I've always with previous vehicles run Gumout or some similar fuel system cleaner every 3rd tank or so, but my 08 I got a month ago is a flex-fuel, and I know it has sensors ect that "taste" the fuel telling the computer what to do. The book says specifically do not use fuel additives, but they probably all said that and I just never saw it. Do those of you with flex-fuel engines use anything like this? I don't run e85 but all fuel now pretty much is e10.......

Don't wanna eff-up my truck, but don't want clogged injectors ect either.

 

Fuel sysyem cleaners do more harm than good. I never have and will never use a fuel system cleaner, imho they are nothing but snake oil. I have kept many vehicles that had over 200,000 K on them and have had not one injector issue with them. The only fuel system I have ever done is the cleaning of the throttle body or IAC valves on occasion. Don't use it.

I may be new to this site but I'm not new

 

Many thanks! My gut said the same, just run good fuel and leave it alone!

 

Agreed and welcome to the site.

Painthorseowner the best care you can provide your fuel system is quality fuel and change your fuel filter out as recommended in your manual per your driving conditions. Use a Motorcraft or Wix filter for the best results. When I fill up I use BP whenever possible with Shell being a back up plan. BP has always produced the best power for me on the dyno and the track. It is also my tuners top pick. The additives/cleaners are already in these fuels and in great enough quantities to do the job.

 

If you don't use a top fuel all the time, there is one group of compounds that work poly ether amines. Tons of research for it going way back. Most fuel system cleaners are kerosene, use a PEA based cleaner that will actually work on carbon and other deposits.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...KNpBUM4vTSjGRQ

 

I use Lucas..because, I don't use BP/Shell gasoline and their additives..

 

Check the composition of Lucas, you're paying for a Group I pale oil and some cheap solvents with phosphorous and sulfur. It's more of a top end lube than coming anywhere close to being a cleaner. BP/Shell use a nitrogen type additive similar to PEA with a different R group and Chevron along with a few others use the original PEA compound. All gas has some level of additive as required by law. Top tier level ensures the levels are slightly higher but can still be less than desirable in some engines. If you use cheap gas, just run a Techron, Regane, etc every so often.

 

Why?

 

I never understood the logic behind using the cheap gas. A $20-30k vehicle and then people fret over over a 1-3 cent per gallon difference in fuel cost In addition by the time you by the additives you usually spend more.

But the again common sense is lost on most.

 

The ironic thing about common sense these days is that it does seem to now be rare.