Is it necessary to add gasoline detergent?
4 Answers
If there is little carbon deposit in the car, it is not necessary to add it. However, if the car experiences shaking, unstable idling, weak acceleration, increased fuel consumption, or exhaust pollution, you can choose to add fuel cleaner. Relevant information about fuel additives is as follows: 1. Classification: Fuel additives are divided into gasoline additives and diesel additives based on the target of use. In terms of function, they are generally divided into three categories: cleaning type, maintenance type, and power enhancement type. 2. Function: Due to poor atomization and incomplete combustion, a large amount of black smoke is formed. Fuel additives can effectively reduce the activation energy of combustion, improve atomization efficiency, and allow the non-combustible colloids in the fuel to fully burn, thereby eliminating black smoke and reducing emissions.
I often get asked about fuel system cleaners. As someone who has been focusing on car maintenance for a long time, I think it depends on the situation. For new cars in their first two or three years, there's really no need to add it - the engine is in prime condition like an athlete at their peak. But for older cars with over 50,000 kilometers, especially those frequently crawling at low speeds in urban areas where intake valve carbon buildup becomes as thick as soot on a pot's bottom, using qualified cleaners does make a difference. I always use major brands containing PEA components, adding one bottle every 5,000 kilometers before refueling, and you can feel the throttle response becoming more responsive. However, be careful not to buy random off-brands - some cheap products might actually clog fuel injectors, and one repair could cost you a decade's worth of cleaner expenses. When used properly long-term, it's actually a cost-effective maintenance method.
From a cost-of-maintenance perspective, fuel system cleaners are truly worth adding. When my old Accord hit 80,000 kilometers, the fuel consumption skyrocketed. The mechanic took apart the engine and found it completely blackened with carbon deposits. After trying an internationally renowned brand of cleaner for three consecutive tanks of fuel, the consumption dropped from 11L/100km back to 8.7L/100km. At current fuel prices, the savings have already exceeded the cost of the additive. However, I must remind fellow car owners that turbocharged and direct-injection engines need these additives most, as they're particularly prone to carbon buildup. My other naturally aspirated vehicle went five years without additives with no issues. When purchasing, pay close attention to the ingredients list – cleaners with higher Polyether Amine (PEA) content offer better cleaning performance. Just pour the entire bottle in during refueling.
My car maintenance experience suggests that the importance of fuel additives depends more on the engine type. For direct injection engines like the Earth Dreams series, the fuel injectors spray directly into the cylinders, meaning gasoline doesn't wash the back of the valves, leading to severe carbon buildup after 30,000 kilometers. I make it a habit to add API-certified fuel additives every 5,000 kilometers. Last year when I opened the engine for maintenance, the valves were spotless. In contrast, port fuel injection engines have gasoline passing over the valves, providing a self-cleaning effect, so adding additives after 50,000 to 60,000 kilometers is sufficient. However, be cautious not to aggressively use additives right before annual inspections, as the dislodged carbon deposits might clog the catalytic converter, causing the vehicle to fail the emissions test.
