Is Fuel System Cleaning Necessary?

[SanMiles]

Fuel system cleaning is necessary. The specific reasons and cleaning methods are as follows: Specific reasons: If the fuel system is not cleaned for a long time, carbon deposits and sediments will clog the injector needle valves and valve holes, affecting the performance of the precision components in the injection system. This can lead to issues such as poor fuel injection, inadequate atomization, or even complete failure to inject fuel. After the fuel system has been in operation for some time, carbon deposits and gum formed during combustion will adhere to the injectors, causing them to stick or even become clogged. Additionally, impurities and dust in the air and gasoline can obstruct or block the fuel lines, ultimately forming carbon deposits and sediments on the injectors. Therefore, cleaning the vehicle's fuel system is essential in such cases. Fuel system cleaning methods: 1. Adding fuel cleaner directly to the fuel tank: This is the simplest method, but the effects are not long-lasting, and the cleaning is not thorough. It is suitable for vehicles with shorter mileage. 2. Using an IV drip method: This method can clean carbon deposits and sediments in both the fuel system and the valves. It is also the method typically recommended by auto repair shops. 3. Using a no-disassembly cleaning machine: This method involves connecting the engine's fuel inlet and return lines to the cleaning machine's corresponding lines using specialized interfaces to form a closed loop for cleaning.

[DeTyler]

Last time my car idled so rough it felt like a massage chair, and a friend suggested cleaning the fuel system. At 60,000 km without cleaning, sure enough, the fuel injectors were caked in black gunk when opened up. The mechanic said domestic fuel has more impurities, especially in older cars where carbon buildup clogs the injector nozzles, causing fuel consumption to skyrocket. However, don’t let dealerships trick you with new cars—cleaning at just 20,000 km is a total waste of money. After cleaning, the throttle felt much more responsive, but remember to check the carbon deposit thickness inside the cylinders with a borescope. Just adding fuel additives is like treating pneumonia with Banlangen—it only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause.

[Pires]

As an auto mechanic, I've seen too many car owners getting ripped off. Fuel system cleaning depends on the situation: for EFI cars, cleaning the injectors every 30,000 km is the right approach, while direct injection cars require disassembling and cleaning the intake valves. However, some shops charge 800 for a half-hour fuel injection cleaning, which is purely an IQ tax! The truly effective methods are ultrasonic cleaning and walnut blasting for carbon removal. Last time, I worked on a BMW N20 engine, and after cleaning, the fuel consumption dropped from 13 liters to 9 liters. But for new cars within the first four years, it's completely unnecessary—regular highway driving is more effective than any cleaning agent.

[DeAxel]

My decade-long experience driving an old Jetta: Fuel system cleaning should be handled like medical check-up items. Clogged fuel injectors cause sluggish acceleration, while intake manifold carbon buildup leads to cold start difficulties. But don't believe gas station fuel additive promotions - those only dissolve gum deposits in fuel lines. Real deep cleaning requires engine disassembly to soak valve backs with decarbonizer. My car's first cleaning at 120,000km yielded half a bowl of carbon deposits from the catalytic converter. Now I add one OEM cleaner per three fuel refills, passing annual emissions tests effortlessly.