I used to this service at my Ford dealer on my last 2 cars and never really noticed any difference...Is this service really necessary.
Throttle Body and Fuel Injector Service
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Originally Posted By: Jason2007
nope, just buy a bottle of Techron or Regane a couple times a year and you will never have a problem.
I'll agree both Gumout Regane and Techron will clean the fuel injectors and intake valves, but I've never known it to clean the throttle body.
nope, just buy a bottle of Techron or Regane a couple times a year and you will never have a problem.
I'll agree both Gumout Regane and Techron will clean the fuel injectors and intake valves, but I've never known it to clean the throttle body.
Originally Posted By: Jason2007
nope, just buy a bottle of Techron or Regane a couple times a year and you will never have a problem.
That sounds like the way to go.
nope, just buy a bottle of Techron or Regane a couple times a year and you will never have a problem.
That sounds like the way to go.
Originally Posted By: dkryan
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
You can clean the throtle body with a rag, no TB spray needed.
Maybe on your ride, but I found that rag to work much better with a small application of NAPA TB cleaner.
I agree - you need some cleaner in there! Also, while adding gas treatments to your tank can keep things somewhat clean - nothing beats running full strenght cleaner right thru the injectors via the fuel rail. That really is the best way. But, maintaining your car with regular doses of tank cleaners (like Techron or Redline - not STP or other junk) can really extend the need for a on-rail cleaning.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
You can clean the throtle body with a rag, no TB spray needed.
Maybe on your ride, but I found that rag to work much better with a small application of NAPA TB cleaner.
I agree - you need some cleaner in there! Also, while adding gas treatments to your tank can keep things somewhat clean - nothing beats running full strenght cleaner right thru the injectors via the fuel rail. That really is the best way. But, maintaining your car with regular doses of tank cleaners (like Techron or Redline - not STP or other junk) can really extend the need for a on-rail cleaning.
So far{241,319 miles} I have NEVER let the dealer or anyone else perform a "fuel injection" service, and the car runs like new with original injectors. Occasional use of injector cleaner added to the fuel tank is all it has seen, and 3 throttlebody cleanings performed by me using a $4 can of throttlebody cleaning spray.
The type of cleaner the dealer used is totaly different than the Techron you put in your tank. They force it in through the fuel rail, and it cleans the injectors like the over the counter stuff will never do.
Yes, it is waaaay better but only needed if you are having trouble
Yes, it is waaaay better but only needed if you are having trouble
Is it necessary, no. Does it make a difference, short answer maybe.
Long answer, it can make an improvement if you have carbon build up reducing overall performance of the engine. It can make improvement if the brand cleaner works and is done correctly.
Unfortunately with the dealership its hard to say who worked on the car. It could have been the low paid general service guy or the low paid (slow time of year) ASE technician.....
Long answer, it can make an improvement if you have carbon build up reducing overall performance of the engine. It can make improvement if the brand cleaner works and is done correctly.
Unfortunately with the dealership its hard to say who worked on the car. It could have been the low paid general service guy or the low paid (slow time of year) ASE technician.....
Here's the thing: most cars will never need any work done on the injectors for their lifetime. Some will, and you will know when you have some issues with the enginew not running as it should. On a high milage car, it's is very possible that one injectors may not function 100% at every RPM. I have seen injectors on a test machine, and they can fire fine and idle, then mis-spray and mid RPM, then fire fine at WOT. No way for a car owner to know without looking at them on a test machine. If they are selling the injectors cleaning as routine maintenance, then that is likely a cash cow for them, but it is like buying insurance for the owner. an e-test can show bad injestors, but not always, and it can be many other issues that cause and e-test to read high. I think all fuel comes with an fuel system cleaner, so puttin it in every tank full is a waste of $$
Fuel injector cleaner will not clean your throttle body or idle air motor.
A good [get the more expensive stuff] cleaner in the gas tank once or twice a year is enough for a car without problems.
Chevron Techron or Gumout REGANE are good ones.
The TB can be cleaned with carb cleaner and a rag. Get the plate and bore as good as you can.
There is supposedly an anti dirt coating of some TBs , and they warn about cleaning them. But go ahead and clean it if it is dirty - those coatings are a joke, IMO.
