ok....just curious. what do u all think of fuel system cleaner....cleans valves, pistons, filter, injectors, etc, supposedly! what do yall think?

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Rick
90 Camaro RS 305 TBI
400 small block, Hooker 1 3/4 LTs, Random Tech Cat, Hooker aero chamber cat back on the way!!
TH700-R4 with Trans-Go shift kit (corvette servo here...but not installed yet)
MacEwen Motorsports White Gauge Overlays
14" K&N X-Stream Open Element
GTS Headlight and Taillight covers
5% Limo Tint all around
Classic White Chevy Bowtie sticker on rear window
http://www.geocities.com/esvalenz

Man if my camaro were a rice-rocket all those mods would give me what...easily 50-60 hp!!!

"Just because I've done it, doesn't mean I knew what I was doing!" - Me

 

Ive used Lucas Fuel Injection cleaner for years, and Ive never had an injector clog on me, if that means anything. Keeps my engines relatively clean too IMO. Regular oil changes help with that as well.

 

I came across a GM bulletin recently about fuel system cleaners, where the GM engineers stated that none of the cleaners showed evidence of living up to their claims. Furthermore, they said some of the common chemicals used in the injector cleaners can actually degrade the wire insulation in the injectors. I'll let you know when I find the bulletin #, but maybe someone else knows more about this TSB.

 

I used a fuel injector cleaner one time a couple of years ago. Couldn't recall the name of the product if my life depended on it, I just grabbed something off the shelf at Autozone. I was using my Auto-xray at the time to diagnose my motor's behavior, and I did notice a definite change in the BLM values from before and after the application of the fuel injector cleaner. I added the cleaner to two full tankfuls of gas, and when the cleaner was through doing it's job and I was back to using straight gas I measured my BLM values again. They had improved. In my opinion, the stuff did some good for me.

 

Ok, I found it. GM TSB #91-312-6E for 1986-1991 PFI Camaros:

"This bulletin has been written to inform technicians of possible damage to Multec port fuel injectors as a result of cleaning.

The ball and seat design of the Multec port fuel injectors eliminates the need of ever having to use an injector cleaner. By
design, the fuel metering portions of the injector are not directly exposed to the intake manifold gases that are responsible
for the build-up of deposits that can cause injectors to clog. (see Figure 1).

Some of these cleaners may contain high percentages of methanol and other solvents that cause damage to the injectors'
coil wire insulation. Damaged insulation results in low resistance or shorted injectors. Also, high percentages of methanol
or other solvents can increase friction at the injectors'critical bearing surfaces, resulting in premature wear.

General Motors has conducted extensive injector cleaning studies to determine effectiveness. There is no confirmed
evidence that cleaning Multec port fuel injectors has resolved a vehicle driveability problem. In addition, suppliers of
various injector cleaners may claim that their product can also clean intake valve deposits. General Motors laboratory
tests have shown that injector cleaners have little or no effect on intake valve deposits.

General Motors maintains the position that Multec port fuel injectors should not be cleaned."

Hope this helps some.

 

I tend to take those with a grain of salt, but anyway... to each their own.

Theres a Ford TSB on 89 octane fuel and fuel system problems, they say due to the excessive amount of cleaners used in the middle grade fuel.

Someday I guess my fuel system is going to go belly up from all the bad reports the manufacturers have on them.

Thats my .02

 

Sorry BB, your car is a TBI so some of the above info may not be applicable to you. I've been known to add a red bottle of STP from time to time, but I've never noticed any difference. I mainly do it to get any water out of the fuel system.

 

This is from TSB 87-165 0A:

"As a reminder and to ensure that Chevrolet customers have sufficient flexibility in selecting gasolines for their vehicles with port fuel injected engines, please urge your customers to purchase gasolines marketed and advertised to keep port fuel injectors clean (reference Chevrolet Dealer Service Bulletin 87-25, Section 0A, dated November, 1986). Also, please disregard the earlier list of gasoline brands, referenced in Chevrolet Dealer Service Bulletin 86-147, Section 0A, dated September, 1986 because it is incomplete now that all major brands, as well as many independent brands appear to be treated with detergent additives."

Hmmmm.

 

Thats an older TSB than the one Jethro posted.

 

BB,

Fuel injector cleaner - Injector Cleaner

It's the best one I've ever used, and I tried several with no success before that one.

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Later,
Vader
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"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

Actually most of us here arn't using the "ball and seat" design injector. Most are Rochester or Boshe "pintle" injectors.

 

True...the insulation degradation warning may still apply though. Who knows? I've used at least a half dozen different ones and none of them seemed to make a bit of difference. I'd have to say Vader is right (as usual) on this one.