How often should a car's fuel system be cleaned?
2 Answers
It is recommended to clean a car's fuel system every 30,000 to 40,000 kilometers. Vehicle owners can adjust this interval based on factors such as driving environment, road conditions, frequency of use, and local fuel quality. If carbon deposits tend to form easily, the cleaning frequency may need to be increased or decreased accordingly. Cleaning should be performed when the car exhibits symptoms such as increasing difficulty in starting, unstable idle speed, increased fuel consumption, reduced power, or sluggish acceleration. Methods for cleaning the car's fuel system include: 1. Adding fuel system cleaner directly to the fuel tank. Qualified additives can not only reduce fuel consumption but also enhance power, maintain the engine, and remove carbon deposits; 2. Using an engine cleaning kit: This involves hanging a bottle-shaped tool above the engine, pouring the cleaning agent into the tool, and then introducing it into the engine through a tube to clean carbon deposits.
I personally believe there's no fixed answer regarding fuel system cleaning. Take my car for example - it's mainly driven in urban areas, I always refuel at reputable gas stations, and during maintenance the mechanic confirmed the fuel injectors are in good condition. I didn't do my first cleaning until 70,000 km. However, many friends who frequently take long-distance trips in regions with poorer fuel quality report needing cleaning every 30-40,000 km, otherwise they experience sluggish throttle response. My suggestion is to consider your specific driving conditions and fuel quality. Pay special attention to warning signs like sudden fuel consumption increases or noticeable power loss during acceleration. Using authentic fuel additives for regular cleaning maintenance is more effective than last-minute solutions. The most reliable approach is having technicians check the ECU data stream during maintenance - the long-term fuel trim values can reveal more than mileage alone about whether cleaning is necessary.
