Does fuel injector cleaner work?

[bulkwarrior]

I've been adding a bottle of these fuel injector cleaner&upper cylinder lubricator additives once every 5k miles, but don't know if it really works or not. It's becoming a religious practice. . Can someone tell me if this thing really makes a difference? Thanks.

Also wondering if the oil additive like slick-50 work. I've been tempted but haven't really bought any.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by bulkwarrior

I've been adding a bottle of these fuel injector cleaner&upper cylinder lubricator additives once every 5k miles, but don't know if it really works or not. It's becoming a religious practice. . Can someone tell me if this thing really makes a difference? Thanks.

Also wondering if the oil additive like slick-50 work. I've been tempted but haven't really bought any.

A fuel system cleaner like Techron every once in a while can be helpful, but it is best to fill up regularly with fresh gas with good additives.

Why do you think you need Slick-50? I would never add anything like that to my engine.

[tmv]

^2nd. I put in a bottle of "Techron Concentrate" every 6 mos or so.

[Skyline]

BMW has recommended the regualr use of Techron for as long as I can remember.

But there are also more agressive means of cleaning injectors. You can use a shop-air powered fuel injector cleaning rig that allows the car to run on pure injector cleaner. When a car is exhibiting drivability problems related to injectors, this type of cleaning can help. When you're getting ready to start replacing injectors, this kind of cleaning can sometimes save the day. I have an OTC set-up like this, and I have seen it work miracles on some cars...on others; no change. But given cost of a can of cleaner is about $10, and the whole process takes about 45 min; it's often worth the effort to try. BTW, in addition to the cleaning rig, you also need a good fuel injection test kit, which comes with all the necessary adapters to hook up to various cars. Most good shops should have a set-up like this.

[stevekat]

I have actually noticed changes after fairly concentrated Techron on cars that I have not known to have had a cleaning in a long time.

[killcrap]

Originally Posted by Skyline

BMW has recommended the regualr use of Techron for as long as I can remember.

But there are also more agressive means of cleaning injectors. You can use a shop-air powered fuel injector cleaning rig that allows the car to run on pure injector cleaner. When a car is exhibiting drivability problems related to injectors, this type of cleaning can help. When you're getting ready to start replacing injectors, this kind of cleaning can sometimes save the day. I have an OTC set-up like this, and I have seen it work miracles on some cars...on others; no change. But given cost of a can of cleaner is about $10, and the whole process takes about 45 min; it's often worth the effort to try. BTW, in addition to the cleaning rig, you also need a good fuel injection test kit, which comes with all the necessary adapters to hook up to various cars. Most good shops should have a set-up like this.

The car would most likely not start or run if you can on pure injector cleaner. Its usually a 150-200ml cleaner mixture with 600ml fuel from the tank.

[killcrap]

Originally Posted by bulkwarrior

I've been adding a bottle of these fuel injector cleaner&upper cylinder lubricator additives once every 5k miles, but don't know if it really works or not. It's becoming a religious practice. . Can someone tell me if this thing really makes a difference? Thanks.

Also wondering if the oil additive like slick-50 work. I've been tempted but haven't really bought any.

It is usually recommended to perform a fuel injection service every 15k miles. If the vehicle is due for an oil change, it should be performed prior to an oil change as the cleaner and fuel will enter the crankcase due to blowby pressures of the combustion process.

After the fuel injection service change the oil and determine if it is advisable to add the techron mixture now, or alert the owner if not advised to be performed during this visit. If the vehicle requires refueling(below 1/4 tank) it is advisable to add the bottle of techron mixture now. If the tank is above 1/4 tank, it is advisable to wait until the vehicles next refueling.

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by killcrap

The car would most likely not start or run if you can on pure injector cleaner. Its usually a 150-200ml cleaner mixture with 600ml fuel from the tank.

I'm not talking about Techron here. This stuff is designed to run exlusively...NO fuel from tank:

Fuel System OTC 7000A OTC7000A OTC TOOLS 7000A - Fuel Injection Canister Cleaner, Case

The procedure on hook up varies from car to car. On some, like my Toyota 4Runner, you can pull the fuel pump relay, pinch the return line, and you're set. On my Infiniti, you need to disconnect the electrical connection at the fuel pump (on the top of the fuel tank). Part of the procedure is to measure fuel pressure at the rail, and match that pressure with shop air. The first step is to run the car with no fuel supply until it sputters and dies, to exhaust any fuel in the system. Then you hook up the cleaner tank. So you definately do NOT want any fuel coming from the tank. As it is, the car will run about a half hour on just the one can of cleaner.

The car will run fine on pure injector cleaner...but I do not advise doing this inside a garage; the exhaust can be a bit smelly. I have not had any need to try this on my X5, but I've used my kit, (OTC-7448 + OTC-6550PRO), on about a dozen different vehicles; most with noticable improvements...a few no change. Keep in mind that ALL of the vehicles that were cleaned had (at least minor) existing drivability problem. Some...(unfortunately like my 4Runner,) needed a few new injectors. Others had other issues. This is pretty much the exact same thing that the multi-thousand dollar fuel system cleaning rigs do; just a little less automated.

Not as good as pulling injectors and cleaning then on a bench machine (much $$$$, but you can clean them ultrasonically and you can also observe spray patterns), but this OTC rig also cleans the rail and intake areas.

[killcrap]

Originally Posted by Skyline

I'm not talking about Techron here. This stuff is designed to run exlusively...NO fuel from tank:

Fuel System OTC 7000A OTC7000A OTC TOOLS 7000A - Fuel Injection Canister Cleaner, Case

The procedure on hook up varies from car to car. On some, like my Toyota 4Runner, you can pull the fuel pump relay, pinch the return line, and you're set. On my Infiniti, you need to disconnect the electrical connection at the fuel pump (on the top of the fuel tank). Part of the procedure is to measure fuel pressure at the rail, and match that pressure with shop air. The first step is to run the car with no fuel supply until it sputters and dies, to exhaust any fuel in the system. Then you hook up the cleaner tank. So you definately do NOT want any fuel coming from the tank. As it is, the car will run about a half hour on just the one can of cleaner.

The car will run fine on pure injector cleaner...but I do not advise doing this inside a garage; the exhaust can be a bit smelly. I have not had any need to try this on my X5, but I've used my kit, (OTC-7448 + OTC-6550PRO), on about a dozen different vehicles; most with noticable improvements...a few no change. Keep in mind that ALL of the vehicles that were cleaned had (at least minor) existing drivability problem. Some...(unfortunately like my 4Runner,) needed a few new injectors. Others had other issues. This is pretty much the exact same thing that the multi-thousand dollar fuel system cleaning rigs do; just a little less automated.

Not as good as pulling injectors and cleaning then on a bench machine (much $$$$, but you can clean them ultrasonically and you can also observe spray patterns), but this OTC rig also cleans the rail and intake areas.

I guess I was wrong to assume you were talking about Techron, since the first thing you posted was

"BMW has recommended the regualr use of Techron for as long as I can remember."

Although you mention the OTC "aftermarket" cleaner, BMW has only recommended its Original Fuel Injector Cleaner. Originally developed by Chevron for General Motors, and repackaged for BMW

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by killcrap

Although you mention the OTC "aftermarket" cleaner, BMW has only recommended its Original Fuel Injector Cleaner. Originally developed by Chevron for General Motors, and repackaged for BMW

Is that what you were talking about that needs to be mixed with fuel and used in a cleaning rig???

Or is that a dump-in-the-tank once in a while type cleaner, (like Techron)?