Is Engine Cleaner Effective?
2 Answers
Engine cleaner is effective, but its effectiveness is relatively limited. It can clean the residual sludge in the engine oil passages and, to some extent, remove carbon deposits from the piston rings and ring grooves, providing practical maintenance benefits for the engine. However, due to its short retention time in the engine lubrication system and the inherent limitations of this no-disassembly cleaning method, the effectiveness of engine cleaner is relatively limited. During engine operation, the high-temperature working environment, wear from the relative motion and friction of moving surfaces, and the combustible mixed gases entering the crankcase from the cylinders all affect the performance and quality of the engine oil. When the performance and quality of the oil degrade, its cleaning ability for the engine oil passages also decreases, eventually leading to sludge buildup in the engine lubrication system. In severe cases, this can even clog the oil passages, making regular cleaning of the engine lubrication system necessary.
Engine cleaner is indeed useful, but the key lies in your vehicle's condition. Last time when my car lacked power, I used a cleaning-type cleaner to clean the fuel injectors and catalytic converter, and the throttle felt much lighter. Don't buy randomly; it depends on the car model: it works well for throttle body cleaning in EFI cars, while direct injection engines require walnut blasting as well. For DIY applications, note two points: pour it into the oil filler port when the engine is warm, then idle for 15 minutes before draining the old oil. For older cars, the first cleaning might dislodge sludge and clog the filter screen, so it's best to first change to cheap oil, drive for a few days, then switch back to full synthetic. Don't believe those ads claiming it cures all problems.
