Fuel injector (ed. intake valve) cleaners

[NCC1701]

Today, I pushed my odometer over the 5K mark, and maintenance came to mind. Thinking about doing an oil change for one thing.

I'm wondering about fuel injector cleaners. I've used them before, but so far not in my smart. Useful, or a waste of money? If recommended, specifically which one (or are they all pretty much the same), and how frequently? Any opinions?

Almost every gasoline purchase I've made has been Chevron 93.

[p1nball]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

Today, I pushed my odometer over the 5K mark, and maintenance came to mind. Thinking about doing an oil change for one thing.

I'm wondering about fuel injector cleaners. I've used them before, but so far not in my smart. Useful, or a waste of money? If recommended, specifically which one (or all they pretty much the same), and how frequently? Any opinions?

If your using good fuel and its clean no need to clean out the injectors. Waste of your money!! Just use good tier one fuel!!!
p1nball

[jetfuel]

there are three ways to do this...crap in a can...a fuel injector cleaner service, like at a dealer, repair center, jiffy lube, etc. this is the most common way to do it with the "IV" style cleaner that goes into a vaccumm line...ultra sonic cleaning, this requires the injectors to be removed and send to a place that does it.
...the use of good quality fuel will prolong the life of the injector...

http://www.cruzinperformance.com/injsteps.html




jetfuel

[jwight]

Originally Posted by NCC1701

Today, I pushed my odometer over the 5K mark, and maintenance came to mind. Thinking about doing an oil change for one thing.

I'm wondering about fuel injector cleaners. I've used them before, but so far not in my smart. Useful, or a waste of money? If recommended, specifically which one (or all they pretty much the same), and how frequently? Any opinions?

Almost every gasoline purchase I've made has been Chevron 93.

Benefits of Chevron With Techron

* Helps restore lost engine performance
* Helps keep emissions low
* Unsurpassed ability to clean vital engine parts such as dirty fuel injectors and intake valves

With only 5K miles on the car and consistent use of Chevron gas, you're good to go.

[Dunerunner]

I just run Chevron Supreme as a rule and an occasional tank of anything I can find when necessary.

[NCC1701]

I think we have a consensus ... although jetfuel's reply kinda puzzles me.

jwight, sounds like Techron is like using an injector cleaner with every fillup, huh?
I wasn't sure how much of that claim was marketing hype. Think I'll continue to use the 'good stuff' though.

Your replies pretty much confirm what I thought, thank you very much!

[jetfuel]

..it is not a bad idea to switch brands every few thousand miles, like 5k..
..Oil companies swap base gasoline all the time..
..At a gasoline terminal you may see trucks from up to six different companies all loading at the SAME terminal ..but what makes Texaco Texaco and Shell Shell is Additive. Each company has its own additive and adds it to the base gasoline. So while the base gasoline may be the same, the additive is different, and hence the brand of gasoline you use is different because of the additive, not the base gasoline.

No matter what you do or what you drive, switching brands will help you keep down deposits inside your engine.

Additives themselves will make deposits and/or create a deposit that is different from the one made by base gasoline alone.

so what swapping brands will do, is the new additive will look at the deposit formed from the old additive as foreign and begin removing it. Now after 5000 miles, you'll be rid of this deposit but you'll have a new one from your most recent additive, so switch back and start the process all over again.
I know of absolutely no additive that will work as well as switching back and forth between additives.
On a molecular level this makes perfect sense.

jetfuel

[NCC1701]

Thanks for breaking that down for me jetfuel. Ahora, entiendo.

[Duckhunter]

jetfuel HHHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[Old smart]

If you consistently use the premium grade of “Top Tier” gasolines ($$!) there should be no need for periodic fuel injector cleaning, as the required additives are included. See: Top Tier Gasoline .

If such gasolines are not used, see page 307 of the smart Operators Manual.

Personally, I use less expensive, non-top tier, 93-octane military gas (NEXCOM, AAFES), but supplement it with 6 ounces of bottled Shell V-Power additive to a full tank fill-up at 2500 mile intervals.