Do you always begin your journey by visiting a petrol pump to fill up your car tank? If yes, then your car has clog buildup inside the fuel injector and needs a clog removal.

Consequences of clogging can be severe; this is why you need a fuel injector to dissolve all the residues of fuel in itself. But how would you decide which one is the best fuel injector cleaner for your car? To answer this, you need to understand the mechanism to make the right choice.

What Is A Fuel Injector?

A fuel injector is a mechanical device in a car controlled electronically that is responsible for injecting just the right amount of fuel in the engine for efficient burning.

Normally, fuel is drawn from the tank, transported through fuel lines to the fuel pump where it is pressurized and then goes into the fuel injector.

In the fuel injector, fuel mixes with air through an inlet. This fuel/air mixture is then sprayed into the combustion chamber.

How Does It Get Dirty?

Usually, when buying gasoline, purity is not guaranteed and thereby, contaminants will be found and will settle at the bottom of the fuel tank, in the fuel lines and also in the fuel pressure regulator. Also, for gasoline that contains ethanol, carbon formation is inevitable as the fuel may not be completely burnt.

These carbon deposits clog the fuel injector and therein lies the problem. This causes the injector not to perform efficiently; fuel does not burn as efficiently, and it results in weak fuel economy and loss of power.

How To Clean A Fuel Injector?

You can use professional cleaning services to clean your car engine. Else wise, you will need a cleaning kit to clean the engine yourself. The cleaning kit comes with its cleaner. Cleaner fluid is inflammable, so remove all power supply to the car before pouring it in the fuel tank rail.

You can follow this step by step process for a thorough and efficient clean:

1. Buy a fuel injector cleaning kit and disconnect tool: Buy a fuel line disconnect tool alongside a fuel injector cleaning kit. They are available at any automobile store.

   Your cleaner and cleaning kit should be vehicle specific. Some engines, when clogged, should get replaced. Using unapproved cleaners to do so can cause the car engine some severe damage. So make sure all the items you buy are compatible with your vehicle and each other.

2. Review your vehicle’s engine layout:It is always good to know exactly where which injector can be found. Vehicle’s manual should help with this.
3. Disconnect the fuel pump from the fuel injectors: To do this, use a fuel return line or a U tube this will take away the gas back to the tank while you are busy cleaning the injectors. Again the manual will help you understand how to disconnect the fuel line. Also, disconnect the pressure regulator vacuum line.
4. Attach the cleaning kit to the fuel pressure test port: Detailed instructions will be in the cleaning kit manual. They will show how to connect the hose and fitting to the fuel port.
5. Remove the cap from fuel tank: Removing the cap is necessary because there will be a lot of pressure built up inside the fuel tank. Opening the tank cap will relieve that pressure.
6. Turn on the engine and let it run. Double check the power supplies, as the cleaner is inflammable, before going for this step. It will take around six to ten minutes for the cleaner to get used up. Once the cleaner is all spent, the engine will shut down on its own.
7. Reset steps: Once the cleaning is over, remove the cleaner. Reattach the fuel pump power supply and the pressure regulator vacuum hose. Put the cap back again. Turn on the vehicle to see if the fuel injector works. Now your car is ready to run smooth.

   Take the car for short ride. Smooth running means you should not get bad gas span cover. Nor should the vehicle hesitate when increasing the race. Using the best choice fuel injector cleaner will give you this result.

What Is A Fuel Injector Cleaner?

A fuel injector cleaner is a chemical known as Polyetheramine or PEA. It is most useful for carbon or carbonaceous deposits. It acts as a detergent and dissolves the carbonated materials, thus breaking them into smaller pieces. These pieces then get ejected out of the car through the exhaust system.

The cleaner contains the following components:

• Polyether Amine (PEA). This compound is highly effective in removing the solidified deposits that usually block fuel lines. It works by ensuring no residue is left in the injector, fuel lines or within the engine.
• Polyisobutylene (PIB). This acts as a detergent. It removes sediments and builds ups. It also reduces misfiring and engine knock problems.
• Polyisobutylene Amine. Works as PIB but is more effective at removing moisture. Its downside is that it is not as effective in cleaning the combustion chamber.

Do Fuel Injector Cleaners Really Work?

So, does a fuel injector cleaner work? Yes, it does. However, you don’t need it if your car is still new because the fuel system is still fresh. When it gets to experience many rough days on the road though, cleaners should then do.

