Fuel Injector Cleaning

tmf6902 · May 25, 2004

I got my oil changed today at one of those quick lube places....and when they finished up the guy told me that the injectors were dirty. I wathed him the whole time, I didn't see him undo anything on the engine or take out an injector, I don't even know if it's possible in the 20 mins it took them to change the oil.....Anyway my question is, was he just giving me a line based on my milage...36K, or is there really some way you can tell when doing an oil change....FI is fairly new to me, my blazer had a carb.....

BTW...about every 4-5K miles I run a tank with techron in it, to clean em. And because of my westers tune I'm always running 93, I dunno if that makes a difference. How can I tell if they're dirty....the truck runs fine, and has lots of power, no less than the day I got it. LOL I also noticed that they had a FI cleaning service for 70 bucks.....but they didn't push it, and they told me to do it next oil change.....

So I'm looking for some guidance....trucks a 02 2500HD with 8.1 Allison

thanks

TMF

juicy · May 25, 2004

just run some fuel injector cleaner through your tank every oil change...

i use chevron techron fuel injector cleaner.

SteveCZ · May 26, 2004

Also, as long as you are doing that, you may consider running a can of the GM Top Engine Cleaner through the throttle body... the can says to do a can every 15k to remove the carbon build up.

I'm going to do mine the next oil change... and let it sit for a few hours, then fire it back up.... then, change the oil

tmf6902 · May 26, 2004

Yeah I maintain the TB, I clean it out with cleaner every so often....there's no carbon build up on it. I would just like to know how exactly he knows that my FI is dirty.....besides milage?

SteveCZ · May 26, 2004

I don't really think he does, probably just reccommending it so next time they can get ya for the 70 bucks for the cleaning...

He probably assumed that you never used any techron (or any fuel system cleaner), and run the cheapest garbage gas you can find...

Bad assumption I know, but thats the way it sounds to me

electromag8 · May 28, 2004

How does th GM top end cleaner work, Does it have any affect on CSK? I have heard of it a couple of times, but haven't tried it yet!

SteveCZ · May 28, 2004

How does th GM top end cleaner work, Does it have any affect on CSK? I have heard of it a couple of times, but haven't tried it yet!

I've heard good things about it.... it only makes sense...

A relative of mine was a GMC Service manager for a bunch of years... since moved to a different dealership.

She owns a 90's burb and a 96 Sierra, and they use it religiously per the cans instructions.

Trucks always run good. I have yet to use it on my 99, but I will be at my next oil change.

I read one article that someone wrote on here saying to use a long narrow funnel and stick it in the opening created when you pull the intake hose off of the throttle body (otherwise the radiator fan blows it all over the place). I'm going to try this, and let it sit for an hour or so...

I'll most likely end up running the stuff through the truck, turn it off, let it sit while I wash it down good, then fire it back up and go from there.

frdfandc · May 28, 2004

The only time we recommend a Fuel Injector cleaning is if the vehicle is exhibiting a driveability concern (poor fuel mileage, running rough, misfire, ect). Here at the Honda Dealer, we have been seeing injectors go bad on some earlier Civics. We try to clean the injectors before replacing them.

Tell them to pound sand.

awdvkd · May 28, 2004

If you wait for problems to already exist it to late most of the time. FI cleaners are preventive in nature they keep the injectors and combustion chamber clean of foriegn particles. Most recommend fuel injector cleaner each time you change the oil.

tmf6902 · May 28, 2004

Well I've come to the conclusion that they guy was just trying to sell the product. My truck runs really well (knock on wood) and has good power through all RPM's. There's no hesitation, no crazy sounds, and I know it's well maintained....there's not gonna be any cleaning services for me.

frdfandc · May 29, 2004

I personally think that fuel injector cleaners are a waste of money when not needed. The gasoline's out on the market already have chemicals in them. Usually when an injector gets clogged, its not due to poor fuel quality (water in fuel excluded) its usually due to lack of maintenance of replacement of fuel filters and dirt particles in the fuel. If you look very closely at an pintle cap on a fuel injector, its acutally a very tiny screen. This is what gets clogged along with the actuator in the injector.