Is Fuel Additive Necessary for Cars?

[DiCassandra]

Fuel additives are optional for vehicles. These additives can compensate for certain deficiencies in gasoline and impart new beneficial properties, offering functions such as cleaning system carbon deposits, increasing octane levels, improving atomization, reducing wear, and protecting the engine. Currently, the quality of gasoline in China is quite safe and reliable. In principle, vehicles do not require additional fuel detergents, and consumers need not purchase such fuel additives to add to their fuel tanks themselves. Long-term use of fuel additives is not recommended as it can easily clog the three-way catalytic converter, especially for new cars. Nowadays, the fuel from gas stations already contains some additive components (for cleaning purposes). Additionally, new cars inherently do not produce excessive carbon deposits, so there is no need to add excessive amounts of fuel additives.

[JasonFitz]

I've been driving for decades and often hear discussions about whether fuel additives are necessary. From my experience, it's not an essential must-have. If the car is well-maintained, with regular oil changes and fuel system checks, the engine can stay clean enough, and adding fuel additives doesn't make much noticeable difference. However, for older cars with high mileage, especially those frequently stuck in traffic or driven at low speeds, where carbon deposits build up in the fuel tank, adding a reputable brand of fuel additive can indeed make the throttle a bit more responsive and slightly reduce fuel consumption. But I've found the effects aren't as dramatic as advertised—it also depends on the quality of the additive. Cheap products might harm the engine or contaminate other components. In the long run, the money spent on fuel additives each month could be better saved for a comprehensive maintenance service, like cleaning the fuel injectors or replacing old spark plugs. Most importantly, paying attention to driving habits—avoiding prolonged idling and driving on highways more often to clear carbon deposits—can keep the engine running smoothly naturally, making fuel additives optional.

[RebeccaRose]

From a technical perspective, fuel additives primarily function to clean the fuel system and reduce carbon deposits, offering marginal improvements in engine performance. For brand-new vehicles with clean components from the factory, adding them is almost pointless. However, for aging vehicles or older cars frequently driven in stop-and-go city traffic, they may help address sluggish acceleration or reduce emission issues. Product quality is crucial, though—substandard additives can cause adverse effects like clogging catalytic converters or contaminating engine oil, doing more harm than good. My view is: don’t use them indiscriminately; first assess the vehicle’s condition. If the issues are minor, opting for higher-quality gasoline or regular maintenance of the intake system might be better. The real use case is when severe carbon buildup is diagnosed, followed by measured use of reputable brand products. Overall, it’s not a mandatory part of maintenance but rather a supplementary measure—investing in basic vehicle inspections offers more reliable returns.

[DeReed]

As a budget-conscious car owner, I don't advocate the extra expense of fuel additives. New cars don't need them since engines shouldn't rely on additives for maintenance. Older vehicles might benefit slightly by relieving carbon buildup symptoms, but the fuel savings usually can't cover the cost, making it poor value. I'd recommend using higher-octane fuel or choosing gas stations with cleaning functions—safer and more economical long-term. If your car runs fine, saving this money could fund spare parts. Remember, good driving habits like avoiding cold-start rapid acceleration are key; additives aren't a magic cure.