An alternative to using fuel injector cleaners is having the clogged injector removed completely and cleaned using solvents at high pressure. This will require you to visit an automotive shop to get it done professionally. You could also buy a new fuel injector. It all depends on you to choose the best method.

Source: http://empirecarcare.com

When Should You Use A Fuel Injector Cleaner?

The answer is simple. You should take a look at the engine when your car shows the symptoms of clogging. Or, when you are facing difficulty starting your vehicle or if your car is consuming too much fuel.

Depending on how reliable your engine is, the time taken for it to get contaminated will vary. It might start malfunctioning in a few kilometers or may survive miles without a cleaner.

What are the symptoms?

Following are the symptoms that should direct your attention towards buying a cleaner:

• A lag in initiating the engine;
• A rough ride despite a smooth road;
• Failed attempts at accelerating or increased amount of emissions.

Read more: Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Injector

Set standard for using a cleaner:

It is prudent to use a cleaner after every 3000 miles. If a car has been unproductive for few months/years, it needs a complete deep cleanse before the drive.

Benefits of Fuel Injector Cleaner:

There are numerous benefits of using a cleaner for your car once in a while. You’ll observe a change in your car’s performance right after a single wash. These benefits include:

• Smooth running cars.
• Even more powerful engines.
• The life of the vehicle increases.
• The gain in Engine efficiency.
• Reduced Choking.
• Reduced Cranking time.
• Reduction in money spent on fuel.
• Greater gas mileage.

It’s worth noting that despite the many benefits that come with using a fuel injector cleaner, not all fuel injector problems require cleaning.

Some may result from other issues that require mechanical repair. These are some of the signs that may indicate a clogged injector calling for cleaning:

• Hard engine starts
• Poor gas mileage
• Rough car idling
• Poor accelerations
• High emission levels
• Power loss
• Engine knocks

Different brands have their list of favorite cleaners. Some of the best cleaners for your fuel injector are as follows.

7 Of The Best Fuel Injector Cleaners On The Market

#1. Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus: Best Diesel Engines Fuel Injector Cleaner

Techron is great for cleaning the entire tank, and it cleans the whole fuel system. It is beneficial for mechanized gasoline trucks and passenger cars.

It will not only clean the carburetor but will also deep cleanse the two-stroke, and the port fuel injected engines and the direct injected engines. It consists of five components:

• Distillates, hydrotreated light at 40 70% weight
• Stoddard solvent at 15 40% weight
• Solvent naphtha (petroleum), light aromatic at 5 10% weight
• Benzene, 1,2,4 trimethyl at 1 5% weight
• PEA (detergent), Polyetheramines at 20 49% weight.

Chevron gasoline with Techron meets the Top Tier standards for fuel cleanliness. It is used by BMW, Honda, Toyota, and Audi to show better performance in engines. Many automakers recommend using Chevron because of its complete fuel system cleaning properties. These help clean deposits from the carburetors, intake valves, and combustion chambers.

Read more: Difference between Techron Fuel Injector Cleaner and Fuel System Cleaner?

They also assist in cleaning the sulfur contamination on the fuel gauge sensors. Regular use can help prevent sulfur in gasoline, as sulfur can cause corrosive damage to the sensitive electronic fuel pumping units. It is suitable for all available ethanol blends E10, E85.

It gives the following benefits:

• Restores the debt to power
• Enhances performance
• Improves acceleration
• Cuts back fuel money
• Relieves ignition problems in the winters.

Use this cleaner after every three thousand miles traveled, and for every oil change, use it twice or less. It will not impair the oxygen sensors nor will it affect the catalytic converters. Remember that this product is specific to gasoline engines. It is not at all recommended for diesel engines.

Read full review here

#2. BG 44K

The BG 44K has been going strong on the market since last four decades. Its quick action formula cleanses the system in short time. Car’s injector, combustion chambers, and valves all are clean in a matter of minutes.

Since it is non-alcoholic, it has excellent results on the engine. Especially when combined with other non-alcoholic products, additives and different types of fuel. The car is back in shape in a jiffy. This cleaner can also be used for gasoline engines as well.

It helps your car get rid of problems like stalling, and engine gush. It also improves driving ability, recovers power loss and hesitation. You should use BG 44K with an oxygen sensor and catalytic converter as it will give a combination of high-quality fuel additives.

