Is Fuel Additive Necessary for Cars?
2 Answers
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.
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.
