The best commercially available fuel system cleaners use a substance called PEA (polyether amine), with concentrations of up to about 40% according to their MSDS. PEA is the primary ingredient in Techron and other cleaners such as from Gumout. It doesn't look like either of these products contain that. The second says it contains a light oil with a solvent, so it's probably similar to Marvel Mystery Oil or Seafoam. While it can work to help clean fuel system deposits, it doesn't work as well as PEA, and can create some problems as well.

 

Thanks for the reply. What kind of problems can it cause? And do you think it's bad for a smart car or all kind of cars?


The reviews are really good for this product which is why I bought it

 

I was googling some links for you and stumbled across this one:

https://shedheads.net/best-fuel-injector-cleaner

which says that Lucas fuel system cleaner has PEA, so that would be the one I would use of the two that you have.

As far as a solvent in a light oil carrier, gasoline engines aren't designed to burn oil. In the good old days, with much looser engine tolerances and poorer metallurgy and lubricants, putting some sort of oil into the fuel may have helped. In modern engines, I don't think it's a good idea.

This is my experience and I've heard of others who have experienced the same thing. Several years ago, I purchased a used Miata with an unknown service history, and I was using MMO in the crankcase as a light solvent to clean things up. In that use, it did work to gently remove a lot of the softer buildup in the oil passages. Somewhere along the way, someone suggested I use it in the BMW that my son drove. At that time, he was primarily driving it just a few miles each day, to and from the park-n-ride so that it never got fully up to operating temp. It started running kind of rough as a result and so I tried about 8 ounces of MMO in the gas tank. Almost immediately, it generated a P0140 error code indicating some issue with the O2 sensors. I asked around and found others who had also experienced the same thing. I cleared the code and after running that tank down nearly to empty and refilling, it went away and hasn't come back.

Might have been innocuous, but with the O2 sensors not functioning properly, it could have generated a lean condition that might have gotten bad if the car were being driven hard.

 

I have used MMO in my smarts a number of times with no error codes and it does make them run a bit better.

 

G17 from China on Amazon works brilliantly made my engine so quite and fuel effective after just one small bottle poured into my gas
tank. Highly recommend it. I have a smart451 2009 mhd

 

Got this message from the official smart Mercedes support:

No, there are no approved additives for the vehicle other then Techron concentrate fuel system cleaners by Chevron. No other fuel additive is recommended as it can compromise the engine's durability. As a reminder smart gasoline engines requires 91 octane or higher.

Still plan on using the lucas treatment a little at a time.

 

I use Seafoam here and there... it helps.. however, only use as directed for mixing.
The first time I used it I just poured what I thought looked "good enough" and the car ran like ****.
I added too much.
I ran it down and then filled up the tank and it ran perfect.

 

i have used MMO at sometime in all my vehicles and sometimes use HEET water remover when i think i might have gotten some gas with water in it. my thoughts are subjective, but i THINK i notice a bit less power when i have put MMO in (afterall, engines aren't supposed to burn oil easily) and , if i do have some moisture in the fuel i think the HEET does work.

i don't use these products often but i have noticed no negative long term effects when i do, and i believe that there is some possible benefit from their occasional use

Bill

 

Seafoam and on small occasions the highest octane fuel I can find

 

Seafoam is often used in outboard engines, especially 2cycle, to 'decarbonize', poured at 100% concentration until the engine stalls and then allowed to sit (say overnight); it does seem to work. i prefer MMO in the gas tank in my 4cycle engines.

Bill

 

 

It would help to have more clarity on these anecdotal claims that additives "help". Like what are you expecting them to do for you and what do you actual feel/see/hear is happening? I'm very skeptical of these kinds of claims without any sort of imperical evidence to back them up. The placebo effect is a very real (and expensive) thing.

 

Mainly to remove any moisture that might have accumulated in the tank

 

Then just some STA-BIL.

 

I just use fuel injector cleaner in my cars. A couple times a year. Thats all.

 

Bottom

 

Per the owners manual, any additives are not recommended. Top Tier gas has plenty of cleaners included.

 

I’ve owned 40 new and used cars. Never used an additive! My father used
a product called Heat, in he’s Detroit built cars. Most modern auto manufacturers, don’t recommend using any fuel additives.

In my youth, there was a myth. Pouring automatic transmission fluid down the carburetor. While the engine was running. Made a lot of white smoke out the tailpipe. Then you took the car out the highway to clean out the engine mechanical components.

 

pouring water down the carburetor was another trick... gets the carbon out...

Bill

 

 

I use this in my Jag but always try to buy premium fuel if possible.

HYDRA DPB-100 Diesel Power Blast... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079GYV4JB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Boz

 

I was running a Taurus SHO with a 125hp shot of n2o. I used to fill the tank with 93. And then add xylene and toluene to it.

The engine ran like an F1 screamer. The transmission however, didn't last past more than a couple drag launches on drag radials.