One can of BG 44K can improve your car performances, and give you a better car mileage. A BG44K can contains only 11 ounces of the cleaner. It is better to get BG 44K services after every 15000 miles or 25000 km for maintenance purposes. Do the first cleansing in the first 75000 miles or 1,20,000 kilometers.

It consists of High Flush Naphtha. Naphtha combines and vanquishes chemicals that accumulate within the engine. Naphtha also works great as a fire resistant. It also increases the flow of other chemicals, moisture, fuel, and oil. It does not work in diesel engines though.

Read full review here

#3. REDLINE 60103 SI 1

Redline SI 1 not only cleans the system but also keeps the system moisture free. The PEA that Redline SI 1 comes with is 30 to 50 percent, so you know you are not compromising on quality when buying Redline SI 1.

Redline confirms its PEA content by the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets). Something that not a lot of companies conduct. The latter often verify the product ingredients in verbals.

Following are the ingredients it consists of:

• Polyetheramine 30 to 50 percent
• Iso octonal TLV 1 10%
• Alipathic Naptha TWA 5 20%

This synthetic blend will not cause any chemical damage to the other sensitive parts of the system. A suitable chemical is one which is not only flexible but one that also works without any issue.

Redline can be used for both extremes of engine temperatures. Thus, every customer likes to pick this cleaner up since it can be used in multiple situations.

Redline pays some particular attention to inner combustion chambers and intake valves. It is powerful, but isn’t abrasive, and thus can restore the fuel gauge functionality. For many people, this is that one cleaner they reach for, especially if the vehicle under examination has been idle for quite some time.

Also, it reduces the need for octane to be between 1 and 2 points, this means that your vehicle will no longer demand more fuel than necessary and the car’s injectors will work efficiently. However, the only shortcoming of Redline is that it is not designed for Diesel engines.

#4. Royal Purple Max Clean

This product is very versatile. It has an EPA/CARB compliant, which makes it usable for both gasoline and diesel engines. It can even work with ethanol blends and biofuel. You can also use it for both four cycle and two-cycle engines as well.

Royal Purple is a synthetic cleaner. It improves fuel economy by 3.2%. On an average of 2.6%, the house power gets restored. It also reduces hydrocarbon (by 12%), nitrogen oxide (13%) and carbon monoxide (18%) emissions. These benefits get verified by many fleet tests.

Royal Purple prevents rough stops, any fluctuations or hesitations you might face while driving your car. It also prevents premature spark plug fouling. You won’t experience any knocking or pinging issues.

One can of Royal Max Clean hails up to 20 gallons of fuel, in comparison to one can of Max clean that has only 20 oz. This cleaner is best known for its deep penetrating power.

#5. Lucas Fuel Treatment

Lucas is a perfect blend of oil and additives. It promises to increase your vehicle’s power and fuel mileage. It decreases the exhaust emissions through a complete combustion process.

It works for both gasoline and diesel engines. Since it contains both additives and oil, this double action formula cleans and lubricates the car engines deeply.

After lubrication, the fuel burns and provides more power while consuming less fuel. Vehicles that need leaded fuel to move should use Lucas Fuel Treatment. This cleaner can replace lead present in the fuel and prevent those harmful emissions from escaping into the atmosphere.

Usually, when fuel injector cleaners are used in smog, they fail to impress as, due to the smog the emissions increase. However, the Lucas Fuel Treatment not only cleans the injectors but has also managed to pass the smog test.

It also completely neutralizes the effects of low Sulfur diesel fuel. It complies with federal low Sulfur requirements for locomotive, marine diesel equipment engines.

Directions to use are quite simple. Just pour it into the fuel tank. The recommended dosage is about 2 to 3 ounces per 10 gallons of fuel. Even if you accidentally exceed the dosage fret not, it will not cause any sort harm to the engine. Packaging varies according to the ounces that will be required for the number of gallons of fuel you’re using.

Read full review here

#6. Liqui Moly Jectron Fuel Injector Cleaner

Liqui Moly is a German fuel injector cleaner. This cleaner is a bit on the pricier end, but because it can get through all sorts of massive deposits, we believe that it is definitely worth the money. It was first proposed for high-end German vehicles. However, this cleaner is ideal for all types of cars.

If you own one of the massive work loaded vehicles, then the non-combustible debris and deposits in the carburetor will be high. This cleaner works on such massive deposit build-ups, therefore, it is the best option for every such car that has been on hold for months and hasn’t been used.

