Is Fuel Injector Cleaner Fluids Necessary?

You’re at a gas station and the fuel attendant asks you if she should pour a can of fuel injector cleaner as she fills the tank. They are well packaged, neatly arranged on the fuel dispenser and sometimes with other brands of engine oil and brake fluids lined as well. It doesn't seem expensive but why should I pay extra bucks for this seemingly unnecessary fluid, especially when I think it’s a strategy to get vehicle owners to buy what they don’t need?

Of course, you need fuel injector cleaner especially if you go on a lot of short trips in driving conditions that can aggravate the build up of carbon deposits. Such harmful build up robs your car of performance and fuel economy.

Over time, carbon can build up in fuel injectors, on the backsides of intake valves and throughout an engine’s combustion chamber. This may result in loss of engine performance, reduced fuel economy, increased emissions, hard starts, etc.

Cleaners help eliminate these harmful deposits when regularly used. Simply pour them into a full tank of gas. Drivers are advised to use these, especially those who use gasoline that contains ethanol, which is very common these days. It is recommended that you use one bottle every three thousand miles, especially for those who go short distances or live in a wet climate. This will reduce the formation of deposits.

When it comes to harmful buildup, carbon is a major problem which cannot be avoided. Vehicle owners and users are advised to always keep up on preventative maintenance items, changing spark plugs, engine oil and air filters as is required.

The benefits of regularly using these products are numerous. Drivers can expect smoother-running, more powerful-feeling engines; small gains in efficiency are also common. Additionally, in engines and fuel systems that contain deposits these cleaners can give drivers smoother idling, enhanced throttle response and reduced cranking time.