Is it necessary to add fuel maintenance additives for a new car?
4 Answers
It is recommended to add fuel maintenance additives. In regions with better fuel quality, it is generally advised to add one bottle every 10,000 kilometers. In areas with poor fuel quality, it can be added every 5,000 kilometers. Disadvantages of not adding fuel maintenance additives: Due to the inconsistent quality of domestic fuel and poor driving conditions, vehicles tend to accumulate a large amount of carbon deposits after being used for a period of time. The direct side effects include increased emissions and carbon buildup. Excessive carbon deposits can lead to poor fuel atomization, increased fuel consumption, reduced engine power, excessive exhaust emissions, and even issues like oil burning, cylinder scoring, and engine damage. Reasons for adding fuel maintenance additives: To address the above issues, fuel additives were introduced. The primary purpose of using fuel additives is to clean or inhibit the formation of engine carbon deposits, thereby maintaining the engine in good working condition.
As a seasoned driver, I also struggled with the issue of engine treatment oil when picking up my new car. In fact, modern car engines have significantly improved in manufacturing technology, and the factory-fill oil is specially formulated. It's advisable not to rush into adding treatment oil before the first maintenance, as it might clog the oil passages instead. My Japanese car has been running for over three years now, and I only use the manufacturer-recommended full synthetic oil during each service. The engine still runs as quietly as when it was new. What really harms the engine is long-term low-speed, short-distance driving. In such cases, running on the highway once a month is more beneficial than adding treatment oil. Of course, if you frequently drive in sandy northwestern regions or have a heavy foot on the accelerator, adding some cleaning additives after the second maintenance is acceptable. But don't be fooled by the 4S shop into buying overpriced maintenance packages.
A friend who has worked in an auto repair shop for over a decade said that a new car is like a newborn baby with a delicate digestive system. The factory oil contains special protective agents for the break-in period, and blindly adding maintenance oil can actually hinder the break-in process. My younger brother bought a domestic SUV last year and decisively rejected the 600-yuan break-in additive pushed by the 4S dealership. Now, after 20,000 kilometers, the displayed fuel consumption is even lower than that of the same model. For real maintenance, it's better to pay attention to the oil dipstick not falling below the minimum level and avoid revving the engine during cold starts. Only after the car exceeds 50,000 kilometers is it practical to consider adding anti-wear agents to maintain aging engine components.
Just checked the vehicle manual, the manufacturer clearly states no additives are needed before the first service. Modern engines undergo cold run-in at the factory, with precision far exceeding older engines. Take my turbocharged car as an example - the manual warns that adding maintenance oils may affect the VVT system's hydraulic response. In real-world driving, maintaining a 9,000 km oil change interval is more important than these fancy treatments. My neighbor who works at an oil company said chemicals in maintenance oils might react with full synthetic oil formulations. I plan to strictly follow manufacturer standards during warranty period, and only consider additives after warranty expires.
