How Often Should Car Fuel Injectors Be Cleaned?
2 Answers
Car fuel injectors should be cleaned every two years or every 50,000 to 80,000 kilometers. The fuel injectors are located on the intake manifold or cylinder block in direct injection engines. Their working principle is as follows: when the electromagnetic coil is energized, it generates suction, lifting the needle valve and opening the injection hole. Fuel is then sprayed at high speed through the annular gap between the needle valve head and the injection hole, forming a mist that facilitates complete combustion. Common fuel injector faults and solutions include: 1. Clogged injection hole: Grind with chromium oxide on a flat plate; if the needle valve's cylindrical surface is severely worn, replace it promptly. 2. Poor sealing: Apply chromium oxide or toothpaste to the sealing band at the needle valve end. 3. Piston wear: Replace the piston.
Having driven for over a decade, I've found that the frequency of fuel injector cleaning depends on driving habits and fuel quality. For city drivers like me, every traffic jam leads to some carbon buildup in the injectors. I typically clean them every 10,000 km or once a year to prevent carbon deposits from affecting engine performance. That one time I delayed cleaning until 15,000 km, the car became extremely hard to start, and fuel consumption surged by 8%. I ended up spending hundreds on repairs and regretted it deeply. Now I've learned to regularly use fuel additives for prevention, which also improves acceleration smoothness. Using high-quality gasoline daily, like Sinopec's cleaner fuel, can reduce the need for cleaning, making life easier and saving money. The maintenance manual often recommends cleaning every 10,000-15,000 km, and it's not just empty talk.
