What’s the best fuel injector cleaner?

This thread reminds me that I need to replace some fuel filters.

 

i am going to be attempting this on my own when i get my truck on the lift at DIY,
not sure what kinda problems I am going to run into its been on there awhile now, more than a decade as Toyota deemed it a lifetime part
the garage is equipped with WD40 so no need to bring my own
they also have WiFi!!!

i just wish there were more Tacoma folks (1st gen) in my area that might lend a hand (if needed)
it friggn sux feeling like I'm on a damned island

 

When I find dirty injector screens and I break open the fuel filter as a 2nd check, I usually find a very dirty fuel filter. They seem to go together.

 

Be sure to take the appropriate flare wrenches.

 

Did you already check on your regional thread for members in the region? It's always a good idea to have other enthusiasts around, and not money hungry mechanics, to possibly lend a hand or lend their experience.
Make sure to watch the many videos on it so you will be prepared for anything you might come across. The biggest thing I've found in my years of wrenching is having the correct tool for the job. I wasted many many hours fighting things that would've been much easier and taken less time had I used the appropriate tool.
CS_AR comment above reminded me of when I was 17 wrenching on my FJ40 and converting to rear disc brakes and I didn't know about flare wrenches...... Yeah lol

 

yes! non-existent here, just a few 3rd gens is all i find locally on TW
the next closest big city is Kansas City (3hour drive)
do you find $100 an hour indie Toyota/Lexus only mechanic money hungry?

I asked the DIY garage what assortment of tools they have, but i need to check on that particular one

 

3.4L fuel filter is very easy since it is under the truck, vs 2.7 under the intake. As said above, make sure you use line wrenches, and check for leaks by running the truck before you drive away. Just a very small amount of extra torque is sometimes needed to seal flare joints, specially after they have already been taken apart before.

BTW, you can easily do this on the ground if you don't want to wait to get the truck on a lift.

 

I don’t think our fuel pump is accessed the same way, haven’t done this one yet, but otherwise this is a great resource:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vdDhXZIs6Lo

 

The stuff in a can that works has lots of PEA - polyether amine. Techron is Chevron's trade name for PEA.

The premium Gumout cleaner contains high levels of PEA as well, and is still cheaper than Techron. Checking the MSDS sheets is a good way to look into the ingredients though they will frequently mark the concentrations as proprietary.

If it smells fishy, it's got plenty of PEA in it.

 

thanks, I live in a wintery climate (but not wintery enough as deemed by Toyota ) i had a rather difficult time taking the lower shield on the fuel off to get cleaned and powdercoated on my back (have progressing skeleton issues that makes it difficult underneath if not hazardous) i was just going to see if I can physically handle more being under a lift at near eye level
they do have an ASE on duty, just in case run into issues they can step in, but then it upgrades to full-service rate at $100/hr

 

That's right I forgot about Gumout. I remember reading that one and Techron on bobistheoilguy forums

 

Well time frame and mileage as you know cannot truly determine when the injectors need a real clean and rebuild. It comes down to how you treat your vehicle, and Im sure you use premium gas (supercharged) but Im n/a and always use premium,271,000m. I did it because of me seeing some power loss, and I know for a fact our trucks have a tick from injectors when they are clean, mine didn’t after awhile. I had them cleaned and they sounded tickey again and had power restored to better than when I bought my truck. I use Royal Purple max ez fuel cleaner on the regular, and still had leaking injectors. They wouldn’t break a damn thing on your injectors I know this for a fact, everyone I know uses them they are in Torrance,Ca they care about their customers and do warranty their work. They will tell you you are wasting money buying cleaners and we truly do. I used to run the stuff atleast once a month but in a year or every year I could have this service done, it was more than worth it.

 

Spray patterns and overall engine power balance gets pretty fucked over time. I'd be concerned with boost because you could have some cyls running lean while others are rich, but because we only have one o2 it would look right

 

Alot of interesting information in this thread. What are you trying to clean? - Injectors, Intake Tract, Throttle Body, Valves, Pistons? What are you trying to accomplish?

I will say there is a product for everything. I've had good luck with the add to gas tank PEA cleaners ($3 at walmart, I like the Gumout) added to the tank before every oil change. I say its good luck because the vehicles Ive used in seem to be a tad bit more responsive after its been run through a tank.

Injectors need to have an electrical current run through them in order to be cleaned effectively and doing the brake booster line with seafoam won't touch the injectors (but it will help the valves and piston). Injector cleaning is a bench job or attaches the special tool to your fuel rail.

Throttle body cleaning is best done by hand, same with intake tract. A little carbon on either wont hurt anything.

If you're having blowby with rings and oil usage there are some attempts to solve that as well with solvents down the spark plug holes but thats another adventure.

 

"Hot and cold" spots in the combustion chamber could be an issue over time under seriously high boost situations which should be compensated for by increased fueling. Likely, you will just get fuel Ping/ pre detonation which under high boost situations will be noticeable.

 

This^^

 

Careful with anything you add to the tank, if it works well it may bring a bunch of crap from the tank out and clog the fuel filter. BTDT

 

stick a borescope into the tank (near empty) first?

 

I got this done, they hook it up to the FPR and it runs through there and cleans out the top end as well. I didn't notice much of a difference TBH, but I regularly use Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner usually every couple of years. It's good stuff.


This guy does a lot of cool DIY science fair style tests on different cleaners. Really cool watching the results.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPdz6BMj8EA

 

i use BP or Shell fuel for the most part
not sure if their refineries are better or same (as far as quality of fuel) then the indie refineries where you might get fuel from at one of the various quickie convenience places