BMW Fuel System Cleaner is Techron

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by STALKER

Anyone use Lubro Molly?

I have used their Jectron and Ventil Sauber in my old e30 325e and my current e36 325i. I actually performed the "hot soak" in the 325e where you remove the vacuum line at intake manifold and actually let it suck the cleaner up. It made me feel like I was doing something good for the car, almost like giving it angioplasty or something, but I can't honestly guarantee that it actually did anyhting to help the engine.

I am a little hesitant to add anyhting extra into the tank of the X5. I use Chevron gas almost exclusively and I feel that is good enough. The 4.4 V8 has enough issues on it's own, I don't really want to do anything to increase the chances of anything else going wrong. I still agree with JCL that using a high quality gas with good detergent on a daily basis is the best way to insure that you won't have an unusual build up of deposists in the first place. If you never give the desposits a chance to build up, then you wont have to worry about the concentrated fuel system cleaner breaking these deposits loose into your engine. Sure, some tankfulls of gas you get will have more detergents than others, but overall good quality gas like Chevron with Techron should do enough to keep your engine as clean as it should be.

I will say that I looked back at an invoice from the dealer when they did my Inspection 2 at 65k and there was $12.95 charge where they added a bottle of fuel system cleaner, which was most likely the Techron. Apparently BMW doesn't see anyhting wrong with adding this every 30K. However, we all now their thoughts on lifetime fluids and oil change intervals, so I am not sure how much I would read into that.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by NextGen

I don't recall the exact steps but I think the mechanic said something about doing a pressurized flush on the engine (but don't quote me on that as its been 2 years since I had the conversation with him).

I did keep the receipt. Here is what it says:

Installed 82 14 0 413 341 :FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER [email protected]
ENGINE DECARBON COMPLETE
Labor: 137.95 Parts: 32.00 Total: 169.95

Based on the receipt it looks like they charged me 137.95 to add two bottles of cleaner!

Sorry to say this (and I hope I am wrong), but it looks to me like they charged you $32 for $14 worth of fuel system cleaner. Then had the balls to charge you another $130 to pour it into the gas tank.

I would get another dealer.

-------

I looked further and I see that this is a 'legitimate' service.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

Sorry to say this (and I hope I am wrong), but it looks to me like they charged you $32 for $14 worth of fuel system cleaner. Then had the balls to charge you another $130 to pour it into the gas tank.

I would get another dealer.

-------

I looked further and I see that this is a 'legitimate' service.

It's not as simple as people would think. The dealer is NOT dumping the fuel system cleaners into the gas tank, like you would do with regular cleaners. Noticed that they charged him $130+ for labor. That's because the dealer tech had to disconnect the fuel line and connect the fuel system cleaners directly to the fuel rails and run the engine directly from those bottles, without mixing with the gas in his tank. This is the super concentrated stuffs.

[StanF18]

Originally Posted by driverX5

I use a fuel system cleaner every few thousand miles. I use to use Redline, but I cannot find it in stores anymore. My question is, can you use the techron with Shell gas, or is it better to use it with Chevron?

I've used Techron additive with Shell gas because there are no Chevron stations in my vicinity. My X has not blown up yet, so I guess it's OK....

On a related note, I don't claim to be an expert on this issue, but isn't it also possible that BMW advises against fuel additives because they can't control what TYPE of brand folks will pour into their tanks? Obviously if you're using a lower quality additive BMW doesn't want to (nor should they) foot the bill if something goes wrong with the fuel system.

[mrbmwx5]

Originally Posted by dkl

It's not as simple as people would think. The dealer is NOT dumping the fuel system cleaners into the gas tank, like you would do with regular cleaners. Noticed that they charged him $130+ for labor. That's because the dealer tech had to disconnect the fuel line and connect the fuel system cleaners directly to the fuel rails and run the engine directly from those bottles, without mixing with the gas in his tank. This is the super concentrated stuffs.

100% with DKL.

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by dkl

It's not as simple as people would think. The dealer is NOT dumping the fuel system cleaners into the gas tank, like you would do with regular cleaners. Noticed that they charged him $130+ for labor. That's because the dealer tech had to disconnect the fuel line and connect the fuel system cleaners directly to the fuel rails and run the engine directly from those bottles, without mixing with the gas in his tank. This is the super concentrated stuffs.

I did a little more research and looks like prices are all over the place for this service. I read in one place that it is a 'ten minute' service. And after checking a bit more, it reminded me that my Mazda dealer trying to get me to cough up $400. I told him no.

It seems to be a good service if you are having problems, and a waste of money if you are not.

[primetime]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

I did a little more research and looks like prices are all over the place for this service. I read in one place that it is a 'ten minute' service. And after researching a bit, it reminded me that my Mazda dealer trying to get me to cough up $400. I told him no.

It seems to be a good service if you are having problems, and a waste of money if you are not.

It takes longer then 10 minutes.. Took about an hour and half for mine...there was no down time either...It was on the machine for that long...

[X5 Meister]

And evidently Saab Fuel Cleaner is really just BMW Fuel Cleaner!

[acitydweller]

i make techron part of my maintenance for all my vehicles.