Besides this, it can also make your engine flawless by increasing the performance. It can also improve fuel efficiency which means that your vehicle will emit fewer fumes.

You’ll notice a change in your vehicle’s performance within a few rides only since it will it will clear up all the initiation problems, lean surging, and will perfect the brake system.

The only disadvantage is that this cleaner only works for gasoline engines. Instructions to use are simple. Just pour them into the tank in the recommended amount.

Although a lot of people recommend using this cleaner after every 3000 miles you’ve traveled however it’s better to cleanse using the Liqui Moly Cleaner after every 1200 miles’ span.

Only pour it in when the tank is one-eighth of its whole capacity. This cleaner contains safe ingredients make it ideal for oxygen sensors and catalytic converters.

#7. Sea Foam SF 16 Motor Fuel Treatment

Like Royal Purple Max Clean, this cleaner works for two strokes to 4 stroke engines. It is quite versatile and can work for both gasoline and diesel engines, thus making it one of the best products under this category.

Its characteristics are a courtesy of its easy formula. It has both cleaner and lubricant mixed, which is 100 percent natural. It lubricates the carburetor, cylinder, pistons, and engines. And as a cleaner, it is best for removing massive build-ups.

As its name suggests, it contains several Sea Foam products. These aim at improving power by enhancing the startup race and the acceleration. It also works on the pings and flat spots in your car’s engine.

Naptha and SF 16’s oil are the two magical ingredients that are present in this cleaner in the right amount. It removes carbon deposits, is non-abrasive towards old and new high mileage cars.

It also works for home improvement vehicles, if they use gasoline or diesel, for instance, lawn mowers, snow blowers, and tractors.

Read full review here

How to Use Fuel Injector Cleaner

After finding out what the cleaners do and some of the best products in the market, you need to know how to use the products, that is how much of the cleaner you should use, and how often you should have fuel injector cleaning.

However, make sure you pay close attention to the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to how much you should use. You also need to ask your dealer the size of your fuel tank or check online, then follow the given instructions as per the cleaner you choose.

Use These Simple Steps:

• Ensure that the tank in your car is near empty
• Read the instructions of the cleaner to add the right amount of the fluid as per the size of your gas tank
• Empty the cleaner into your car, and then top us with the fuel you use

Making sure the tank is near empty before adding the cleaner is to ensure that you achieve the best mixture of cleaner and fuel. Some cleaner, however, may require you to idle your car for a specified period of time, it all depends on the manufacturer’s instructions, so always read them first.

We know you may be tempted to seek alternatives. However, the best approach is to make sure that you maintain and clean your vehicle. Make sure you follow the right fuel injector instructions for the product, and you are good to go. You are better off safe than sorry.

It is important always to make sure that you choose the right cleaner based on the type of fuel your car runs on. We can’t also insist how essential it is that you read the manufacturer’s instructions first. Now that you know how to use a fuel injector cleaner make sure you get one if you haven’t already.

Using a fuel injector cleaner will give your car excellent fuel efficiency, lower the chances of performance issues and breakdowns over the lifetime of your vehicle, SUV, or truck.

Combating Global Warming by Using Fuel Injector Cleaners

It is essential that we start considering fuel investments as contributions towards a better planet. Car emissions play a significant role in increasing the global warming.

In the US alone, about one-fifth of the emissions are the byproducts of cars and trucks. These vehicles emit around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide, along with other global warming gases, such as Sulfur and Nitrogen, for every gallon of gas.

How do the fuel injector cleaners help us in decreasing global warming? Less fuel is burnt when the engine is neat hence fewer greenhouse gases are emitted.

However, with some help from these cleaners, there is a decrease in the number of greenhouse gases that are emitted, but these gases are still not eliminated. So, bear in mind that picking the right fuel injector for your car has lasting effects both on individual and societal grounds.

Conclusion

Cleaning the engine helps in improving the car’s performance. It is essential to choose the best fuel injector cleaners for your cars. Just because the vehicle performance isn’t too good, doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to switch up the engine parts. Before changing any car part, you must at least get your fuel injector cleaned up.

According to all of fuel injector cleaner reviews, a lot of money is saved on fuel, so there is a prominent cutback on that. Other than that weekly maintenance services of the car can be spaced out too because, since the interior of the car is clean so you don’t need to take your car to a mechanic every so often.