Injector cleaner yes/no?

[MadWorm]

I use injector cleaner in the fuel every 5000 km in my R in between services. I can't really justify it, except saying it seems like a good idea...

I've used Wynns, STP and the Repco stuff. Since doing this in my old Magna from new for 100,000km , and now the R which is now at 35,000km since new I've never had a problem with injectors. When I was young I had a beast of a ZK Fairlane which got blocked injectors - probably from more from neglect than anything!

My understanding is a bottle goes in at each scheduled service.

What do people think, worthwhile or not?

[Watercooled]

My idea is that you can't clean an injector that way,if you remove them from the motor and have them ultrasonically cleaned and the spray pattern and leak test are ok all is good,the Bosch approved service centre with fit new seals and pack them in nice little bags.
If they don't test well its in the bin.

[Amalgam]

Most people, myself included, would say that most off the shelf fuel injector cleaners are a waste of money.

On a recent Fifth Gear episode, Jason Plato tested cheap ways of improving the BHP out of an old car 60,000 miles on the clock. A fuel injector cleaner did improve BHP by 10 BHP and they stressed that repeated use would not further improve the power output as the injectors are already clean. The above numbers are approximate and from memory. I tried finding the episode, but with no luck. Maybe someone else can post the link to youtube.

In essence the use of a fuel cleaner every 100,000km may be effective and produce a very slight power gain.

IMO if you use fuel from a recognised brand and with regular servicing additional additives provide no benefit.

[Transporter]

There is more to it than just a clean injectors. The extra chemicals in a quality fuel additive will clean/maintain whole fuel system including the combustion area. Further more the moisture from the fuel system will be safely removed without causing the corrosion there.

[Martin]

These products do work but

• There is no point using them every 5,000km, every 10,000 to 15,000 or once a year is all you need
• It's normally 100ml per 50 litres of fuel, the bottle typically has 300ml, so you can treat 3 tanks with one bottle

If you only do it once a year you will notice the difference, idle is smoother etc

[Transporter]

Actually you can use them (and I do) every 2,500km and the engine and the fuel system will benefit from it.
Every TDI in our family has a stash of ready to pour small bottles in the rear door and they go in every time the car is refuelled. I've never saw the DPF light on the dash or the engine struggling to regenerate. Both Tiguan driven in the city, with very short trips the DPF is unaffected and I believe it is because the diesel fuel additive we use in them.


Just an example;
Penrite Oil - A Better Class Of Oil

[MadWorm]

Thanks for the feedback guys, keep it up, it's an interesting discussion.

Amalgam, I found the Fifth Gear episode you mentioned. Fifth Gear's Jason Plato services Volkswizard's VW Corrado VR6 to see if can produce more power - YouTube
Jason Plato took a 1995 VW Corrado VR6, measured a 177.5 HP baseline then did some basic maintenance stuff and measured the power impact of each item.

Run Redex brand injector cleaner for 1 week , cost 5 pounds, revised HP 183.4 (+5.9).
New air filter, oil change and oil filter, cost 45 pounds, revised HP 185.4 (+2).
New spark plugs and ignition leads, cost 236 pounds, revised HP 188.7 (+3.3).

So Injector cleaner was shown to be effective (noting this was in an older vehicle), and best bang for buck.

[Martin]

I checked the manufacturer product usage documentation and they do say it can be used every 2,500km
My cars just don't seem to need it to be done frequently
(The Mazda service schedule for this is every 12 months)

[nat225]

I can't say if it is a good thing to rely on Fifth Gear or Top Gear on their conclusions, in particular on the injector cleaner matter. They are in the business of entertainment and if all the things they say and do are very true, then we will all be driving like Tiff who likes to drift any RWD on every corner he sees and even in FWD cars too!

Hence why he does not like the Mk7 GTI and gave it low rating because he could not drift it due to the permanent ESP control.

[Transporter]

I can't say if it is a good thing to rely on Fifth Gear or Top Gear on their conclusions, in particular on the injector cleaner matter. They are in the business of entertainment and if all the things they say and do are very true, then we will all be driving like Tiff who likes to drift any RWD on every corner he sees and even in FWD cars too!

Hence why he does not like the Mk7 GTI and gave it low rating because he could not drift it due to the permanent ESP control.

That's just a time we live in, where a popularity and the over the internet experts are taken more seriously than the professionals. So many people know always better and never take an advice, some only when is already too late.

[Sharkie]

So many people know always better and never take an advice, some only when is already too late.

Epic quote in support of your statement Miro ....

Good advice is useless. The wise don't need it and the fools won't take it …..

[Transporter]

I agree.
It's the quote of the day.

Sent from my GT-I9505

[Martin]

I can't say if it is a good thing to rely on Fifth Gear or Top Gear on their conclusions, in particular on the injector cleaner matter. They are in the business of entertainment

Yes, they are in the business of entertainment - that does not mean they are unable or unlikely to provide useful motoring tips

The injector cleaner matter was evidence based (dyno) - I have no problem accepting it
Taking an older car with a unknown service history, giving it some TLC improved it's performance, what a shock outcome!
There is nothing surprising or dubious there at all