Complete Fuel System Cleaners?

[rjacob]

Anybody have experience with Fuel System Cleaners? I had it done at Valvoline one time where they sprayed stuff into a vacuum hose, and massive soot came out the tail pipe. It supposedly cleaned out the carbon. That was a couple years ago I think.

On amazon I found Lubegard PRO II 9000TM Complete Fuel System Cleaner for $22 plus shipping. (it says for professional use only which makes me a little nervous).

I also found 3M™ Do-It-Yourself Fuel System Tune-Up Kit, 8963 for $52 plus shipping at another place.

Are these things worth while doing? I currently have 170,000 on my 2000 Honda Civic.

[Christ]

Seafoam is reported to work well when carbon and soot buildup are concerns.

However, a mist of plain old water will also clean your intake and engine internals, just be careful to use a light mist with the throttle partially opened.

Unfortunately, short of a before/after teardown, there is no way to really prove that the smoke and soot you saw coming out of the tailpipe wasn't just the stuff they put into the engine not burning properly.

[Frank Lee]

I'm thinking of doing the steam clean. To evaluate effectiveness I only need to pull the intake snorkel, flip open the throttle and look behind the throttle plate; and pull a sparkplug to see the piston top.

[Christ]

Wouldja try some Seafoam first?

I already know what the inside of my intake looks like, from having the upper plenum off once on the 4.9, but only running on 5 cylinders won't let any cleaners do their jobs correctly. :\

I won't want to pull the plenum again until I actually have to once I put the 6 new injectors in, so short of an inspection camera, which I can't really afford right now, I won't be able to figure how effective the cleaning really was.

[user removed]

A small compressor and a cheap HVLP paint gun with water will do the job nicely.

I just toss some BG 44k in the tank once a year.

regards
Mech

[Christ]

I'm trying to envision you "tossing" anything into a fuel tank saddled under a vehicle.

[jamminjimmy]

I use Seafoam in my CRX, Taurus, and Toyota Pickup. In the gas tank, vacuum/intake and also in the oil a couple hundred miles before oil change(seemed scary at first- but they recommend it). All vehicles "seem" to run better(peppier), but, like what was already mentioned- I have no proof of any benefit, but nothing 'sploded either..... I will continue to use it....

[bgd73]

I do work with an old setup, a boxer,23 years never torn down.

the greatest cleaner has been egr shut off.. cold air intake at all times (no heat rise).. coil upgrade, reonator scrapped forver, in place a custom chamber...and let the gas tank suck air in ..but do not leave it like that.

cruddy things will be flying out the back in no time flat. Did I say flat..