam Motor Tuneup
· CD-2 Emission Cure
· Prolong Fuel System Treatment
· Aromatic distillates
· Naphtha
· Butyl cellosolve
· Acetone

THE FOLLOWING CLEANERS WILL DECOMPOSE THE NYLON SOCK IN THE FUEL TANK. (Do not add these to your gas tank unless in small quantities). Also, use them up quickly, do not let them sit for a week. Listed in order of increasing severity:

· STP Fuel System Treatment
· CD-2 Fuel Injector Cleaner
· Gunk Fuel Injector Cleaner
· Castrol Syntec Power System
· Redline SI-1
· Gunk Gas Treatment
· Monoethanolamine
(The monoethanolamine is the worst here. It turns nylon black on contact. The decomposition products are only soluble in water and alcohol, no common fuel line cleaner will touch them. Without cleaning EVERY part of the fuel system, residual gunk in the lines will plug up brand new injectors in as little as a few minutes. Very expensive. It is significant to note here that the "best" "detergents" in use today are similar, strongly alkaline organic solvents). Another use for the current bunch of organic amine "detergents" is cleaning deposits out of cylinders, so I hear. Currently I only use the more corrosive cleaners as sprays into the TB rather than adding them to the gas tank so they can work on intake valve and cylinder deposits but stay out of the fuel system.