Do New Cars Need Fuel Additives When Refueling?
4 Answers
New cars do not need fuel additives when refueling. Precautions for refueling a new car: 1. Do not fill up the tank completely on the first refueling; 2. Do not wait until the fuel warning light comes on to refuel; 3. Refuel in the morning or evening; 4. Avoid refueling immediately after the gas station has just unloaded fuel; 5. Choose reputable gas stations; 6. Always select gasoline based on the engine's compression ratio; 7. Refuel promptly after purchasing a new car. Fuel additives, also known as fuel system cleaners, are used to clean carbon deposits, maintain the engine, and protect the fuel system. They mainly consist of nano-molecules, cleaning activators, antioxidants, anti-corrosion agents, and demulsifiers.
I just bought a new car and, while excited, I also feel a bit lost. When I saw fuel additives being promoted at the gas station, I hesitated about whether to add them. New car engines are usually clean inside with no carbon deposits, and fuel additives mainly clean carbon deposits and improve combustion efficiency. Adding them now is really unnecessary. I consulted a mechanic who said that new cars just need original engine oil and gasoline, and randomly adding additives might affect engine break-in or even cause fuel line blockages or pollution in the emission system. Instead of wasting money on these auxiliary products, it's better to stick with higher-quality gasoline, change oil and air filters regularly, and maintain good driving habits. After driving 20,000 to 30,000 kilometers, if you notice a drop in power or unusual noises, then consider fuel additives as a remedial measure. For new drivers, keeping it simple and hassle-free is the wiser choice.
Having driven for over a decade, I've developed a keen intuition about cars. New cars absolutely don't need fuel additives - those are mainly for cleaning carbon deposits in older vehicles, like when experiencing unstable idling or sluggish acceleration. New car engines are factory-tuned and adding fuel additives is completely unnecessary; it might even interfere with normal combustion efficiency. The focus should be on high-quality gasoline and routine maintenance, like regular oil checks and monitoring tire pressure. Spending dozens on a bottle of fuel additive shows negligible effects for new cars - not worth the money. It's wiser to wait until the car has aged, say after about 50,000 kilometers, before evaluating whether additives are needed.
From a technical perspective, as a fuel additive, fuel system cleaner primarily functions to remove engine carbon deposits and improve fuel economy. However, modern engines are precisely designed and don't require additional intervention. Improper use may lead to deposit accumulation or system imbalance. New car owners should focus on fundamental maintenance like regular oil changes and air filter inspections rather than relying on supplementary products. Blindly adding such additives may incur unnecessary costs and potential malfunction risks. Simply put, during the break-in period, skipping fuel system cleaners and concentrating on proper driving practices is more practical.
