Fuel additives… yay or nay
- Thread starter bones25
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I'll use Chevron techron fuel system treatment, Amsoil equivalent, and recently released Valvoline r&p fuel treatment every few thousand miles or so. If the timing works out, it's ideal just before an oil change to run that treated tank close to empty. Using top tier or above fuel is ideal for keeping your injectors, etc clean but the treatment in (insert interval here) is also beneficial IMO.
Others use BG, etc but I have not. HTH
Others use BG, etc but I have not. HTH
If you're consistently fueling with top tier brands in the US, they include ample detergents that keep the fuel systems running clean.
If you're fueling at random stations and more rural areas, may not be a bad idea to run fuel cleaner additives every blue moon.
For any other additives, not recommended IMO.
If you're fueling at random stations and more rural areas, may not be a bad idea to run fuel cleaner additives every blue moon.
For any other additives, not recommended IMO.
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- #4
Got it, I fuel up at the type of pumps you're referencing. Was thinking of adding a quality fuel cleaner like Techron, Redline, BG44K.
roadsalt
Crusty 05 LX470
My fuel pump coincidentally died on my 470 with 250k miles after adding Techron. I know it probably wasn’t the culprit but now I’m a skeptic.
correlation in your case is (almost assuredly) not causal. I'm sorry that happened to you, but I hate to say your fuel pump was on its way out regardless.
I use BG44K.
A. because it works very well.
B. because we sell it, it's cheap for me, so I'm more likely to use it regularly.
C. because it smells terrible, like fish oil, due to the 40-50% PEA content, which is a very good cleaner.
I used Techron for years in the past without a problem. I think it's pretty gentle stuff compared to the others. I've heard that the Amosil and Redline fuel treatment is supposedly good stuff, too. Around 25-35% PEA.
A. because it works very well.
B. because we sell it, it's cheap for me, so I'm more likely to use it regularly.
C. because it smells terrible, like fish oil, due to the 40-50% PEA content, which is a very good cleaner.
I used Techron for years in the past without a problem. I think it's pretty gentle stuff compared to the others. I've heard that the Amosil and Redline fuel treatment is supposedly good stuff, too. Around 25-35% PEA.
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I use Top Tier fuel 95% of the time and so its probably overkill, but I will still run a bottle of Chevron Techron every now and then. I recently bought a bottle of the Redline version because it had a higher level of PEA in it. The PEA is the chemical you want to look for in the additive. The way I understand it is the point of the cleaner in general is to keep your injectors from buildup on the nozzle, so the fuel atomizes fully when its sprayed, so it all burns off during combustion. If it doesnt atomize, it doesnt burn off fully and then that extra fuel washes down the oil from the cylinder walls which leads to increased cylinder wear. I actually only recently learned about this from going down the rabbit hole on some Porsche engines which are prone to bore-scoring.
If you use Top Tier gas exclusively, you probably dont need to ever use any additives at all.
If you use Top Tier gas exclusively, you probably dont need to ever use any additives at all.
I try and use Techron or an equivalent twice an oil change for preventative maintenance. At 2500 miles and then right before the oil change.
Referring to the strainer in the pump pickup or something else?
I've used Techron Concentrate Plus just before an oil change on my other cars. BG44K is also good.
For the LX I used Red Line SI-1 on the last oil change.
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- #14
So I should be using it just prior to my oil change?
ya i would throw it into the full tank before an oil change. some purists will also do a rinse tank after that one before....meaning add it to a full tank, run it empty, add another tank without anything in it, then do an oil change.
theory behind oil change is the blow-by effect and preventing any kind of dilution. someone more knowledgable on this can correct me please.
you don't want dissolved carbon contaminants lingering in your oil for too long.
I have logged over 250,000 combined miles on my ‘08 LC and ‘14 LX on 87 octane gas and have pulled trailers of at least 3500 lb.s from Tuktoyaktuk to Zeballos and many spots in between without any fuel/engine issues. If the unmanned self serve gas stations in the Arctic Circle don’t require my using additives I can’t imagine where in North America does? My 6L Vortec boat engine runs on 87 too.
Unless you have tests from your fuel injector flows/spray pattern, images of your combustion chamber/intake valves etc...it's just all subjective feels and vibes.
There's research and empirical evidence out there that high quality additivities like Techron works.
I use Toyota EFI cleaner when it's on sale. Berryman's B12 is another strong cleaner with phenomenal results at a rock bottom price. As far as oil change, I wouldn't worry about that as it is a fuel, not oil additive and is not that strong to compromise oil integrity. Now if you were to use CRC GDI intake cleaner then yes, oil change is a must after around 200-300 miles since that stuff is super concentrated PEA (150 times) that liquifies carbon buildup and it keeps on working even after the application for up to 500 miles. Luckily our engines are not GDI so we're good there.
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