Is it necessary to clean the fuel system at 20,000 kilometers?
2 Answers
Generally, cleaning the fuel system at 20,000 kilometers is not necessary. Here is some relevant information about the vehicle's fuel system: Composition of the fuel system: fuel tank, fuel pump assembly, filter, fuel delivery pipe, fuel return pipe, fuel filler pipe, carbon canister vent pipe, etc. Cleaning interval: The fuel system should be thoroughly cleaned every 20,000 kilometers or every two years. The cleaning cycle may vary depending on the type of vehicle usage. Vehicles that frequently drive on highways can delay the cleaning, while those often used on city roads may need earlier cleaning.
I used to have a car that was often driven in the city, frequently stuck in traffic with constant stop-and-go driving, leading to incomplete fuel combustion. At 20,000 kilometers, the fuel consumption noticeably increased, so I had the fuel system cleaned, which seemed to help. However, after switching to a new car, I drove more on highways and chose premium fuel brands. I didn’t clean the fuel system until 30,000 kilometers, and there were no issues. In fact, most car manufacturers now recommend inspections every 25,000 to 30,000 kilometers. If your driving is smooth and road conditions are good, cleaning at 20,000 kilometers isn’t really necessary. A single cleaning costs a few hundred dollars, so it might be more cost-effective to use fuel additives for regular maintenance or spend the money on oil changes instead. The key is to consider your own driving habits and not be swayed by dealership promotions—if there are no symptoms, it’s better to save the money.
