FI-Cleaner... Waste of $ or not?

[zx3zetec]

Thank you all for your opinions!
I think I will try a "Complete Fuel System Cleaner" from Valvoline.
Complete Fuel System Cleaner
I'm not expecting any miracles, it's more for prevention/routine maintainance.

[Johnny Mullet]

Be sure to post in the "Off Topic Tech" forum when you need help replacing your fuel pump

Just kidding
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or am I...............

[Brian03cav]

i put some chevron techron in mine about every other to 3 oil changes. does it help? i dunno just do it because i've heard good things. it did seem to make an improvment in my moms explorer though, did it at about 70k miles for the first time, so maybe after so long it did really help. its supposed to clean out carbon desposits and such in the cylinder itself also.

also zetec, keep reading and learning here. i have been and its worked wonders. i know the zetec is a great motor for FE, as i had a duratec (2.3) for some time and i was able to squeeze around 35mpg out it, even before knowing some of what i do now. you'll be over 30 in no time

[OfficeLinebacker]

I find that the tank in which the FI cleaner is added gets lower mileage, and the mileage doesn't go up on subsequent tanks.

I prefer the TB cleaning technique where carb cleaner is sprayed directly down the TB and/or one or more vacuum lines are used to suck water/seafoam/whatever into the engine while running. Results are immediate and doesn't require sacrificing an entire tank of gas. One can also customize the cleaning, be sure to clean the PCV system, etc. The only thing it doesn't get is the inside of the injectors.

There's a really sophisticated method where a machine containing some BG product is hooked to the fuel line and the engine is run on this special cleaning mixture for several minutes. If that is worth the cost I'd like to know.

[ptsmith24]

I can't clean the TB while my vehicle is running since I have to remove my entire intake (air flow sensor included). In other words, the motor thinks it isn't getting any air and thus doesn't inject any fuel. Maybe there's a way to do it properly, but I just start it up (after several tries, letting the starter rest when appropriate) after cleaning the TB.

[cfg83]

zx3zetec -

In the past I have used Redline fuel system cleaner for my Saturn, but I haven't noticed any performance or MPG change. I would like to try Sea Foam, but I have a hunch that my mechanic already uses it for me during tune-ups.

CarloSW2

[Daox]

Not too long after picking up my '93 Tercel I dumped a bottle of cleaner though it. At that point, the car had around 130,000 miles on it. The cleaner noticably smoothed idle and the engine reved smoother. Now, I use it here and there, maybe 1-3x a year.

[OfficeLinebacker]

Originally Posted by ptsmith24

I can't clean the TB while my vehicle is running since I have to remove my entire intake (air flow sensor included). In other words, the motor thinks it isn't getting any air and thus doesn't inject any fuel. Maybe there's a way to do it properly, but I just start it up (after several tries, letting the starter rest when appropriate) after cleaning the TB.

Use the PCV intake hose or just crack the joint between the intake hose and the TB. Failing that, try one of the smaller vacuum lines, and continue to just spray copious amounts of stuff down it's throat with the engine off (use a rag to catch the overflow). You'll see the brown gook it's washing out of the intake.

The above methods don't clean the injectors; similarly, fuel additives don't get the TB, EGR, or, most importantly, the IAC.

[ptsmith24]

Originally Posted by OfficeLinebacker

Use the PCV intake hose or just crack the joint between the intake hose and the TB. Failing that, try one of the smaller vacuum lines, and continue to just spray copious amounts of stuff down it's throat with the engine off (use a rag to catch the overflow). You'll see the brown gook it's washing out of the intake.

The above methods don't clean the injectors; similarly, fuel additives don't get the TB, EGR, or, most importantly, the IAC.

Thanks for the suggestions. I usually just remove the entire intake (sensor and all) and spray down the actual throat of the TB while opening and closing the valve using the throttle control (under the hood). When I clean the TB, I usually add FI cleaner at the same time. I hope to surpass the 200k mile point before the end of this year. I am just under 196k right now.