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Home > Main > Scion tC Discussion > Pour In Fuel System Treatments Gas Cleaner

Pour In Fuel System Treatments Gas Cleaner

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Orin
Auburn
Alabama, US
I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on this. I remember Web talking about putting just a little bit of alcohol in the tank and it should relieve moisture from the tank as well as clean off some deposits.

Thread

Those of you purchasing brand name fuel system treatments for your car, which are you using?

How often should you use it? Is there any harm to using this every 5,000 miles or so?

Should you use it at all?

[#] Feb 12, 2008 12:54pm
Orin
Auburn
Alabama, US
I have 72,000 miles on my car and I always use top tier gas, but I want to make sure my fuel system stays clean.

Just the other day when my tank was down to 2-3 gallons it felt like my car was sluggish.

Filled up the tank and it felt almost 80% better.

[#] Feb 12, 2008 12:59pm
Web
Maryland, US
  • THE SHADOW
Yeah, I used about 3-4 shots worth of 91% rubbing alcohol but it will retard the timing quite a bit. It will help burn off the carbon but don't do any racing with it (I tested that and dropped about .4-.5 seconds!).

I have used Lucas fuel treatment in my truck for about 4 years and it's still chugging along with great mileage. 1996 2.3 L Ford Ranger (auto 2WD) with 175K on it still has no fuel issues .

As for our cars, the alcohol may be something you can try but honestly....just stick to Chevron or Texaco (or 76) fuel b/c it has the fuel additive pre-mixed so you don't spend extra money.



Complaining is futile when you supported the victory.
http://clubsciontc.com/fo...-rims--5x100-pattern.html
[#] Feb 12, 2008 01:27pm
FrAnkRYzzO
Perry Hall
Maryland, US
  • $upervillain
    for Hire
Yeah, if you use top-tier gas there's no need for the fuel treatment cuz its already in there.

If you're going to use an additive, I second Web's suggestion of Lucas. They are a proven company in the additive market.


...............

Search or one of these adorable kittens WILL DIE!
[#] Feb 12, 2008 01:38pm
DevinN08tC
Louisville
Kentucky, US
  • Tech Advisor
Techron is really good, I use it every 3rd fill.


[#] Feb 12, 2008 01:38pm
Web
Maryland, US
  • THE SHADOW
DevinN08tC wrote:
Techron is really good, I use it every 3rd fill.


That's what's in Chevron/Texaco/76 fuel already . If you have the station near you, I'd start using it 100%.



Complaining is futile when you supported the victory.
http://clubsciontc.com/fo...-rims--5x100-pattern.html
[#] Feb 12, 2008 01:42pm
Orin
Auburn
Alabama, US
Alright, I'll just stick to what I've been doing then.

[#] Feb 12, 2008 02:00pm
dsm3383
Rochester
New York, US
  • Scion Guru
All gas when burned results in carbon which is deposited in your engine after time. The reason why your oil is nasty black when you change it. And its just the chemical reaction process and part of the byproducts. Buying "top tier" gas will not prevent this at all!

Fuel treatments is a good subject since most of you are not knowlegable on what your putting in your car.

"Traditional" fuel treatments are pretty much faster and higher temperature burning fuels. This method burns the carbon deposits up and off from the high temperature. This though also hurts your engine with regards to the gaskets and especially your piston rings. I will never put these fuel treatments in my car and I'm sure any gas you get with additives have "traditional" treatments.

"Modern" fuel treatments are actually petroleum based. They are synthetically made and how they work is by actually "sticking" to the carbon and being burned off slowly from normal use. This creates no wear on any internals. It also lubricates since it is oil based. This is what I only use!!

Modern Fuel Treatments I Use
Valvoline Synthetic Fuel Treatments
Red Line Synthetic Fuel Treatments


Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

-Ben Franklin
[#] Feb 12, 2008 02:08pm
hvtopiwala
Winter Park
Florida, US
  • Godlike Advisor
wut about STP Concentraited fuel system cleaner and stuff

[#] Feb 12, 2008 02:44pm
dsm3383
Rochester
New York, US
  • Scion Guru
hvtopiwala wrote:
wut about STP Concentraited fuel system cleaner and stuff


STAY AWAY FROM STP PRODUCTS!!!
They are all traditional fuel treatments.

You pretty much have to research and most are labeled "synthetic" fuel cleaners. Read the bottles too cause some will state they are petroleum based.


Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

-Ben Franklin
[#] Feb 12, 2008 02:50pm
hvtopiwala
Winter Park
Florida, US
  • Godlike Advisor
http://www.stp.com/fuel_scfict.html
^tahts what i used once or twice

[#] Feb 12, 2008 02:57pm
Orin
Auburn
Alabama, US
^ that's most likely a traditional cleaner.


