Fuel additive?

Techron. Some port fuel-injected Volvo's in the 90's had a cold-start problem caused by carbon-deposits on the back of the valves absorbing too much of the the initial fuel charge/spray. One bottle would remove the carbon, clear the injector nozzles and correct the issue.

 

Using Techron every 2-3 k.. Cant say i noticed much...

 

Thanks for the comments guys always interesting discussion

 

Has anyone figured out a way to tell if these additives actually do anything?

Like other than just "I can feel a difference"?

 

or you just buy gas that has detergents

yeah I figured out it was $10 to gain nothing, and did not magically restore the deteriorated basket filters from high miles inside of my fuel injectors, nor did the can perform ultrasonic cleaning, testing, and flow matching

 

To me fuel additives are same as an addiction of also using oil additives such as Motorkote. I dump stuff in both holes. I also change my air filters on April fools day each year. I’m that guy. I have no proof, but I feel better!

 

Yep... got about 10 cases in the garage right now. Been using it in my 07 since new. Not sure if related but i've never experienced the "taco tick" i've read so much about here... truck runs like a sewing machine.

 

Its the engine cleaning itself. Read up.

 

Nope. In all the years I've been here it's just feelings. Oil feels better, my granddad says to do this, etc. Nobody has proof of anything except cold air intake.
A guy dyno'd several times, with stock, an aftermarket and no air cleaner at all. Guess which won. Stock. People spend money to feel better, not because it actually works.

 

Amsoil Pi.

 

If the intake valves are covered with carbon do you really want to knock any chunks loose? A chunk of carbon can easily get stuck between the valve face and seat and hold the valve open. The only way to safely clean carbon deposits off the valves is to pull the intake and do it manually with a media blaster. 15 years ago when VW/Audi engines started showing up everywhere with coked up valves we did it by hand with a pick and cleaning solvents. Nobody outside the dealers had a media blasting setup, we had to get it done with what we had.

I've seen Seafoam ruin brand new fuel pumps

I've seen fuel tank additives melt the insulation between the windings in fuel injectors and short them out

Best way to keep valves clean is to get out on the highway frequently and don't baby the engine

 

sure we can go with that if you want

 

given that it's DI injectors that end up having issues quickly, not port, probably no.
If you're worried about port injectors, find a spare set and have it rebuilt to swap in. Probably no sooner than 100k mi.

 

Not worried about any of it actually.

 

Yeah, I did find some things and it is what I said. A previous video supposedly explaining things has been taken down probably because those responding said he didn't seem to really know how or what. If you have a link to something else that is different feel free to post up, I am all open to it.

 

Or maybe better phrased "old habits are hard to break". I remember when the Bosch fuel injection system started to become commonplace, and the injectors were highly prone to carbon buildup.

My E30 BMW was the worst, needing an annual soak cleaning where they would suck this BG444 fuel injector cleaner into the intake manifold and let it soak for a few hours. And in between the annual cleaning, you ran a few bottles of Techron to keep the carbon buildup from getting out of hand. I guess maybe it's not as critical with modern fuel injection systems, but I still do it anyway.

 

If you need fuel cleaner, something is wrong. If you “really” need the fuel system cleaned. The stuff you pour in the tank isn’t going to cut it.

 

additive might even boost octane or something making the truck slightly feel better only while it’s in the tank and possibly slightly better MPG.

but the high cost of an additive and that result is probably not enough to cover or justify the cost.

all the high mile Toyotas out there probably don’t care if the drivers putting additive.

 

I do a full bottle of Amsoil UCL every 5th fill up.
And 2 or 4 ounces of Amsoil P.I. every 4k or 5k miles.

 

Italian tune-up.... It really is a thing.. LOL