A good [get the more expensive stuff] cleaner in the gas tank once or twice a year is enough for a car without problems.
Chevron Techron or Gumout REGANE are good ones.
The TB can be cleaned with carb cleaner and a rag. Get the plate and bore as good as you can.
There is supposedly an anti dirt coating of some TBs , and they warn about cleaning them. But go ahead and clean it if it is dirty - those coatings are a joke, IMO.
I only mess with the TB when I do a tune up. I usually remove my TB's and use store brand carb cleaner to clean them every 75k-100k.
Also, for the fuel system a couple bottles of techron or gumout will do the trick. I like to do the techron before a oil change.
Also, for the fuel system a couple bottles of techron or gumout will do the trick. I like to do the techron before a oil change.
Without a PCV catch can, TBs load up pretty fast.
Every year or so they should be looked at, and cleaned .
Every year or so they should be looked at, and cleaned .
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Without a PCV catch can, TBs load up pretty fast.
Every year or so they should be looked at, and cleaned .
Right on. I actually clean the TB before every oil change. I do a 100% look over the cars anyway and what's another 5 minutes to clean it out right?
Without a PCV catch can, TBs load up pretty fast.
Every year or so they should be looked at, and cleaned .
Right on. I actually clean the TB before every oil change. I do a 100% look over the cars anyway and what's another 5 minutes to clean it out right?
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Without a PCV catch can, TBs load up pretty fast.
Every year or so they should be looked at, and cleaned .
Right on. I actually clean the TB before every oil change. I do a 100% look over the cars anyway and what's another 5 minutes to clean it out right?
I wish every tech at the dealer worked like GMBoy.
OK...I hear you all on the Techron...I have one question though...I always thought you were supposed to use a Non Alochol Fuel Cleaner..I thought the Alcohol damages the 02s...I believe the Techron has alochol.
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Without a PCV catch can, TBs load up pretty fast.
Every year or so they should be looked at, and cleaned .
Right on. I actually clean the TB before every oil change. I do a 100% look over the cars anyway and what's another 5 minutes to clean it out right?
I wish every tech at the dealer worked like GMBoy.
OK...I hear you all on the Techron...I have one question though...I always thought you were supposed to use a Non Alochol Fuel Cleaner..I thought the Alcohol damages the 02s...I believe the Techron has alochol.
Techron is safe for O2 sensors and cats. It's similar to the additive they put in their tier II gas. It can also keep fuel sending units clean and working properly.
Some injectors are more prone to clogging and some gas is too. Sometimes injectors have to be cleaned on the rail. They can get so clogged that you have a totally dead cylinder. Sometimes they get so clogged up that nothing will get them completely cleaned short of a total off the car rebuild and/or the injectors replaced.
I'm not sure about Ford but what's nice on GM is the dealer equipment can do an injector coil test and actually test the injectors' solenoids. And a injector drop test can check any flow restrictions to determine if on the rail cleaning is necessary and how well it did after cleaning.
The first step to prevent the problem is to always use a tier II gas. I always run Shell since it's the only tier II available in my area. Then maybe 1-3 times a year run a bottle of Techron or maybe Shell or gumout. I think Shell and gumout might be the same.
Some injectors are more prone to clogging and some gas is too. Sometimes injectors have to be cleaned on the rail. They can get so clogged that you have a totally dead cylinder. Sometimes they get so clogged up that nothing will get them completely cleaned short of a total off the car rebuild and/or the injectors replaced.
I'm not sure about Ford but what's nice on GM is the dealer equipment can do an injector coil test and actually test the injectors' solenoids. And a injector drop test can check any flow restrictions to determine if on the rail cleaning is necessary and how well it did after cleaning.
The first step to prevent the problem is to always use a tier II gas. I always run Shell since it's the only tier II available in my area. Then maybe 1-3 times a year run a bottle of Techron or maybe Shell or gumout. I think Shell and gumout might be the same.
It never hurts to run a bottle FI cleaner that is PEA detergent based every 6 months or so. PEA is the only gasoline detergent that effectively cleans carbon deposits from everything from FI to intake valves and DOES NOT LEAVE ITS OWN RESIDUE BEHIND--this is critically important..
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