| Livin |
Wondering if using injector cleaner is reccomended... if yes, how often and which brands (does it matter - someone told me they are all about the same anyway)?
thx |
|
|
| ekaxel |
| If you use a good quality gasoline, an occasional tank of premium, you should never need it.... |
|
|
| Eric L. |
Yes theoretically if you use quality fuels (i.e. from a big name station that has high turnover) you should never need fuel injector cleaner. But, I don't think using it once in a while (say every 5000 miles) is a terrible idea either.
The ones that I've heard good things about are Chevron Techron Concentrate (not Progard, the Concentrate) and BG-44K. Techron is available at any auto store, BG-44K is sold by some repair shops and often also on ebay. |
|
|
| Kris |
| I am trying to use Chevron only, though sometimes I go for Texaco, QT, Shell. They all have additives. My car has 77k miles and runs like a champ! I do not believe you need any cleaner, but as Eric said, if you do intend to use one, go for Chevron Techron Concentrate. I do not trust any other brand. |
|
|
| augustus |
Our Corolla is over the 100K mark and had some knocking sounds when the engine hasn't reached operating temps. I placed Chevron after each oil change and is now running smoothly after about 2 applications.
IMHO, these should only be used for high mileage engines. |
|
|
| Stoker |
I have had a number of cars over the years and have never had to use any gas additive's in them. I have always bought gas from one of the majors, more often than not from Shell, and have had no problems with fuel injector cleanliness or any other fuel issue.
The majors fuel companies do a lot of research in their fuels and we get the benefit of that research in the fuel use. |
|
|
| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
I am trying to use Chevron only, though sometimes I go for Texaco, QT, Shell. They all have additives. My car has 77k miles and runs like a champ! I do not believe you need any cleaner, but as Eric said, if you do intend to use one, go for Chevron Techron Concentrate. I do not trust any other brand.
I also use Chevron, almost exclusively. Seems they always come out on top whenever there is an independent study on quality gasoline.
37k miles on my MO, and I believe only 2 fill-ups were NOT Chevron.
My wife's car sees other stations occasionally, but it's a '98 prizm, so who cares? :P |
|
|
| Kris |
My other car, the FX35 has 52k miles and mostly uses Texaco gasoline. No problems with fuel injectors either.
Oh, and the dealer tried to sell me several times "throttle body, fuel injectors and fuel lines cleaning" service. I think it would run me somewhere in the vicinity of $400. What a rip-off on a new car! |
|
|
| njjoe |
Livin-
Putting a $4 bottle of fuel system cleaner in the tank every now and then is one thing, but spending $100+ at the dealers for a fuel system cleaning service is another. If you are using a quality (Top-Tier) gasoline you need neither. The detergents in the gasoline with keep the system clean. The $4 bottle can be justified, the $100+ dealer service can not.
-njjoe |
|
|
| Tyler_Canada |
| My dealer put a $4 bottle in everyone other oil change, so about once every 8000 miles. I didn't even notice for a very long time. |
|
|
| SIM |
These companies make a fortune in making guys feel better. (Because women usually don't refer to their engine as a pet like us guys :p)
Whatever makes you feel better but you know, it costs me $2 more per tank to fill up with premium. It makes me feel that I get better milleage, better performance and a cleaner engine than the other guy. Is it true? As true as if I don't put a flea collar on my dog it will catch fleas. :2: |
|
|
| mikeyrider |
quote:
Originally posted by njjoe
Livin-
If you are using a quality (Top-Tier) gasoline you need neither.
-njjoe
www.toptiergas.com
Good information on this site; the brands included change from time to time, but Chevron, Shell have been "top tier" brands along. |
|
|
| Pat03MO |
| I go with Gumout every oil change. Just got two bottles today at Checker Auto for 99 cents each with a coupon. Probably doesn't do squat, but I feel like it's cheap insurance. |
|
|
| Livin |
| I figured as much as what everyone here is saying... anyone know where Costco gets their gas? I've been using their 91 octane. |
|
|
| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by Livin
I figured as much as what everyone here is saying... anyone know where Costco gets their gas? I've been using their 91 octane.
Costco gets their gas from the same place that the other stations do, except the tanker driver doesn't add the big name additives (its like one bottle of the secret ingredient) to each tankerful of fuel. So, same gas, without the additives. Costco gas is probably fine to use, but I'd run techron concentrate every so often just in case.
