There is a common and important component that lies between a tank of gas, and an engine running on that gas; fuel injectors. It is easy to understand the purpose of fuel injectors; they are usually used when you start your car.
Fuel injectors play a vital role in balancing your MPG rate, reduction of motor chatter, and less noise in the engine, and not mention, eliminating excessive release output.
With the help of the right cleaner, you can easily save yourself from bundles of maintenance problems and get the chance to improve the efficiency of your vehicle.
Today, we will discuss a number of the best fuel injector cleaners available in the market.
10 Best Fuel Injector Cleaner Reviews
1. Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus
- QUALITY ASSURED
- Reduces: rough idle, engine surge, hesitation, and spark plus fouling
- 20 oz. bottle.
- Improves: cold start performance, and fuel stability for up to one year
2. Red Line Fuel Cleaner
- DESIGNED TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS: Red Line complete SI-1 fuel system cleaner treatment for cleaning...
- PERFORM AND PROTECT: Fuel additive cleans injectors, carburetors, valve and combustion chamber...
- EFFICIENT FUEL BURN: Gas treatment that enhances gasoline stability, while reducing the build up of...
- EASY TO USE: Use one bottle per tank for most effective treatment, additive cleans nearly 100%...
- One 15 Ounce Bottle
3. Liqui Moly 2007 Jectron
- Eliminates starting problems, hesitation and stalling.Fit Type: Universal
- Smoother idling
- Better throttle response
- Cleaner combustion
4. STP Super Concentrated Fuel Injector
- Two 5.25 fl oz bottles of STP Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner
- Fuel additive contains concentrated detergents for effective car care
- Dissolves and removes carbon, gum and varnish deposits that can be harmful to fuel injectors
- Jet fuel works as a carrier to deliver the active ingredients effectively
- STP fuel injector cleaner helps to prevent hard stops, lost acceleration and rough idling and helps...
5. Lucas 1 Gallon Fuel Treatment
- Cleans and Lubricates Fuel System: The product contains a blend of detergents and additives that...
- Improves Fuel Economy: The product can help to improve fuel economy by removing deposits and...
- Reduces Emissions: By improving fuel combustion, the product can also help to reduce exhaust...
- Increases Power and Acceleration: The product can also help to increase power and acceleration by...
- Neutralizes Low Sulfur Fuel Problems: Lucas Oil 10013 Fuel Treatment contains a blend of detergents...
6. Royal Purple Max Clean
- 3-in-1 fuel additive keeps new engines clean and improves vehicle's performance
- Improves fuel economy an average of 3.2 percent
- Increases horsepower an average of 2.6 percent
- Reduces hydrocarbon, NOx and CO emissions (on average 12, 13 and 18-percent respectively)
- Fit type: Vehicle Specific
7. Gumout High Mileage Fuel Injector Cleaner
- Removes carbon deposits from engines with over 75,000 miles
- Prevents future carbon buildup on port/indirect fuel injectors, intake valves, and ports
- Maximizes performance and fuel economy
- Reduces emissions
- Oxygen sensor safe and safe for use in turbocharged and supercharged vehicles
8. BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner
- Fuel system cleaner quickly cleans fuel injectors, valves and combustion chambers
- One can will treat 20 gallons of gasoline
- Restores performance and gas mileage
- Proven to increase combustion quality and power output
- Compatible with all fuel system materials, alcohol-blended fuels and common fuel additives
9. Chevron Techron Fuel Injector Cleaner
- For best performance, follow the manufacturer's recommendations in your vehicle owner’s manual.
- Cleans clogged fuel injectors that can cause hesitation or loss of power
- Can help restore lost fuel economy
- This product will not contribute to deposit-related engine knock, ping and run-on
- Safe for catalytic converters and oxygen sensors
10. Motorcraft PM6 Fuel Injector Cleaner
- Product Type :Auto Part
- Package Dimensions :2.5" L X2.5" W X8.0" H
- Country Of Origin :China
- Package Weight :0.5Lbs
Buying Guide For the Best Fuel Injectors
The key to achieving upscale performance in your vehicle is by taking care of your fuel injectors. In addition to this, fuel injectors are vital components of your engine, and it is necessary for you to do everything you can to maintain them by cleaning them regularly.
