Fuel system treatments, a waste of money?

[Scratch1SL]

I would like to know if these treatments are truly needed... they claim to restore lost power, clean the injectors and also protect the whole system... aren't today's cleaner burning gasolines doing this already? I usually always purchase Petro-Canada because I was told by a mechanic that it is a superior quality gas and it supposedly burns cleaner therefore keeping your system free from buildups. What do you all think of these products? Are they just another way to get us to spend our money

[Jeff P]

It's entirely possible that fuel system cleaners or treatments or fuel injector cleaners are a waste of money. Much like oil additives, a legit opinion is that the company making the oil or gas is putting the additives in for you so you don't need extras. That said, I get a bottle of Techron 2 or 3 times a year and put it in the tank. Never had any fuel injection problems, going on 163,000 miles. The car always starts too, no matter how cold. Not bad for a car pushing 12 years. I'll continue to do it unless I see or hear some convincing arguement that it's a total waste. And even if it is a total waste, it's only $20 a year so it's not a big deal.

jeff

[Luke]

I've been adding 4 ounces of MMO to my fuel everytime I fill up. On my old 1969 Volve (just retired it last year w/500,000 miles on it) and my Isuzu Trooper ('86) w/ 235,000 miles on it) I installed an Oil Inverter which trickle dripped the MMO into the intake manifold. The purpose was to lubricating the top cylinder.

[wolfman]

Unlike oil treatments "some" fuel treatments are indeed beneficial. No matter how high a "quality" of fuel you buy, WATER will find it's way into the tank and remain there until either the tank is drained and dried OR a chemical additive is introduced along with the fuel to suspend it in the gas to allow it to be pumped out by the fuel system and burned. Water and gas DON'T MIX. You must introduce an alcohol based solution to allow the water to be suspeneded and removed. Gasoline even at it's highest refinement level is far from "pure" and it makes a great solvent BUT LOUSY lubricant. That being said, as gallon after gallon (litre after litre for you Canadian folks) is pumped past the fuel injectors day after day at all types of operating temps and conditions, a gradual deterioration of the fuel system at the injectors and throttle body is to be expected. The OCCASIONAL addition of a fuel additive with solvents designed to remove deposits left by the impurities of the fuel, commonly referred to as "varnish", WILL help to open up injector passages and free up the "mechanical" portion of the injectors exposed to fuel flow. Ideally the product used should state on the label "cleans and lubricates, removes water" 1 bottle in a full tank at every oil change being PLENTY as a preventative maintenance approach. I might add that at -11 F this morning, ANY water in my fuel system would have been ICE. Possibly preventing the car from starting as water/ice settles to the bottom of the fuel tank/lines and if allowed to accumulate and freeze, does a fine job of plugging the lines or freezing the pump. Then you go nowhere until you can warm the fuel system above freezing. I personally use Techron...just added because I knew someone would ask...

[lostdesigns]

i wish i were you wolfman

[Twin_Cam]

So that 'Restore' stuff I see advertised in Car and Driver doesn't really work? I thought that was an oil additive. May you put it into the gas when you change the oil. I'm confused

[SLeepr]

Oil treatments= bad
Fuel treatments = good

I'm with Wolfman, Techron is the way to go. I'm only pumping Chevron gas into my car now, also.

[David 93 SL2m]

I add either one bottle of Techron Complete Fuel System or half a bottle of Redline's version around each oil change. When ready for a gasoline fill-up, drive to the gasoline station, pour in the fuel system additive, then fill up the gasoline tank. Drive as far as you can within reason on this tankful before refilling again. Here is what the two fuel system additives look like:

[David 93 SL2m]

Redline makes good products.

I forgot to include the hyperlink to the Redline Fuel System Cleaner: Complete Fuel System Cleaner.

Redline also has a product that, "Disperses equal amounts of water in fuel and reduces the freeze point of an equal amount of water to 0°F. Treats 250 gallons and can be used in gasoline or diesel fuel. Contains no harmful alcohols. Also provides excellent fuel lubrication in diesel and gasoline engines." Read about it here: Water Remover & Antifreeze and RL AntiGel

Here is what it looks like, although I don't remember seeing it on the shelves at the stores:

[wolfman]

Just as an added FYI: The "harmful alcohols" that some fuel system additives refer to ...a problem for 70's and most 80's vintage cars and diesels ONLY. The seals in the fuel systems of these cars could be deteriorated by METHANOL (alcohol) Modern fuel systems are sealed with better seals unaffected by methanol. Most gasolines actually CONTAIN some ETHANOL (hence the "ethyl" gas of old) most fuel system cleaners contain Ethanol, Isopropal Alcohol, Methanol and or a mixure of two or all of them as part of their "proprietary mixures".(AKA "secret formulas"

[Bigsmoker]

i use restore in my 94 single cam since 70,000 miles or so at 110,000 i have no negative problems to report

[mr weather]

Originally posted by wolfman
Most gasolines actually CONTAIN some ETHANOL (hence the "ethyl" gas of old) most fuel system cleaners contain Ethanol, Isopropal Alcohol, Methanol and or a mixure of two or all of them as part of their "proprietary mixures".(AKA "secret formulas"

I thought the "ethyl" nomenclature was because of the tetraethyl lead additive to boost octane?

Here's a question: Even though my VUE is only 4 months old with 6700 km, would it be good preventative maintanance to use such a product now?

[mkosem]

hmm, if I don't put fuel cleaner in at least every 3rd tank my gas mileage go's down the hole. Damn TBI injection!

--Matt

[unkle bik]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mr weather
[B]I thought the "ethyl" nomenclature was because of the tetraethyl lead additive to boost octane

I believe the "ethyl" he is referring to is ethanol, or grain alcohol. The same alcohol found in your beer. Often added as octane enhancer, solvent, or the compound used in reformulated gasoline for the winter months.

Too bad we can't design vehicles to run on this "renewable resource". We then can tell the Arabs to go to hell with their oil (no renewable), and let them beg for us to sell them food. (& ethanol!)