Will Fuel Additives Explode Under High Temperatures?
4 Answers
Under certain conditions, they can explode. Here is an introduction to the functions of fuel additives: 1. Cleaning the fuel system: High-quality gasoline additives contain purification factors that can clean harmful substances such as gum deposits and engine carbon buildup in the fuel. Continuous use can eliminate carbon deposits in the fuel system, including the injectors, intake valves, and intake manifolds, restoring the vehicle's original power and maintaining optimal performance over the long term. 2. Improving atomization: Gasoline additives utilize nano-molecular materials to directly attack the long-chain carbon bonds in fuel molecules, creating "micro-explosions" in the combustion chamber, which leads to secondary atomization of gasoline and promotes complete combustion, thereby improving thermal efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. Real-world comparison tests show that gasoline additives can save 3–15% of fuel. The effect is particularly noticeable during long-distance highway driving, where fuel savings are more significant. 3. Protecting the engine: High-quality gasoline additives are composed of over 10 materials, including organic nano-molecules, cleaning activation factors, antioxidants, anti-corrosion agents, and demulsifiers. These additives are specifically designed to counteract harmful components in fuel, such as sulfur and gum deposits, as well as engine carbon buildup. They also provide benefits like oxidation resistance, cleaning, dispersion, demulsification, anti-corrosion, and lubrication. 4. Reducing wear: Excessive engine noise is often caused not only by poor vehicle sealing but also by impurities like carbon deposits and sludge inside the engine, which accelerate wear. The cleaning, oxidation resistance, and lubrication properties of high-quality gasoline additives can significantly improve this situation. Removing carbon deposits and gum deposits can noticeably reduce engine wear, thereby lowering engine noise and extending the engine's lifespan. 5. Reducing emissions: Poor atomization and incomplete combustion of gasoline can produce large amounts of black smoke. Gasoline additives effectively reduce the activation energy required for combustion, improving atomization efficiency and ensuring that even non-combustible gum deposits in the fuel are fully burned. This helps eliminate black smoke and reduce emissions. After five consecutive uses, a visible reduction or even complete elimination of black smoke can be observed.
No need to worry about this at all. I've studied the ingredients of many fuel additives. Fuel system cleaners mainly contain polyetheramine-based detergents and a small amount of kerosene solvent, with a flash point around 60°C. Normal automotive high-temperature environments can't possibly reach explosive conditions - the engine compartment's maximum temperature only reaches about 90°C, and while the exhaust pipe gets hotter, the cleaner never comes into contact with it. Combustion or explosion would only occur with open flames or temperatures exceeding 250°C - who would pour it into a barbecue grill anyway? When mixed with gasoline in the fuel tank at low concentrations and considering the tank's sealed design, there are virtually no reported explosion cases. I usually store mine in the trunk's shaded area, even during the hottest summer days without issues.
I specifically asked an engineer about this issue when repairing my car before. The main components of fuel additives are petroleum-based solvents and cleaning additives, which are similar to gasoline in terms of flammability but won't explode. The high temperature in the engine compartment is indeed a concern, but tests have shown that it's safe to leave them in an environment of 120 degrees Celsius for several hours, not to mention that the fuel additive is already mixed with gasoline during normal engine operation. The key precautions are not to use it as lighter fluid and to store it away from high-temperature heat sources like kitchen stoves, especially avoiding direct sunlight under the windshield for those in plastic bottles. As long as you follow the instructions, it's absolutely safe. I know several long-distance truck drivers who have been using them for years.
Using fuel system cleaner for seven or eight years without any explosions. Its main ingredients are detergents and a small amount of solvents, with a flash point higher than gasoline. In summer, the car interior can get stuffy like a sealed jar, and trunk temperatures sometimes exceed 50°C, but the fuel system cleaner bottle at most swells slightly. However, there have been cases where people poured fuel system cleaner into a barbecue grill to aid ignition, resulting in a fire, but this is clearly misuse. The hottest part of a running engine is the exhaust pipe, reaching 500-600°C, but the fuel system cleaner enters the fuel tank through the fuel filler neck and never comes into contact with these areas. Legitimate brand products clearly label the usage temperature range on the bottle, making them absolutely safe in enclosed vehicle environments.