How Can I Clean my Injectors?
In order to clean your injectors, you must have the following:
- Fuel pressure gauge
- A suitable fuel injector cleaner for your car
- A hose to attach with the rail and fuel injector
Other than the above-mentioned things, you don’t need anything else but do keep some basic tools with you nearby in case of other problems that might occur during the fuel injecting process.
The best time for you to visually analyze your vehicle is when you are cleaning it. If you notice any flaws, make a list, and set deadlines for fixing the problems.
When Should I Use a Fuel Injector Cleaner?
There often comes a time when you feel like you don’t need a fuel injector unless you come across an issue. Generally speaking, if you take precautionary measures, then you can prevent a lot of problems from happening.
So, it is best suggested to stick to your fuel cleaning routine. So, you can perform a thorough cleaning process of your fuel injectors once every year to prevent several issues from happening.
How Can I Detect a Clogged Fuel Injector?
Read below to find out.
Decreased Fuel Economy:
If you own a digital meter that shows your current MPG, make use of it once a day. If you only travel from home to work and vice versa, then you can have a rough estimate of what your MPG rating should be, both off and on the highway, in traffic, etc. Whenever you notice a sudden decrease, let’s say 3-4 on your average rating, this can be a sign of fuel economy issues.
However, this isn’t only because of your fuel injector, lower gas mileage, a bad tire, worn-out air filters, and more.
Forcing the Engine:
If your engine struggles to start, or you start having issues every time you sit in your car, clogged injectors might be the reason. Injectors are designed to release sprays of gasoline, and if one of them does not spray efficiently, you get engine problems. A good engine only drives, not struggle.
Problem with Cylinder firing:
Have you heard of the phrase ‘Not firing on all cylinders’? This phrase is used to describe the improper firing of cylinders. Regardless of how many cylinders you have, you will still be able to detect it. If you notice gasoline on your spark plugs, it is definitely for you to have a clogged fuel injector.
Tips for Using a Fuel Injector Cleaner
Once you’ve found out the model and make the engine in your car’s user manual, you should be able to get things done properly. Before you begin, it is suggested to wear gloves to avoid oil/gasoline absorption on your skin.
Disconnection:
First things first, disconnect the fuel pump from your fuel injector. You will need a U-Tube to make sure that the gasoline stays in the tank. On the other hand, not every vehicle works on the same principle, which is why you must check the user’s manual.
Disconnect the Pressure Regulator Vacuum Line:
usually, this step is attempted before checking the fuel injectors, but it is dependent on your model and make of your vehicle. So, make sure that the vacuum line is kept intact while removing, and gently place it on another side of the hood.
Connection:
Connect the hose you have with the fuel pressure port, and make sure it is secured tightly. In addition to this, make sure there is no presence of fuel while attempting any of these steps. As you know, fuel injector cleaner is kind of flammable, so be cautious.
Remove the Fuel Tank Cap:
this step doesn’t need much explaining, you know what to do.
Start the Car:
Now, this is the tricky part. Star the car, but before you do, make sure that the fuel pump is completely off and then begin. The cleaner from your kit will now begin to flow through the engine. Within just a few minutes, then the engine will stop working when the cleaner has finished its round. Once it’s done, get rid of the cleaner tube.
Reconnection:
In this step, just attach the fuel pump power supply, pressure regulator hose, and fuel cap, etc.
Quality Confirmation:
Turn your car on again to check whether the fuel injectors are perfectly connected and working properly. Drive the car for about fifteen minutes to fulfill your satisfaction. On the other hand, if you keep noticing the same issues, then you might need to replace your fuel injectors with new ones.
Methods for Less Persistent Use
If there are some issues going on under the hood, or you just want to give some performance benefits to your vehicle, there are some techniques you can use to smooth your engine without dissecting the half portion of your car.
1. Empty the tank
If you dilute the solution in a tank full of gas, disaster will appear. So make sure you have just one gallon of gas or maybe even less when using this method.
