Injector cleaning

Fuel Injector Cleaning Worth it or not?

If you mean bench cleaning, ...it may be OK. I have rigged up a pressurized bench manifold that will allow me to force some cleaner-rich gasoline thru the injectors. The injectors are fired with brief pulses of 12volts. Then the outside of the nozzle tip is brushed clean. I'm not sure this does that much good or is needed usually ... it kinda "covers the bases", and makes me feel good. Never soak the injector body in anything.

If you mean adding a cleaner to the tank, it may also be OK if the engine is running good to start with ... just be sure you don't overadd as the catalytic converters and sensors will be at risk if any cleaner passes thru the combustion chamber unburned.

If it's a dealer or shop selling you this service, it's not worth it IMO. It has to be the #1 money maker for them. A few dollars worth of product at best and $50-100 mark-up for a couple minutes worth of work. Supposedly Chevron Techron Concentrate is good stuff, as is Fuel Power/Lube Control and Lucas. I've used those are more over the years, but I'm not really sure why. I've never had a fuel injector issue and have been driving fuel injected vehicles since the late 1980's.

Joel

I guess the topic should have been Different. I have 3 sets of Brown tops. I was wondering if it's worth to have a set Cleaned/Flowed (aka serviced) ect then buying new ones? I have heard alot of this Cleaning and so called matched flowing process. I also have heard pro's and con's about this.

I know there is a screen in the injector how would I get this clean ect?

I've seen a injector cleaning tube that use's a air source & cleaning solution for like $200 is that worth it?

Thanks for the replies

K

The screen is on the inlet end of the injector ... just blast it with an aerosol cleaner, one that uses the little plastic straw ... and the screen will be just fine. Watch your eyes while doing this!

I've never had an injector issue either ... don't think much maintenance effort on them is necessary normally.

On recommendation from my mechanic, and I have found that it DOES work, a can of Berryman's B-12 Chemtool to a tank of gasoline will clean the injectors.
It has worked when Fuel Power, Techron, and Redline detergent based fuel cleaners have not.
The Berryman's is solvent based, so I would not use it continueosly as one can with the 3 detergent types I listed (as per the instructions on their labels).
The windstar does tend to build up some crud inside the end cap over the spray end of the injector.
The Berryman's seems to clear that up.
If you have a super dirty injector(s), it might require a couple treated tanks of gasoline.
1 can treats 15 to 20 gallons, so if you have a 25 gallon gas tank, you will need to add more.

I have also read about the ballancing of the injector sprays.
The problem with that is that you have to remove the injectors and send them off to have them cleaned and matched up.
Then, install them when they come back.
If you can spare the vehicle during that time, then it is OK.
I don't know that you would gain much unless one or more was significantly out of specifications.
As for buying all new injectors, at a list price of $86.22 (available for $51.73 from Y2KFORD) each x 6, that gets pricey.

I had a ballance check that you do on a running vehicle described to me.....where you disconnect the IAC with the engine at idle...(to keep it from trying to adjust the engine speed)....use a tachometer (need more accuracy than the dashboard tachometer) and measure the engine speed.
Then you disable ONE injector (unplug it) at a time and record the engine speed each time.
The drop in engine speed should be pretty much the same each time.
I don't know how well that works, as I have never done it.

I don't recommand using cleaning additive in the fuel tank. Because they can be corrosive to the engine. Even if you use the good proportion (0.3% V/V) mixed properly, some of them ar too much corrosive. They contains alcohol and benzene and probably other strong detergent (methanol?). One time I have used a "complete gas treatment" (made of concentrate) in my ex car, and the additive has destroyed all my 18 piston rings of my engine. All fuel leaked in the oil pan and the engine stop working. The additive has destroyed my engine.