The Most Effective use of Fuel Injection Cleaner

[Nickdfresh]

What are some opinions on the best way to use fuel injection cleaner in a car:

Is it better to add right before a long trip for the Holidays and to burn it out in a day of driving?

Or is it better to put in the tank for a week or so's worth of normal commuter driving?

Or a mix of both highway and city?

 

[Familyguy]

If it was me, I'd probably throw it in before a long trip.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: Familyguy
If it was me, I'd probably throw it in before a long trip.


I 2nd that statement.

 

[demarpaint]

When I traveled a lot, I would add FI cleaner and use it during a long trip. Nice fast highway runs seem to give the best bang for the buck when using a FI cleaner.

 

[pbm]

I asked the same question a few years ago and received a mix of responses. My theory is that it's better to add it "for a week or so's worth of normal commuter driving" right before an oil change. I feel the product gets a better chance to work when it sits awhile in the system between starts.

PS: I'm a fan of 'Total Fuel System cleaners' rather than 'Fuel Injection cleaners'.

 

[Nickdfresh]

I bought Shell v-Power system cleaner at Big Lots for like $2.50 a bottle...

 

[Eddie]

+1 for "SYSTEM CLEANER" over injector cleaner.

 

[Captain_Klink]

i think the answer is in "how does it get dirty in the first place" - the "dirt" consists of trace residues of hot vaporized fuel. when you shut it off, there is a tiny bit of fuel still there, and it soaks up the heat from the still hot engine, and vaporizes, leaving a tiny tiny deposit. getting rid of this deposit means "washing" it with a cleaner or solvent, and i would rather do this in one go, if possible, and if not possible, then the second best way is over a week of commuter driving.

 

[demarpaint]

My thinking is a nice continuous stream of the fuel mixed with the cleaner will do the best job of cleaning. IMO there is nothing like adding a bottle to the gas tank at the gas station, filling up, then getting on the highway and running that tank down. Vacations were always the best for me to do that.

 

[mechtech2]

The long trip is great.
Fast results from fast miles.
Also, it is being pushed through the injectors pretty hard.
Lots of flow for valve cleaning.

 

[elwaylite]

I think you run a good Amine gas like Shell and Chevron from day one, then add Techron at every oil change for a tank. It then does not matter how fast or how long you drive after the additive.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: Captain_Klink
i think the answer is in "how does it get dirty in the first place" - the "dirt" consists of trace residues of hot vaporized fuel. when you shut it off, there is a tiny bit of fuel still there, and it soaks up the heat from the still hot engine, and vaporizes, leaving a tiny tiny deposit. getting rid of this deposit means "washing" it with a cleaner or solvent, and i would rather do this in one go, if possible, and if not possible, then the second best way is over a week of commuter driving.



That's why I like to clean it over a number of start/run/stop cycles...so that the "tiny bit of fuel still there" has detergents in it which remove the 'trace residues'. This is just my opinion.

 

[Gary Allan]

I'd say that the longer dwell time is good for any varnish or lacquers that may have formed inside the injector itself.

I was about to offer some counter point to pbm's opinion ..just for the sake of discussion, but I paused for a moment when I considered the following. I was going to say that the nozzles and backside of the intake valve would only require so much exposure to the agent ..so sustained ..intermittent ..

There has to be some required concentration level, otherwise there would be no "up to" so many gallons on the bottle. It would only require that the bottle pass through the system. Now they just happen to sell you a bottle that covers most fuel tank sizes ..so

 

[camaro10]

I know you old carb guys know the best way to clean the carbon off the valves and pistons is to "pepsi" the engine. For all the youngsters who own a carb engine here's how: Take a glass pepsi bottle and put about 6 oz's or cold water in it, then run the rpm to around 4 gran then have your buddy pour the water in the carb, VERY SLOWLY. Then watch all the black carbon pour out the exhaust. Works great, but DO NOT let the engine die while doing the "pepsi". Another additive you can use in carb engines is "moth balls". We used to put 3 or 4 in the gas tank to add a little methane to our racing gas worked well for awhile until the officials noticed the "blue" flames coming out the headers then tested our gas and got told "no more". My father in law is now 78 and quit oval racing in early 70s. You young guys need to pay attention to the older guys because they learned many lessons through trial and error. Who would have ever thought of "moth balls" or pouring "cold water" into your carb??