[X5 Meister]

SIB 130506

SI B 13 05 06
Fuel SystemsSeptember 2006
Technical Service
SUBJECT
BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus

MODEL
All

SITUATION
Recent field experiences have shown a significant increase in various drivability complaints due to excessive carbon deposits in engine's combustion chambers, on the intake valves and fuel injectors.
The overall rise in carbon deposits accumulation is generally attributed to poor gasoline quality, namely, low level of cleaning additives and fuel contamination.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
Combustion chamber deposit formation is a by-product of the gasoline burning process. Fuel injector and intake valve deposits may become less troublesome with the recently introduced Top Tier Detergent Gasoline deposit control standards, which are exceeding the detergent requirements imposed by the EPA since 1995.
However, vehicles that do not exclusively use a Top Tier Detergent Gasoline, or are regularly driven in severe service conditions, such as stop-and-go traffic, high ambient temperatures, and high altitude can experience performance problems caused by intake system and combustion chamber deposits.
The most common customer complaints may include:
FUEL INJECTORS
Deposits at the injector's tip can impact fuel flow, upsetting the air/fuel mixture ratio.
Symptoms: Hesitation or stumble during acceleration, even loss of power. Poor fuel efficiency. Increased emissions of HC and CO. "Service Engine Soon" light illumination due to intermittent misfire faults, or lean mixture adaptation values
INTAKE VALVES:
Deposits at the valves and on the intake manifold ports can absorb fuel during the warm-up phase, leaning out the air/fuel mixture ratio. Carbon build-up may disturb mixture flow at low throttle conditions/idle speeds.
Symptoms: Poor drivability, loss of power, unstable/rough idle, increased emissions of HC, CO and NOx. "Service Engine Soon" light illumination due to intermittent misfire faults.
COMBUSTION CHAMBER:
Combustion Chamber Deposit Interference, or CCDI, occurs when there is a contact between carbon deposits on the piston crown and cylinder head. The noise can be confused or misdiagnosed as ping, knock or other noises that could indicate a mechanical failure. CCDI occurs first as a cold start noise that can fade as the engine warms to operating temperature. The noise will reoccur at the next cold start. As deposits build, there is an increase in compression temperature that may cause pre-ignition detonations.
Symptoms: Knocking, pinging, run-on, poor acceleration, octane requirement increase, increased emissions of NOx, engine idle speed surges.
Depending on the manufacturer, fuels may contain various additives such as: oxidation and corrosion inhibitors, metal deactivators, emulsifiers, anti-icing agents & dyes, plus they are required to include some form of an intake system deposit control package. Unfortunately, not all fuels are created equal, and some additive packages are not effective enough to maintain integrity of the intake systems in high performance engines, or engines operating in severe environmental conditions. Even worse, the intake system deposit control additives in some fuels may actually contribute to the combustion chamber deposits accumulation, and to the problems associated with those deposits: knock, run-on and increased emissions of oxides of nitrogen.
RECOMMENDATION
BMW recommends using TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline of minimum octane rating of AKI 91 and with alcohol content of less then 10% by volume (or any other oxygenates with up to 2.8% of oxygen by weight). Only the exclusive usage of TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline provides the full benefit of reducing deposits formation. For more information related to TOP TIER Gasoline refer to SI B13 02 06.
If the TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is unavailable, we recommend BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus (PN 82 14 0 413 341) be added to the gas tank. For optimum cleaning and deposits control, add a 20 fl. oz. bottle every 3,000 miles when refueling.
Regular use of BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus can help address carbon deposits related symptoms listed above. By removing these deposits, an engine may experience restored power, performance and fuel efficiency, a smoother idle running, lower emissions, and reduced octane requirement.
BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus uses polyether amine TECHRON® based technology developed and patented by Chevron. BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus has proven to clean up deposits in fuel injectors, ports & intake valves and reduces the harmful effects of combustion chamber deposits. It helps restore performance lost due to deposit build-up.
Chevron and BMW have run an extensive "no harm" tests with polyether amine technology. When used as directed, it will not harm catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, or any other mechanical components of the engine, or fuel delivery system.
The effectiveness of the additive depends on its presence in the gasoline in large concentrations for short periods of time. One treatment is usually sufficient, but a second treatment (one 20 oz bottle per each, consecutive full tank of gas) may give additional benefits. To keep your fuel intake system clean, we recommend usage at every 3000 miles.
Additionally, vehicle's fuel sending units equipped with silver plated resistor card/contacts are especially vulnerable to attacks by elemental sulfur and/or hydrogen sulfide found in fuels. Adding BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus immediately upon noticing erratic fuel gauge behavior may, in many cases, restore proper performance due to the additive's ability to remove the harmful sulfur compounds from the sending unit's contact surface. Additionally, BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus can help protect the fuel gauge from future malfunctioning by coating all metal surfaces of the fuel system.


BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus.
PN 82 14 0 413 341,
1 bottle, 20 fl. oz.
Ordering in multiples of 6 bottles per case.
PARTS INFORMATION
Part Number
Description
Quantity
82 14 0 413 341
Fuel System Cleaner Plus; 20 fl.oz. bottle
1
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Because carbon deposit build-up is related to fuel quality, it cannot be considered as a defect in vehicle's materials or workmanship. Consequently, usage of BMW Group Fuel System Cleaner Plus is not covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty or maintenance plan.