Is Engine Cleaner Necessary for the First Maintenance?

[Samantha]

It is not particularly necessary, but the cleaner is not very expensive and can provide some benefits to the engine. Engine cleaning involves both internal and external parts. The external part of the engine is exposed in the engine compartment, so it is rarely cleaned. Therefore, an engine cleaner, or cleaning fluid, is a maintenance product designed to clean harmful substances like sludge, carbon deposits, and colloids inside the engine. It helps maintain engine cleanliness, improves oil flow, reduces wear, and extends the engine's lifespan. Internal engine cleaner is a product developed to address deposits such as sludge, colloids, carbon buildup, varnish, and dirt in the lubrication system. It consists of highly effective cleaning components and acts as an additive that automatically cleans the internal lubrication system. The cleaner is added to the engine's crankcase. When the engine runs, the cleaning process occurs as the oil circulates, dissolving colloids and loosening bonded deposits, which then detach. Varnish, carbon deposits, sludge, and other deposits on piston rings and piston skirts are thoroughly removed. The cleaned deposits are either filtered out by the oil filter or settle in the oil pan, where they are removed when the oil filter and oil pan are replaced and cleaned.

[VonPaislee]

For the first maintenance, I don't think it's necessary to add engine cleaner. A new car that's only been driven a few thousand kilometers still has a relatively clean engine interior, unlike older cars with sludge buildup. The cleaner is mainly a chemical solution for dissolving carbon deposits, but new engines basically don't have carbon buildup issues. Adding it might even affect the oil's performance. The key points of the first maintenance are changing the new oil and filter, which can remove tiny metal residues from the break-in period. Save this money; the cleaner usually costs dozens of yuan, no need to waste it. My friend was upsold into adding it during his first maintenance, only to find no improvement in engine performance, so he learned his lesson. The manual doesn't mandate it either; keeping it simple for the first maintenance is the safest bet.

[JohnnyRose]

From my perspective, there's no real benefit to adding a cleaning agent during the first maintenance. The engine of a new car is brand new, and cleaning agents are designed to remove carbon deposits in high-mileage vehicles. Using it now is simply a waste of money. It's not cheap, costing around 100 yuan, which could be saved for better engine oil. With over 20 years of driving experience and numerous maintenance sessions, I've learned that adding it during the first service might negatively affect engine protection, potentially diluting the new oil or damaging surface coatings. Remember, during the first service, the shop might push for it to boost sales commissions, but you can refuse. The core task is to change the oil filter system and ensure proper lubrication. Save money and have peace of mind.

[EmilioAnn]

Engine cleaner is primarily used to remove carbon deposits, but it's completely unnecessary during the first maintenance. The engine of a new car is extremely clean, and adding it would be redundant. From a technical perspective, there are minimal residues after engine break-in, which are carried away with the first oil change. The cleaner might react poorly with the engine oil, increasing risks. It's better to consider using it after the car has run tens of thousands of kilometers.

[LeJordan]

Check your owner's manual. It clearly states that the first maintenance items are usually oil and filter replacement. Adding cleaners is unnecessary because the engine internals of a new car have high cleanliness. This is the recommendation from the brand, and adding cleaners might actually affect the warranty or engine durability. I always consult the manual before each service—it's cost-effective and wise.