I was reading the thread about when your gas light dings....and the pros and cons to filling up a tank from 0 gallons remaining to filling up every time you hit 1/8th or 1/4. Sediment build up....clogging filter etc...

How often do you guyz use fuel system cleaner or fuel injection cleaner such as Chevron, STP, Prestone...etc.


I use Chevron with Techron fuel system cleaner (the big one that treats up to 21 gallons...like 9.99-10.99) every 3-4 fillups which is about every 800-1000 miles.

Ive used this stuff (either Chevron or the STP fuel injection cleaners) on almost every vehicle I own or have owned.


I also just bought a new bike and will most likely use the stuff on that sucker every 1000 miles or so.

 

I usually do it at the oil changes and have used a variety...Chevron, Outlaw, Lucas. I don't really know if it does anything or not. It seems to run a little smoother with the Lucas, but that may just be my imagination.

 

Good topic! Actually I use the Chevron with Techron about every oil change or so. The reason I chose this brand was after I attended the SAE auto convention at Cobo Hall in Detroit back in 2000. It was with my instructor and some class mates from my auto class at the community college, and they had a demstration of fuel cleaners. They had a bunch of dirty injectors for the demonstration, and you could see that it really did free up the gunk on the injectors. They had some other "Brand X" bottles that were not doing as good of a job, so I can't say who's does not work or does. But I know Chevron does work, and thats why I use it.

 

I currently use "Sea Foam" at each oil change. I was at one time using berryman chemtool, but I had heard that it can cause sensor problems with the emissions stuff.
I also run an RX7, and started using the Sea Foam from reading some rather lengthy topics concerning carbon lock and such with the rotories. I know that using the Berryman Chemtool in my old 93 Dakota (5.2L) that at 208k miles on the original engine, I was still getting 15-16 MPG highway

 

I have used marvel mystery oil in both the oil and gas tank for some time now and have never had any fuel delivery related problems in any vehicle I have ever owned.

I put it in with every oil change and through the gas tank every other month.

 

On the other hand, I have never used any of this stuff and have never had a problem with any vehicle I have owned. Got rid of my Ford with 180K miles on it. No problems. Just change the fluids, no additives needed.

 

Very true as long as arent pouring the gas in from a rusty old can or sucking it from the oldest gas station around you should be getting clean enough fuel to not have any major build up to need all the stuff they try to sell us.

 

Chevron Techron was (and is) a very good fuel cleaner and they won awards from SAE when it was invented back in the early 1980s.

However, the seventeen year US Patent on Techron has run out, and most of the cheap fuel injector cleaners are copycating the Chevron formula. The cheap fuel injection cleaners are about the same as Techron, which means even the cheap $1.25 Walmart stuff is now comparable.

One of the best fuel injection cleaners available is the 'Kleen' two bottle set at Napa Stores which is also the newest on the market, but high at about $12 for two bottles.

Another good cleaner is the clear bottle of Gumout with the honey colored fluid inside. This is the 'Regane' version of Gumout, not the original white bottle Gumout which is only so-so, or the grey bottle.

All fuel injection cleaners work somewhat.
There is something to be said for not sticking with just one brand, and alternating between 2-4 brands. What one cleaner cannot dissolve, another may.

A group of automakers lead by BMW has demanded better cleaners in gasoline, leading to the 'New Tier' gasoline standard that has more than the EPA required minimum.

 

Marvel Mystery Oil is awsome. I have used it on both my vehicles and cycle. My cycle (79 CBX) had a hicup when hit'n the throttle hard. I tried some stuff from the bike dealer because they told me I had a clogged jet but it didn't have any effect. I put some MMO in my fuel and road it for 5 mailes and put it up for the night. Then next day I came out to ride and it hicup'd once then gave a shudder and poof the hicup was gone for good. Another one I have used and really like is Barryman's B-12. If you have ever used carb cleaners such as STP or any of the others, try a little test. Get some B-12 and so a side by side on the ability to disolve gunk. You will be suprised. The B-12 is like a hot pan to butter, the gunk just starts disolving emmidiately. As for the other cleaners, they take a lot more spray'n.


Hoss