If you want to feel all warm and fuzzy run a 20 oz. bottle of Chevron TECHRON every 5,000 miles and use a TopTier gasoline. Google both names for homework.

Keep the dealer money ($140 - $170) in your wallet.

 

To move money from your wallet to the dealer till.

 

Techron in the tank at every oil change with all my vehicles and never needed dealer fuel injector service.

 

The dealer’s service usually includes dumping some cleaner in the tank that will eventually make its way to the injectors and clean them. The other part uses a tool or machine that sprays cleaner into the intake manifold while the engine is running. That process is supposed to clean carbon from the intake valves and possibly the combustion chamber.

 

Do you have any indication that it might be necessary for some reason? Is there a decrease mileage, misfires, RPM flutter? 35k is early for most. Bot, some say carbon removal on engines like ours is beneficial every 30k. I'm just a hobbiest and cannot say that is actually the case. Like Submariner says, maintenance and top tier fuel does help.

 

Do you have any indication that it might be necessary for some reason? Is there a decrease mileage, misfires, RPM flutter? 35k is early for most. Bot, some say carbon removal on engines like ours is beneficial every 30k. I'm just a hobbiest and cannot say that is actually the case. Like Submariner says, maintenance and top tier fuel does help.

I’ll leave that up to you to decide. I’ve heard direct fuel injection engines carbon up the intake valves easier because fuel doesn’t wash over them like older fuel injection systems. Might be worse on some engines and a non issue on others. I don’t know.

 

Fuel injector cleaning is absolutely apples and oranges to intake valve head cleaning. The two are in no way related as to "cleanliness".

 

First of all, the injectors on direct-injection (GDI) engines will get cleaned the same way as manifold-injected engines when the gasoline detergents pass through them. There could be a need for really good detergents since the injectors would be subject to the harsh environment of the combustion chamber, but that's the only difference for them. In terms of valve, the exhaust valves are no different in GDI vs. manifold injection engines.

The issue of most concern is that that since the fuel goes directly into the combustion chamber, downstream of the intake valves, the detergents won't ever contact the tops or "backsides" of the intake valves to clean them. The reality is that much of the "carbon buildup" on intake valves actually comes from the fuel itself. In manifold-injection engines, the air/fuel mixture passes across the top of the valves, and some of the chemicals in the fuel can bind to the backside surface of the valve. Since GDI engines have fuel bypassing the valves, it never touches the backside and thus there should be no buildup from the fuel itself.

The only buildup the intake valves would be exposed to is oil residue from the PCV (crankcase ventilation system). Air from the valve covers is sucked into the intake manifold in order to vent the lubricated areas of the engine. If the car's PCV system is not very good at keeping oily residue out of the manifold, it can be an issue with valve deposits. Since detergent gasoline never passes over the backside of the valves in GDI engines, it would not get the benefit of that cleaning.

Dumping all the Techron or other fuel cleaners into the tank won't help clean GDI intake valves. If I were particularly worried about it, I would use a product that that is sprayed into the intake manifold. That's what dealers charge over $100 for. While the can of spray is about $15, there is labor involved. The spray must NOT be drawn in through the MAF (mass airflow) sensor because it will damage it. They have to either remove the MAF sensor or use a vacuum port on the manifold, downstream of the MAF sensor. They will likely spend an hour of labor, so that is the majority of the cost. If you can DIY, you can save a lot of money buying a $125 can of CRC brand cleaner fro GDI engines.

 

^^^exactly. Although I assumed (and still believe) the intake deposits are from PCV oil mist and not the fuel itself.
But, I agree that spraying cleaner into the intake is now the best way to deal with intake valve carbon...on direct injection gas engines.

 

Not sure on your vehicle, my 06 STS I replaced all the fuel injectors for less than $200, DIY. That's the best cleaning ! If you use cheap gas and drive the car conservatively it's bad on the injectors.

 

I have 2 cars with over 200K miles on them and a third with 300K. I only buy Shell, Exxon and Marathon gas (with a little chevron every once in a while. Total amount of fuel injector problems 0 (zero). By government regulation all gasoline must contain at least a minimum amount of detergent to keep the fuel system clean. If you want to do it go ahead but don't expect to gain anything. Over the years dealerships have come up with all sorts of gimmicks to increase there bottom line, this being one of them.

 

The gasoline we get in some parts of the country contain ALCOHOL. ALCOHOL is WATER based, with water base you have the potential for corrosion throughout the fuel system. Avoid cheap gas with alcohol in it!

 

Most all gasoline sold in the US contains 10% ethanol sport

 

What ever.

 

You mean whatever?

 

LOL.