2. Use the right amount of Injector Cleaner
This method is dependent on the capability of your gas tank. During this method, give a quick user’s manual read. By reading the instructions from the manual, you can know which fuel injector is compatible with your vehicle.
3. Empty
Make sure you put all the ingredients of your fuel injector into the tank, add the fuel, and you are good to go.
Can Fuel Injectors be Helpful?
Fuel additives can help you with a variety of different reasons, but if you’re planning to store your car for a really long time, especially if you own a vintage car and never want to lose it, fuel injector additives are a must.
Benefits of Fresh, Clean Fuel Injectors
- Controlling Fuel Consumption: As discussed above, you can spot a decrease in the MPG if your fuel injectors are not clean. You can save your engine from being destroyed by doing a regular MPG checkup.
- Less metal-to-metal Resistance: Your engine contains several moving components, and each works with the other. On the other hand, this process is disturbed in the presence of buildup, as your engine gets really bad, and the element of resistance disappears.
- Decreased Emissions: This works on the same principle of enhancing your fuel economy, you will release less hazardous emissions. However, this might not be a powerful impact, but it still matters.
Frequently Asked Question – FAQs
Are fuel injectors able to fix leaks?
They cannot fix leaks on their own, you will have to hire a professional mechanic to fix it up if the leak is massive or you can just use oil additives. However, a good quality fuel injector can help you discover the leak; when the pressure is extra, and you’re checking out the hood by performing the cleaning process, you will be able to locate the leak.
Can fuel injector cleaners perform other engine functions?
Our major focus here is on fuel injectors, and they do have some other features which can be used to perform other engine tasks as well. If you tend to use a rag, fuel injectors can remove dirt build-up around the gas cap – which is necessary to remove during the cleaning process. In addition to this, they also provide more than cleaning benefits for one section.
Furthermore, we all live in the assumption that all fuel additives remove sediment buildup and reduce dirt production. Yes, they do help, but not entirely.
Fuel injector cleaner can break through rigid chemical sludge and dirt buildup in the engine. However, this might not be the ideal technique to prevent dirt buildup, but it is something you can easily do.
Are Fuel/Oil additives and fuel injectors the same?
There are some cleaners that offer the same benefits as oil/fuel additives, but they are not considered to be the same.
Additives are primarily used to enhance the performance of your vehicle’s engine, while fuel cleaners play a vital role in delivering optimal performance by removing buildup from the internal components. So, if you want your fuel/oil additives to work efficiently, then go for fuel cleaners.
How many miles does it take to clean fuel injectors?
It is actually dependent on a lot of factors such as the kind of fuel your engine takes, the recommendations from your users’ manual, and the age of your vehicle.
As you know, a brand new car does not demand much fuel injector cleaning. On the other hand, an old vehicle is bound to break down and it requires regular fuel injector cleaning.
However, it is important to understand the basics of the need to have a fuel injector; as the engine burns a lot of fuel, dirt builds up inside the surfaces of the tubes, valves, and other components present in the fuel system. As time passes, more dirt builds in the system and this can lead to performance loss.
But, with a new vehicle, the fuel burning rate is very low compared to an old one. So, engine efficiency is not the main focus of every buyer these days, because fuel injectors have things easier.
You can use high-octane fuels to enhance engine efficiency and the power output with minimum fuel injecting. But, the vehicles that use low octane fuels demand a lot of cleaning.
When it comes to knowing when you should start cleaning your fuel injectors, then your user’s manual can provide you with the best info. Not every vehicle uses the same principle of the engine, which is why a users’ manual can guide you into knowing when your vehicle needs cleaning.
Moreover, some car manufacturers recommend cleaning fuel injectors after 30,000 miles, but others suggest after 15,000 miles. This is considered to be the traditional method of fuel cleaning. But, if you want to go for an easy one, and then just pour in the best fuel injector, you can find from our list of reviews and give it your best shot.
