Is Engine Cleaning Agent Necessary for Maintenance?
2 Answers
Engine cleaning agent is very necessary. Engine cleaning agent, also known as engine cleaning oil, is used to clean the engine as the name suggests. It can remove harmful substances such as sludge, carbon deposits, and gum inside the engine, maintaining the cleanliness of the engine interior. This enhances the fluidity of the engine oil, reduces component wear, and extends the engine's service life. More details are as follows: 1. The engine operates in a high-temperature environment for a long time and may produce some carbon deposits and impurities due to fuel and other issues. Although engine oil has a certain cleaning effect, it is not very effective and cannot remove carbon deposits. 2. Additionally, engine oil will inevitably produce some sludge over time, which is difficult to clean. If there is a large amount of carbon deposits or many impurities inside the engine, it will affect the fluidity of the engine oil and accelerate engine wear. The engine cleaning agent can remove carbon deposits to a certain extent, making it quite necessary.
As someone who frequently performs DIY car maintenance, I believe engine cleaners aren't always necessary for every service—it really depends on the actual condition of the vehicle. For new cars or well-maintained vehicles, special additives usually aren't needed because the engine oil itself has cleaning properties, and regular oil changes can effectively prevent carbon buildup and sludge accumulation. However, if your car has high mileage, is frequently idling in traffic, or has been driven for a long time, the engine may accumulate significant deposits. In such cases, using a cleaner could be very helpful as it dissolves internal contaminants and improves combustion efficiency. Don't blindly follow dealership recommendations—those products can be expensive, and improper use might even damage the engine. What's more important is maintaining good driving habits and sticking to scheduled maintenance, such as changing the oil every 5,000 kilometers, which is far more practical. I've encountered cases where excessive use of cleaners actually increased fuel consumption instead of reducing it. It's better to save money and effort—only consider using cleaners if you notice a significant drop in power or unusual engine noises.