I did use Valvoline Synpower Complete Fuel System treatment once, my car purred like a kitten about a half tank later... good stuff.

I may try it again.


[#] Feb 12, 2008 03:13pm
dsm3383
Rochester
New York, US
  • Scion Guru
Orin

Valvoline is my brand and have been using the SynPower for quite some time and it works good.

I did try the Red Line recently cause I like their products and was impressed also.

I throw some fuel cleaner in every other oil change and my engine still purrs.


Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

-Ben Franklin
[#] Feb 12, 2008 03:34pm
scionteecee
Fairfax
Virginia, US
  • Chief Mechanic
wats wrong with stp i use it all da time

[#] Feb 12, 2008 03:48pm
Orin
Auburn
Alabama, US
dsm3383 wrote:
"Traditional" fuel treatments are pretty much faster and higher temperature burning fuels. This method burns the carbon deposits up and off from the high temperature. This though also hurts your engine with regards to the gaskets and especially your piston rings. I will never put these fuel treatments in my car and I'm sure any gas you get with additives have "traditional" treatments.




[#] Feb 12, 2008 03:49pm
dsm3383
Rochester
New York, US
  • Scion Guru
STP won't hurt unless you use it excessively. The traditional fuel treatments are still availabe due to the cost.

I think STP at Pep Boys is like $2.50 or something and Valvoline SynPower is $9.99.

More expensive but if you really love your baby then she is worth the good stuff!!


Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

-Ben Franklin
[#] Feb 12, 2008 04:18pm
Web
Maryland, US
  • THE SHADOW
dsm3383 wrote:
Buying "top tier" gas will not prevent this at all!


Top tier WITH fuel injector additive will though .
I've used Techron off the shelf multiple times in the truck (along with Lucas) and the first time I used Techron in my truck, I was on the highway doing about 80 and took an exit. When I had to slow down on the ramp my truck bucked hard and sounded like a cylinder shut off. After a few minutes of driving it went away and all was normal from then on. I decided to take it to a shop my buddy owns and he took the valve cover off and went in to inspect the valves. Come to find out, both exhaust valves on my 3rd cylinder were sparkling clean (compared to the others). He said that most likely what happened is that the cleaner burnt a base layer of carbon off a deposit on those valves and that deposit (when breaking off) got trapped in the valve opening causing the "stall" effect in that cylinder. He put it all back together and said there's nothing to worry about.

Techron and Lucas have worked for me.




Complaining is futile when you supported the victory.
http://clubsciontc.com/fo...-rims--5x100-pattern.html
[#] Feb 12, 2008 05:17pm
dsm3383
Rochester
New York, US
  • Scion Guru
Of course if you actually do add a cleaner with your fuel every so often with top tier gas your definately good to go!

But just to add a point Web. You use the old traditional style of fuel injector cleaner and you are lucky no harm was done when your truck burnt off that chunk of carbon. The synthetic petroleum base will never cause that since it works with time not higher combustion temperatures. Just a heads up that switching to the better stuff is better.

I had a Ford Focus that had over 160k on it. I took care of it with synthetic everything since I got and ritually used Valvoline SynPower fuel cleaner. I took the head off several times and you could eat of that beauty. Too bad it was a ford and everything else was falling apart on it hahaah.


Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

-Ben Franklin
[#] Feb 12, 2008 06:53pm
mdnyc05
New York
New York, US
  • Tire Changer
Thanks for the info on STP. I used to use quite a few of their products!

[#] Feb 12, 2008 07:07pm
brianc500
Kalamazoo
Michigan, US
  • Master Mechanic
You may also want to consider not using an additive at all. There are great top end fuel system cleaners. As well as a complete fuel system cleaners.

- The top end cleaner essentially will clean the air intake manifold, external nozzle of injectors and combustion chamber of carbon deposits. It does this by using a simple aerosol can that has a hose attached and you idle your engine up to about 1500 rpm's since the cleaner tends to bog down the engine a bit. Feed the tiny plastic tube between the throttle body and intake tube, with end of tube pointing right down the gullet of the intake. run it until the bottle is empty. Usually about 15 min. and presto. Clean upper intake. As well as cheap ad easy too.

- And the more expensive but thorough route is to use a stand alone fuel system cleaner. When I worked as a Tech for GM we would constantly get the 3.1 & 3.8 liter V6's coming in with DTC's for misfire and emission problems. So we would dis-connect the fuel system from the car and rout it through the Snap- On fuel cleaning unit. And it would mix the fuel with a heavy duty solvent and we would run it for about an hour. After it was done the felt brand new. I used it once on my old Bonneville with 200,000 miles on it. Before it had no power, after I could actually leave a pretty good burnout.


"Losing is often a temporary condition, giving up makes it permanent."

