Can Fuel Additives Bought Online Be Used?

[LondynLee]

Fuel additives purchased from legitimate online channels can be used. Fuel additives, commonly known as "fuel system cleaners," are designed to compensate for certain deficiencies in gasoline and impart new beneficial properties. They serve as fuel additives with functions such as cleaning system carbon deposits, boosting octane levels, improving atomization, reducing wear, and protecting the engine. Functions of Fuel Additives: Fuel additives were developed to address issues with poor fuel quality. They help gasoline burn more completely, thereby reducing carbon deposit formation. Actual Effects of Fuel Additives: Engine bench test reports from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center indicate that using fuel additives increases the engine's maximum net power and maximum net torque by 2%. Emissions of harmful substances are reduced by 40% for carbon monoxide and 30% for hydrocarbons, with an engine fuel-saving rate of 2%. Therefore, qualified fuel additives do have certain effects.

[OPresley]

Of course, the fuel additives bought online are usable. I often purchase well-known brands from Tmall Global and have been using them for three to four years. The key is to identify official stores and authorized dealers, and avoid buying cheap, no-name products that cost just over ten yuan for three bottles—those might damage the engine. I consistently use Chevron TCP, pouring one bottle before each refueling, and I do feel the throttle becomes more responsive, especially with reduced carbon deposits during highway driving. However, don’t stock up too much for convenience—fuel additives typically have a shelf life of only two to three years, and their effectiveness diminishes over time. Regular use is better than a one-time heavy dose. My old car gets a dose every 5,000 kilometers, and the fuel consumption stays stable at around 8 liters per 100 km.

[OOwen]

You can definitely buy fuel additives online, but you need to be careful when choosing. Last time, I bought a bottle claiming to be imported from Germany on Pinduoduo to save money, but the packaging didn't even have a production date printed on it. After using it, the engine malfunction indicator light came on, and I wasted 200 yuan on repairs for nothing. Now I've learned my lesson and only pick products with physical anti-counterfeiting codes that can be scanned to verify registration information before I dare to use them. Actually, the core ingredients of fuel additives are PEA or PIBA, and reputable brands clearly label the concentration of these ingredients. Buying online can be more convenient for price comparison, like on JD.com's self-operated stores, which often have discounts for reaching a certain purchase amount, making them 30% cheaper than physical stores. However, there's really no need to add fuel additives for the first two years of a new car; wait until you've driven over 30,000 kilometers before considering it.

[Dave]

When I first bought my car, I was always skeptical about whether fuel additives sold online were reliable. Now I’ve become somewhat of an expert. The key is to focus on three things: the store rating must be above 4.8, the reviews should include real video proof of authenticity, and you need to check the cleaning dispersant content in the test report. Last month, I bought BASF G17—I had to scratch off the laser anti-counterfeiting code on the bottle bottom and scan it five times before I felt assured. Honestly, fuel additives are like health supplements; you only see results with long-term use. I add it once a month, and now my six-year-old car doesn’t shake during cold starts, and it passes emissions tests in one go. But remember, never mix different brands—conflicting chemical formulas can clog the fuel injectors instead.