fuel additive-injector cleaner.

[DougM]

It may be a silly question but do any of the fuel additive injector cleaners actually work?? Short of removing the injectors what is the best way to clean the system?? I have an AU XR8 220

Cheers.

[DayTE]

My mechanic uses a Carbon Clean system.

It has a wand that fits in just before the thottle body and cleans that. It also has another process that hooks in to the fuel lines that cleans the lines, the fuel rail and the back end of the injectors for a short period. The car is then started which uses the cleaning fluid to clean the rest of the injector and combustion chamber.

It's not the Wynns carbon clean system (they use a little bottle and something else), although it does a similiar thing to what the wynns one does this is much better and much more complete.

I did this to my car at only 30 000 kms and it made a hell of a difference, much smoother on/off throttle and revs a little cleaner.
Makes me think... I'm due to do it again!

I think the addatives do work a bit, but like everything they really need regular usage to get the best results.

[DeansXR8]

An NRMA guy put me onto Holdens version "topend cleaner" which use to work beaut in my old VR and i still give it a run every now and then in the new car.

So i'd give that a go and see, i reckon it made a difference.

[PoMmYwOG]

where in sydney could i get this "carbon clean System" done as my XR6 has 137,000km on it and its never been done. Latly its been starting to idle rough,still goes hard , but just doenst idle like it did when i bought it. Have changed the plugs and put K&N filter and have cleaned the TB butterfly and surroundings numerous times... sounds like this might fix it as when i had my vs i pulled apart the whole TB and inlet manifold and cleaned it all with carby cleaner and it made it run loads cleaner and also soo much more responsive...

thanks.

[Hunter]

I've seen the carbon clean system described above. In fact the company I used to work for had one in their workshop. The guy who ran the place swore by it but I do wonder - what do manufacturers think of these things? Does it have any side effects? If it cleans the carbon out, what does it do to oil also inside the cylinder?

[DayTE]

As far as I'm aware it doesn't harm anything and doesn't void any warranty's. I'll do some research on the one my mechanic uses. It also is part of a petrol and the chemical mix that pretty much getsburnt up during combustion. I can't really see any substantial amount getting in to the oil or oil system. It just runs in the fuel and air side of things.

I do know that some AU's actually have a sticker on the throttle body that does state not to use any form of throttle body cleaner. But I don't own an AU so I can't vouch for all of them, this one was on a Series 2 200kw AU.

[Hunter]

Originally Posted by T6Ute

As far as I'm aware it doesn't harm anything and doesn't void any warranty's. I'll do some research on the one my mechanic uses. It also is part of a petrol and the chemical mix that pretty much getsburnt up during combustion. I can't really see any substantial amount getting in to the oil or oil system. It just runs in the fuel and air side of things.

Most of the off-the-shelf injector cleaners are just diesel/kerosene/other hydrocarbon based stuff, nothing too special, but I think the carbon cleaning thing uses some other solvent to break the carbon deposits down into finer dust which is then ejected out the exhaust ports. I guess if you get the carbon cleaning done before you change your oil that shouldn't be a problem since you're gonna dump the oil anyway.

I do know that some AU's actually have a sticker on the throttle body that does state not to use any form of throttle body cleaner. But I don't own an AU so I can't vouch for all of them, this one was on a Series 2 200kw AU.

Hmm could be because of certain sensors - don't know if the AU is any different to the E series Falcons in that respect? But that also begs the question of Oxygen sensors and the carbon clean system - wonder how they go? I know you're meant to be pretty careful with them, they're quite fragile.

[MRJUCY]

Of the add yourself ones I find my car needs one every now & again or it can ping a bit. The only 2 that have worked for me is the NF one & the Nulon the rest haven't made a difference.

[partzkid]

for the in-tank additive i use redline
for the carbon cleaner i use a brand called threebond, its the same stuff in the subaru upper engine cleaner just comes in a different can. and for 1/3rd of the price makes one bloody hell of a difference in every car i've ever done it too.

[BOSSNUT05]

I was told once by mate who is a fuel injection specialist that using injector cleaner is the worse thing for your injectors. He said something along the lines of it freeing up other particles in your filter. Allowing small bits crap to damage the tiny needle in your injector and the way it seats. So yeah dont know how true it is but thats what he reckons. He also said thats why he sells it because he reckons they'll be back someday.

[david lee]

Originally Posted by BOSSNUT05

I was told once by mate who is a fuel injection specialist that using injector cleaner is the worse thing for your injectors. He said something along the lines of it freeing up other particles in your filter. Allowing small bits crap to damage the tiny needle in your injector and the way it seats. So yeah dont know how true it is but thats what he reckons. He also said thats why he sells it because he reckons they'll be back someday.

2 mechanics i know said to put 150ml of nulon in my au xr6 at next fill up they say it actually works

[david lee]

yrs ago my mech at service put injector cleaner in my au xr6 at service time. it didnt effect the performance

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by BOSSNUT05

I was told once by mate who is a fuel injection specialist that using injector cleaner is the worse thing for your injectors. He said something along the lines of it freeing up other particles in your filter. Allowing small bits crap to damage the tiny needle in your injector and the way it seats. So yeah dont know how true it is but thats what he reckons. He also said thats why he sells it because he reckons they'll be back someday.

Originally Posted by david lee

2 mechanics i know said to put 150ml of nulon in my au xr6 at next fill up they say it actually works

My father in law has been doing injectors and pumps for 60 years (he's 83 now and is still running his business , just from his garage though )

He says it's all sh#t and does more harm than good

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by PooDog

My father in law has been doing injectors and pumps for 60 years (he's 83 now and is still running his business , just from his garage though )

He says it's all sh#t and does more harm than good

Good on him.

Old truckie trick is to use a little ATF in the diesel tank occasional and regularly change out fuel filters.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by PooDog

My father in law has been doing injectors and pumps for 60 years (he's 83 now and is still running his business , just from his garage though )

He says it's all sh#t and does more harm than good

Funny how you say that, I heard both sides of this argument from veteran mechanics.
What I do know especially from the diesel side of engines fuel additive is highly recommended from all diesel mechanics & service centres, I certainly use it for good reason.

Cheers.

[BENT_8]

I run Fuel Doctor in my cars and Waverunner.

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by Itsme

Funny how you say that, I heard both sides of this argument from veteran mechanics.
What I do know especially from the diesel side of engines fuel additive is highly recommended from all diesel mechanics & service centres, I certainly use it for good reason.

Cheers.

A lot of people do , I've worked for fuel companies for nearly 30 years and been in the transport industry for 46 years if you're filling from old tanks unfiltered or un maintained I would agree but as for fuel companies/ businesses pushing additives ,meh

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by PooDog

A lot of people do , I've worked for fuel companies for nearly 30 years and been in the transport industry for 46 years if you're filling from old tanks unfiltered or un maintained I would agree but as for fuel companies/ businesses pushing additives ,meh

Here we have the big question, how do you know the condition of fuel tanks? I suppose you will know from your local regular servos you use but for others???
I will play it on the safe side, cheap insurance.

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by Itsme

Here we have the big question, how do you know the condition of fuel tanks? I suppose you will know from your local regular servos you use but for others???
I will play it on the safe side, cheap insurance.

Yeah I was meaning more low use transport company site tanks , some small privately owned servos margins are small the first thing they stop is the tank and pump maintenance.....water testing is a thing of the past