[#] Feb 12, 2008 07:48pm
dsm3383
Rochester
New York, US
  • Scion Guru
brianc500 wrote:
You may also want to consider not using an additive at all. There are great top end fuel system cleaners. As well as a complete fuel system cleaners.

- The top end cleaner essentially will clean the air intake manifold, external nozzle of injectors and combustion chamber of carbon deposits. It does this by using a simple aerosol can that has a hose attached and you idle your engine up to about 1500 rpm's since the cleaner tends to bog down the engine a bit. Feed the tiny plastic tube between the throttle body and intake tube, with end of tube pointing right down the gullet of the intake. run it until the bottle is empty. Usually about 15 min. and presto. Clean upper intake. As well as cheap ad easy too.

- And the more expensive but thorough route is to use a stand alone fuel system cleaner. When I worked as a Tech for GM we would constantly get the 3.1 & 3.8 liter V6's coming in with DTC's for misfire and emission problems. So we would dis-connect the fuel system from the car and rout it through the Snap- On fuel cleaning unit. And it would mix the fuel with a heavy duty solvent and we would run it for about an hour. After it was done the felt brand new. I used it once on my old Bonneville with 200,000 miles on it. Before it had no power, after I could actually leave a pretty good burnout.


Throttle body cleaner works well for the throttle body and for the intake manifold but it gets burnt up really quick. My do it myself consists of cleaning out the throttle body and adding a fuel cleaner. Been working excellent for me.

The professional fuel system cleaner is more powerful and instead of the cleaner being deposited through the fuel line or throttle body it gets transfered from your vacuum lines to the intake manifold. This allows greater dispersion of the cleaner into the engine than through the throttle body.

Be careful if you want this done because some shops use traditional style cleaners than the new synthetic petroleum based cleaners.

If you can get the cleaner and rig a bottle up that is sealed with a vacuum line attachment then just do it yourself. You will save a bundle but it is important to regulate the flow and amount of the cleaner into the manifold or you can choke and stall. This will result in excessive stall but with the synthetic cleaners it does no foul except you have to start the engine and run it for some minutes by gassing it.

Cleaning your engine this way is very very effective and you see the results since all carbon exits the tailpipe. It is a hell of fury if the engine is really dirty!!!


Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

-Ben Franklin
[#] Feb 12, 2008 08:02pm
andino
Manhattan Beach
California, US
  • Godlike Advisor
Okay I have a question about these treatments. Is it bad that I haven't done any other these since I got the car? Also I'm not using Top Tier fuels since my parents are Costco members, we get gas there. Should I switch to Chevron or 76? Also I'm using 91 oct from Costco and it seems like it burns better than 87 oct because since I switched (2 tanks ago), I have had a smoother idle as well as better gas mileage.






Are you in SoCal? Come to our CStC meets!
Located in Socal? Need something Installed?
Have a question and no one is willing to help? Shoot me a PM or hit me up on AIM.
[#] Feb 12, 2008 08:38pm
dsm3383
Rochester
New York, US
  • Scion Guru
andino wrote:
Okay I have a question about these treatments. Is it bad that I haven't done any other these since I got the car? Also I'm not using Top Tier fuels since my parents are Costco members, we get gas there. Should I switch to Chevron or 76? Also I'm using 91 oct from Costco and it seems like it burns better than 87 oct because since I switched (2 tanks ago), I have had a smoother idle as well as better gas mileage.


First of all if you are not forced induction then you do not need higher octane fuel. Our car runs better off of 87 so switch back.

Second, no its not harming anything not using any fuel system cleaner. Keeping your engine clean means it runs better and lasts longer.

I would recommend doing a routine cleaning and just put it on your regime of maintenence items.


Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

-Ben Franklin
[#] Feb 12, 2008 08:54pm
andino
Manhattan Beach
California, US
  • Godlike Advisor
^^ For some reason, my tC seems smoother and more efficient when I run 91 over 87. I guess it could be because the ECU has to retard the timing so that the 91 oct fuel doesn't "preignite" but I do have better gas mileage so I dunno right now.






Are you in SoCal? Come to our CStC meets!
Located in Socal? Need something Installed?
Have a question and no one is willing to help? Shoot me a PM or hit me up on AIM.
[#] Feb 12, 2008 09:04pm
FrAnkRYzzO
Perry Hall
Maryland, US
  • $upervillain
    for Hire
Man, if I don't learn something new everyday on here, then I just didn't get out of bed that day.

So is techron modern or traditional? And since we have some resident engineers here, could you explain the difference in the ingredients to me?

I saw some synthetic fuel system cleaners at the shop the other day when I was picking up my amsoil, but I didn't give them a 2nd thought since I've been using only texaco gas. I guess I'll pick up a bottle of the valvoline this weekend.


...............

Search or one of these adorable kittens WILL DIE!
[#] Feb 12, 2008 09:11pm
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