Under what circumstances does the fuel injector need cleaning?
2 Answers
When a car has been driven approximately 30,000 to 50,000 kilometers, the fuel injector needs cleaning. Here are the methods to determine whether the fuel injector needs cleaning: 1. Check the fuel filter. The replacement cycle for the fuel filter is 20,000-40,000 kilometers. Generally, vehicles have two fuel filters: one is built into the fuel pump inside the fuel tank and does not need replacement; the other is installed outside the fuel tank. You need to remove the external fuel filter and check whether the gasoline inside is dark in color or contains excessive impurities. If so, it needs immediate replacement, as it can also severely clog the fuel injector. 2. When starting the vehicle in first gear, the body shakes noticeably, but the shaking disappears after shifting to higher gears. This is mainly because, at higher speeds, the fuel injection volume increases, and minor impurities on the surface of the fuel injector may be washed away or dissolved, improving the vehicle's performance. 3. If the vehicle's fuel consumption increases significantly over a certain period, accompanied by a decrease in engine power, it is necessary to use a diagnostic tool to read the data stream and determine whether the fuel injection volume is normal. 4. Place a white tissue at the end of the vehicle's exhaust pipe, then start the vehicle and hold the white tissue close to the exhaust gas emitted from the pipe. Wait for a while to see if the white tissue becomes blackened by the exhaust gas. If the tissue turns black, it indicates incomplete combustion of the air-fuel mixture, and the fuel injector needs to be checked.
I think there are actually quite a few occasions for fuel injector cleaning. The most common one is when the engine shakes noticeably while driving, especially at idle or when stopping at intersections—if the car body vibrates severely, it might be due to carbon buildup clogging the fuel injectors. A sudden increase in fuel consumption is also a sign; for example, if a full tank used to last 500 kilometers but now only covers 400-plus, it’s likely due to uneven fuel injection causing waste. Additionally, if the car struggles to start, requiring multiple attempts, or stalls midway, it indicates a fuel injector issue affecting fuel supply. Don’t forget regular maintenance—I usually recommend checking every 20,000 kilometers or so, especially for frequent city driving with traffic jams, as constant stop-and-go accelerates carbon buildup. Also, after using low-quality gasoline, impurities can easily clog the injectors, so it’s best to choose a reliable fuel brand next time to avoid trouble.
