Is Fuel System Cleaning Necessary for Maintenance?
2 Answers
Cleaning the fuel system is indeed necessary. Gasoline inevitably contains certain impurities, which generate carbon deposits in the combustion chamber over time. As these deposits accumulate, they can impair combustion efficiency, subsequently affecting engine performance and increasing fuel consumption. Issues such as poor fuel injector atomization, engine weakness, poor acceleration, and non-compliant exhaust emissions may arise. Below are the maintenance and cleaning procedures for the fuel system: 1. Regularly add a high-quality fuel system cleaner. Typically, cleaning should be performed every 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers. The cleaner effectively removes carbon deposits, sediments, and gum from the combustion chamber, intake valves, fuel injectors, and fuel lines while driving. Keeping the fuel system clean helps decompose moisture in the fuel and reduces harmful emissions. 2. Use specialized equipment for cleaning, such as a no-disassembly cleaning method that involves adding a cleaning solution through a supply device, commonly referred to as "hanging an IV bottle." This method allows for cleaning without disassembling the engine during operation, providing protection and effectively avoiding damage caused by disassembly. Most 4S shops adopt this approach.
I think fuel system cleaning is quite necessary in certain situations. I drive a ten-year-old car myself, and initially I was too lazy to do it, but then I noticed the acceleration was a bit sluggish and fuel consumption started creeping up. After consulting with a seasoned mechanic, I learned that frequent short trips in the city can lead to carbon buildup in the fuel system, clogging the fuel injectors. Regular cleaning, say every two or three years, costing around a couple hundred bucks, can clear the fuel lines, improve fuel efficiency, save some money on gas, and extend the engine's lifespan. After cleaning, the acceleration became much smoother, and tailpipe emissions were reduced—it felt like taking better care of the car. Don’t wait until problems get serious; preventive maintenance is the smart move to avoid costly repairs down the line. New cars might not need it right away, but older cars or those frequently stuck in traffic should get attention. Judge based on the car’s condition, and don’t do it blindly.
