Is it necessary to add cleaner to the car fuel tank?
2 Answers
Adding cleaner to the car fuel tank is necessary. The fuel tank cleaner can remove dirt from the fuel tank and also clean the carbon deposits in the engine. After a period of use, carbon deposits inevitably form in the engine, settling on the intake valves, fuel injectors, and combustion chamber walls. Using fuel cleaner can help remove these carbon deposits from the engine. The specific details are as follows: 1. Adding cleaner to the car fuel tank is useful, but it should not be added indiscriminately. Generally, for two types of engines—port fuel injection (intake manifold injection) and direct injection (high-pressure direct injection in the cylinder)—the parts that can be cleaned are different. 2. Since the cleaner is mixed with gasoline, for a regular port fuel injection car, the fuel mist is sprayed from the injector in the manifold, passing through the fuel injector, manifold, intake valve, cylinder block, inner cylinder head, and piston head, all of which can be cleaned. However, for direct injection, the fuel mist is directly injected into the cylinder, so only the direct injector, cylinder block, and piston head can be cleaned. Therefore, adding cleaner to the car fuel tank is more effective for regular port fuel injection cars.
After driving for over a decade, I've come to realize that using fuel tank cleaners depends on the situation. Generally speaking, if your car runs smoothly, there's no need to bother with it. But if you experience hard starts or sluggish acceleration, it might be due to carbon buildup, and a reliable cleaner can help a lot. I've seen many older cars with much cleaner fuel injectors after using it, and even a slight drop in fuel consumption. However, never skimp on quality by buying off-brand products—some have strong corrosive properties that could damage the fuel pump, leading to costly repairs. Regular maintenance and using high-quality fuel are far more important; additives are just supplementary. Remember: don’t experiment with new cars, only try them on older cars with issues, and always monitor the dashboard after use.
