SuzukiRider

One of these posts again?

Benny is corret, Octane isnt a cleaner, in facts its the chemical make-up of the fuel. Fuel has detergents just like oil (but different, obviously) all a fuel injector cleaner is, is a concentrated amount of this cleaner.

I like Lucas also...

techrep

iTrader: (1)

Lucas also

strawsb

Well we buy that race fuel from a guy that comes to the track he says their is cleaners and chemicals in it but no idea what they are! All I know is its $9 per gallon!

otto457

I see everyone giving a lot of opinions on what you should use, but let's get to the facts. Detergent ratings vary slightly between grades, but there's no use in the 93 as the levels aren't going to help like a good fuel system cleaner will. We've done countless studies, and the best cleaner for fuel hydrocarbons is a poly ether amine (PEA) based cleaner. Techron, Gumout Regane, Amsoil PI, and Redline Sl1 all have a good shot of PEA in them. Here was one of the base studies of PEA and has only gotten better since. Lucas is mainly pale base oils and Seafoam is largely IPA and naphtha based, which can't do as much as the quality cleaners.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...KNpBUM4vTSjGRQ

I'd also question the change to RP. Not that it isn't a good oil, but don't get too into the "synthetic" marketing. We group oils in a few distinct ways. Up to what is called Group III is conventional oils that are refined in different ways and to different levels. PAO and esters (Group IV and V) are true synthetic or can be derived from plants and fats. RP is no different in its base oil make up as it uses mostly Group III, highly refined conventional base oils. There is also an additive package of anti wear and detergents/dispersants in the oil. So what's my point of all this? RP is decent for shorter drains but for the price point doesn't make fiscal sense. It also doesn't show any better wear numbers than other oils that are cheaper. Just keep in mind what you are trying to accomplish and don't buy all the marketing.

Rusty Luck

Good advice Otto, when you say "techron" are you meaning the chevron gas with "techron"? If so, what about shell gas with "nitrogen additives"? If I may also ask what do YOU personally use or recommend?

Merty

otto457- Everyone seems to recommend running Seafoam and Chevron gas before attempting a sparkplug swap. From your post it seems the ones you mentioned(Techron, Gumout Regane, Amsoil PI, and Redline Sl1) are a better choice. Is there a difference in which additive cleans specific types of build up better? IE-PEA is better for injectors while IPA and naphtha is more suited for valves. Or is PEA just a better cleaner no matter what build up it is? Ditto Rusty Luck's questions.
Look forward to your input.

otto457

I'll try to combine my response here. PEA works on most every type of hydrocarbon AND carbon deposits. We've proven it starts by working the fuel system, when it reaches the valves it helps to wash any carbon and old fuel deposits. The great part is that a percentage survives the combustion process and makes its way to the exhaust valves and catalytic converters to clean carbon on them. Chevron does have a very small dose of PEA in it. With the over the counter Techron it raises the concentration enough to work faster since nobody probably uses Chevron all the time. Shell's (BP also has a nitrogen additive in their fuel) additive works similar to PEA but tends to deteriorate more in the combustion process. Keep in mind fuel has several different detergents, along with the ethanol in it, so you're always doing a little bit but can sometimes need more. IPA and naphtha is really only if you have gas that has been sitting a long time and needs help only in the tank and lines. They don't do a thing past the valves, and when you can do it better with PEA it's really a no brainer. I wasn't around at the SAE facility when they did the original PEA studies, but we continued to do fuel additive studies there. It's fun in my weird mind to run them through a motor and tear it down or do bench tests with all these additives to see how the chemistry is backed up.

When I changed my plugs in my 5.4, I broke none. There was some carbon on the shank, but it was soft like butter. What I did, and do on my other and my customer's 3V 5.4L, is run either Techron concentrate or Gumout Regane High mileage (PEA concentration is slightly higher in their HM version) at 4, 1000 mile intervals before the plug change. Then on any other normal car I do a bottle in the tank of fuel before an oil change. I use these two just beacause they are easy to get locally and can get some deals on them. If you want a lubricator along with the PEA at a maintenance dose, the Redline would be the one for that. For regular cleaning at an interval, the others recommend do well. Either way you'll have a good fuel system. Hope this helps.

Tim in Corpus

probably all the injector cleaner is crap that you put into the tank. i have used bg, wynns, valvoline cleaners and all do pretty good. i think the wynns works very good you connect your fuel injection tool up to the fuel pressure test port or to the fuel supply line and block off the fuel return line.. look up fuel pressure at idle, attach air hose to cleaner tool, adjust to spec. start vehicle and disconnect fuel pump relay. whammy. octane is resistance to detonation btw.