Fuel Injection Cleaning Liquid

[hari-bhari]

Went to target the other day, saw two basic things:

1)Fuel Injectors Cleaner ($1.99 all brands)
You can put it in with every tank and its supposed to keep carbon buildup off the injectors

2)Complete Fuel System Cleaner (varying between $5.99-$9.99)
Supposed to use every 3000 miles with the oil change, cleans the cams and intake valves and the injectors, etc.

Also saw these products in three different brands:
1) STP
2) Gumout
3) Chevron (this was the one that was $9.99)

I've only used the STP Fuel Injector Cleaner once at 60k (now I am at 68k), but didn't notice any improvement. Lately, my gas mileage has been decreasing. I used to get about 420 out of a tank, now I get about 350 in the same driving conditions and highway/city ratio. I want to get my fuel system running clean and smooth and get my mileage back up. Which should I buy, and how often should I use it. Also, the professional service at a dealer, how much does that cost, and should I get that done? Thanks

[onefiend]

The fuel injection cleaning service at the dealership or at jiffylube will run you around $80-$100. Ive been using the STP fuel injection and carb cleaner after every oil change. But Ive noticed lately that my gas mileage isnt as great as it use to be. I'm at 50k miles and for the last 5 oil changes at JiffyLube they told me I'm due for their fuel injection service, and I keep telling them to hold off on it, I think its about time I get this service done.

[hari-bhari]

The fuel injection cleaning service at the dealership or at jiffylube will run you around $80-$100. Ive been using the STP fuel injection and carb cleaner after every oil change. But Ive noticed lately that my gas mileage isnt as great as it use to be. I'm at 50k miles and for the last 5 oil changes at JiffyLube they told me I'm due for their fuel injection service, and I keep telling them to hold off on it, I think its about time I get this service done.

is it the fuel injector cleaner, or the complete fuel system cleaner (more expensive one)?

and btw, i use normal 87 octane

[SolaraT]

Hey Hari! Whats up bro! Yeah I still agree you should defiantly go for the fuel system cleaning @ a Toyota dealer or a good place. It is worth paying to keep your car running in top condition. Yes, consistent treatment every 3-5k fuel injector cleaner is good; however, for the miles you have and never done it before it is best that you get the complete system cleaned at the dealer. I go every 12 - 18k when I get the trany serviced. Let me know how it goes.
LT

[all_red]

Well, about that dealership service, I've had it at about 30K miles and it was nothing but "fuel system cleaner kit". Yea that was written on the service sheet and when I asked the guy about it, he said thats true, that its some kinda kit "different" than the ones at Wallmart or Autozone. So basically I think he was BSing me (i'll look for what they charged me, I'm sure I have the reciept). If you can take the injectors out yourself and clean them that'd be better, if not jeffy lube would do a good job. I used to do that with my Land Cruiser, but I don't know if its different for the Solara. I might try it sometime next week.

[SolaraT]

I know they would not charge almost $100.00 for a $10.00 item you dilute in your gas tank.

[Mudd]

All that fuel system cleaner crap is just that. Crap. The way to keep your fuel system clean is to change your fuel filter on a regular basis (I'm anal, so I do mine about once a year), and if your car is high mileage, have the injectors professionally cleaned and flow rate balanced. I've always sent my injectors off to Road Race Engineering out of Southern California to do it on all my race cars.

Save your money on the octane adders and fuel system cleaners. They almost never work.

[hari-bhari]

i heard its pretty difficult to change the fuel filter yourself, and i dont wanna be payin 50-75 bucks each year to get it done. and about cleaning the fuel injectors yourself - how hard is this to do? any ideas?

[bbchevy]

I used to work at a Toyota dealership and the fuel injector cleaning consisted of two things. The first was the can of cleaner add to the gas tank, and the second was an aerosol can of injector cleaner shot down the intake. So yea its a ripoff.

Most dealer stuff is a ripoff considering the price you pay for parts is double plus ten percent. At least that is what the standard practice for all dealers in NY.

[SolaraT]

I used to work at a Toyota dealership and the fuel injector cleaning consisted of two things. The first was the can of cleaner add to the gas tank, and the second was an aerosol can of injector cleaner shot down the intake. So yea its a ripoff.

Most dealer stuff is a ripoff considering the price you pay for parts is double plus ten percent. At least that is what the standard practice for all dealers in NY.

So basically just buy a good quality product to down in your tank and get a throttle body cleaner (Spray). Aprox $20 for DIY. I'm not really a cheap when it comes to my car so I try and look for the best available products and services. But if it’s the same as what I can do at home why not right? I believe the fuel filter is located in the gas tank so I am not sure how easy it would be to replace with DIY. If anyone can refer to a tutorial that was previously discussed please provide the link. bbchevy, can you shead some light on the ease of replacing the fuel filter?

[Mudd]

Actually, if you're looking to spray something that works into the intake, try Mitsubishi Combustion Chamber Cleaner (MCCC). This stuff is awesome, and is great at removing carbon and general crap from your pistons and engine in general. The best way to do it is this: when the car is running, SLOWLY spray the entire can into the intake. It should take a good 5 minutes to get the whole thing in there, and it WILL smoke badly, so it's best to do it at night. Then, dump about a can and a half into all 6 cyl (only a can if it's a 4 banger), and let it sit overnight. Then get in there with a shopvac or something of the like and suck as much of it up as you can possibly get. Then run the car for a little while, and burn the rest out. When that's all done, change your plugs, and you're on your way.

This is mostly for higher mileage engines.

[all_red]

when the car is running, SLOWLY spray the entire can into the intake.
Then, dump about a can and a half into all 6 cyl (only a can if it's a 4 banger), and let it sit overnight.
Then get in there with a shopvac or something of the like and suck as much of it up as you can possibly get.

Hey Mudd, can you clearify those points please?
Like into the intake? or on the filter?
and what do you mean by dumping a can into all 6 cyl?
and then what would we suck up the next day?

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

Just get the EFI serive done at jiffy lube, get the fuel filter changed every 10,000 miles (or as yearly as someone indicated, but i do it 10K miles...not all my cars add milage the same, so the theory of 10K milage). And have you changed your sparks recently, i know bosh ones weren't great, if not, get that changed as well.....Try a few higher ocatne fill ups, its winter right now, refinaries go through a process change to produce fuel (for cars) to heating fuel (for heaters, etc). So this time of the initial season, lower octane gas could be older!

[hari-bhari]

well i did change my plugs to the denso iridium ik20s at 60,000 miles, so that should be fine. ill try the higher octane as well. how hard is it to change the fuel filter?