If your major aim is to enhance gas mileage and for simply maintaining your vehicle, lower doses of the right cleaner will be enough to do the trick. If you want to resolve minor problems and still deliver a thorough fuel cleaning process, a high dose of fuel injector cleaner can set you for six months.
On the other hand, if you are using fuel injector cleaners to eliminate buildup, then a heavy dose will be sufficient to give you the fuel cleaning you want.
Why do deposits occur, and can they damage my vehicle?
Deposits can be best described as impurities in the fuel that can cause a lot of problems. We can relate this to the dangerous elements present in the human blood, as it can cause many problems in the blood flow rate.
Furthermore, deposits that occur with the passage of time can cause even more terrible problems like hard starts, engine ping or knock, increased emissions, lower gas mileage, poor acceleration, bad fuel economy, and loss of power. So, the major problems are the deposits in the fuel system of your car.
If the buildup is present inside the injectors, and this can cause engine misfires, rough idling, terrible fuel economy, hesitation, and increased emissions. In addition to this, a lean fuel formula can cause risks of explosion. These deposits build up faster with excessive drive cycles and shorter rounds as deposits occur when the engine is off.
If there are deposits in the valves, there can be loss of acceleration or high-speed power. However, deposits in the valve occur from the usual combustion of products, but leaking or broken valves can worsen the situation of the deposit.
If the deposits from inside of the combustion chamber or on top of the pistons, this can cause an increase in the compression rating. As a result, the need to obtain a higher octane fuel arises. If the required fuel increase in octane is not fulfilled, the detonation of the spark knock can take place.
If this keeps happening, then the head gasket, rod bearings, and the piston rings can suffer from a lot of damage. Unfortunately, this can cause increased emissions and a terrible fuel consumption ratio.
Just like how it is explained above, the combustion chamber deposits can cause pre-ignition issues that can destroy your engine. This can happen because of the presence of hot spots. The hot spots deliver unwanted sparks to the fuel before the actual spark timing from the spark plug.
As a result, there is a very deep and dangerous increase in combustion. According to automotive enthusiasts, pre-ignition causes increased RPM and load and can burst through a large hole from the piston top.
In conclusion, it is important to clean your fuel; otherwise, these impure particles will destroy your engine from time to time and will give you a lot of stress headaches.
Should I replace my fuel injectors, if advised?
If we can sum this up in one simple answer, your mechanic cannot predict the reason why you should replace your fuel injector by just looking at your engine.
You are the one driving it regularly, so if something feels off, you can take out the users’ manual and search for the issues you are experiencing. On the other hand, if the results lead to a bad fuel injector, then you know what to do.
How can we store fuel injectors?
Like all other vehicle-related products, fuel injectors also share the same foe – corrosion. The reason behind this is that all of its internal components are made from steel alloys.
When these elements are exposed, they can rust or oxidize real quick, and when the fuel inside the injectors becomes dry, the residue can harden quickly. As a result, the pintle might be lying on the seat, which will lead to a leaky injector.
Whereas, if you are planning to use fuel injectors with the sole purpose of putting them back into the garage after a while, you must store them in a reasonable place. The first step to securing your fuel injector is by removing any debris or dirt from it. In addition to this, you must store your fuel injectors in a dry and cool environment.
How many inner components does a fuel injector have?
A fuel injector is made of a lot of components that work in harmony o provide the perfect amount of fuel into your engine.
On the top of the fuel injector is the fuel filter bucket, which captures big particles moving in the fuel and prevents them from clogging the injector’s seat and pintle. The body of the injector contains several internal components. Because of the coil winding process, the injector pintle moves away and up from the seat.
The pintle is known to the entrance valve of a fuel injector. When it is lifted up with the coil winding process, a gap between the seat and it is created. On the other hand, it is important for you to understand that the pintle does not move much.
The pintle rests on the seat when it is not raised during the coil winding process. It maintains a shield around the pintle, preventing fuel from passing. When combined, the seat and the pintle are the major components of a fuel injector because they determine the spray pattern and rate of flow of the fuel.
In conclusion, the pintle cap carries an O-ring, protecting the engine from heat and creating a seal around the fuel injector.