As for the idea that super unleaded has more additives than regular, thats true for some stations but not for others. Top Tier stations are required to have a high level of detergents in all grades of gasoline, so buying super won't make your engine any cleaner with those brands. |
|
|
| Kris |
The true is in 99.99% cases the dealer is taking you for a ride.......expensive one....I have never, ever in my life had to clean anything fuel related....
maybe I was just a lucky one...;) |
|
|
| UncaDanno |
Marvel Mystery Oil. Coupla ounces every tank or so. It's a good stabilizer, so the rotten-turpentine-smelling fuel they sell here (INCLUDING Shell at times!) doesn't really go south.
I also add a couple of ounces to the five-gallon containers I have for the garden tractors and mowers.
Use it instead of WD-40 as penetrating oil. |
|
|
| mikeyrider |
quote:
Originally posted by Eric L.
As for the idea that super unleaded has more additives than regular, thats true for some stations but not for others. Top Tier stations are required to have a high level of detergents in all grades of gasoline, so buying super won't make your engine any cleaner with those brands.
It used to be true that premium had more additives, but a few years ago EPA changed the rules to require them in all grades. Problem is that, in the opinion of several carmakers, the EPA standard does not require sufficient additives to keep injectors clean. The "top tier" standard was created by a number of auto manufacturers to encourage use of sufficient additives. "Top tier" is not a government standard, but a standard created by automakers that some [but by no means all] fuel retailers agree to meet in all their grades of gas. www.toptiergas.com Some "off-brands," like Quick Trip, meet the standard, but most that do are major brands. |
|
|
| Enforcer |
| Ok so there I was at a Wal-Mart and needed to refuel but wait a minute, the gas isn't flowing, hmm I punched the octane button whats this, now it's asking me if I want mileage booster? Oh and a voice comes over the speaker too telling me how great it is...now where is that NO button...:banghead: |
|
|
| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by Enforcer
Ok so there I was at a Wal-Mart and needed to refuel but wait a minute, the gas isn't flowing, hmm I punched the octane button whats this, now it's asking me if I want mileage booster? Oh and a voice comes over the speaker too telling me how great it is...now where is that NO button...:banghead:
So now Walmart is charging for something you basically get for free at every other big name gas station? |
|
|
| njjoe |
"Push A Button. Tune-Up Your Engine"
Enforcer-
So, if you push the button does a guy come out and change your plugs and replace the airfilter? That's what I expect out of a tune-up.
Out of curiosity, do you recall how much more per gallon it was for the "mileage booster"?
-njjoe |
|
|
| Kris |
Enforcer,
are you serious? If it really is the true Walmart lost what ever they had with me. And they did not have much, I mean respect.... |
|
|
| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by Kris
Enforcer,
are you serious? If it really is the true Walmart lost what ever they had with me. And they did not have much, I mean respect....
Well they still sell Mobil One for a pretty good price in those 5 qt jugs. |
|
|
| Enforcer |
Yes Eric, that was the Wal-Mart in Auburn.
No Joe, don't remember.
Yes Kris, I'm not kidding.
Swiped my card, pressed the credit button, lifted the handle, pressed the octane button, put the nozzle in the MO, pulled the trigger and ... nothing. It actually interrupts the process you are so familiar with and do by rote. Made me mad. Had to grab the throw and go and take a pic. |
|
|
| Corin |
My god. As sick and wrong as that is, I bet they're RAKING in the money on that feature. Probably twice the price (at least) of getting your own bottle of the stuff, and I bet so many people are doing it.
Never underestimate the ability for WalMart to prey on the idiots of the world. |
|
|
| Eric L. |
quote:
Originally posted by jkyzar
All gas burns and leave residue/carbon no matter what grade 87 to 93 same no matter what brand there isn't enough detergent in any of it to keep your fuel system totally clean periodic cleaning is recommended we use a total cleaning package From BG http://www.bgprod.com/products/fuelair.html It works amazingly!
Dealer locator http://www.bgfindashop.com/locator/index.php
But their are others that work well also. :1:
Geez, you sound like a salesman for BG. I admit I hate their advertising, making it sound like if you do not have these services done, your car will break down, which is of course not true.
For what its worth, the Texas Car Doctor (Skeeter Lothringer) who also hawks BG products says that BG-44K, a very good fuel cleaner, uses the same ingredient as Chevron Techron Concentrate but even more concentrated. |
|
|
| nissanlove |
| i do a BG tune( can of CF5 and a bottle of fuel system drier) at every other oil change. the dealership i work at does it at 24 000km maintnence interval. works quite well as do most of their other products. Redline full synthetic motor oil and BG fluids for everything else(other than CVT fluid) and the MO runs like a champ :) |
|
|
| njjoe |
quote:
Originally posted by jkyzar
we use a total cleaning package From BG
Who is we?
-njjoe |
|
|
|
