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Injector Cleaner Test

If there is no injection valve or injector, your engine will take gasoline directly as drips. This not only means that your car will consume more fuel, but your engines will also wear out easily. With the help of fuel injection systems, also known as injectors, your engine absorbs fuel in the form of mist.

This increases the fuel efficiency of your vehicles and ensures that your engines will last a long time. If you properly clean your injectors, you will get good mileage and your gas mileage will be optimal.

However, in addition to the type of injector, its regular maintenance and cleaning are also important, as this is the only way to ensure good functioning. For this very reason, a so-called injector cleaner test is carried out on a regular basis.

Why is an injector cleaner important?

How do an injector cleaner test and comparison work? If you have a digital meter in your vehicle that displays your current MPG, pay attention to it at least once per trip. If you normally drive the same routes, such as to and from work every day, you will know what your MPG should be, both in and out of traffic on and off the highway. If you notice that there is a significant drop, say 3-4 less MPG on average, this may be an indication of fuel economy issues.

This does not just apply to injector problems. Lower gas mileage can be due to spark plug misfire, bad air filters, incorrect tire pressure, and more. You shouldn’t immediately assume that your injector is the problem, but you shouldn’t rule it out either.

With a comprehensive test, however, you as the end customer will also find out from companies what you can expect from a particular product.

Which properties are in an injector cleaner?

An injector serves as a bridge between a full tank and your engine. Cleaning it properly keeps your MPG accurate, reduces noise in the engine block, and eliminates engine noise while reducing emissions. With the right cleaner, you can reduce maintenance frequency and improve your vehicle’s overall performance.

Reasons for defects in injection nozzles

As a rule, the more precise the technology, the more susceptible it is. Since the ultra-fine holes in the injectors can quickly become clogged, for example by poorly filtered fuel, this can lead to blockages and thus to permanent failures. This does not necessarily have to be noticeable in the form of combustion misfires, but the problem should nevertheless be rectified. This is because even a slight change in the atomization of the fuel can have a detrimental effect on the consumption and performance of the engine.

The injectors of direct-injection engines are subjected to particularly high stresses in the combustion chamber. Here, there is even a risk that other components will be affected by altered injection behavior. Defective injectors, for example, can burn holes in the piston because instead of a fine mist, a jet of fuel is produced that burns directly on the piston crown. Due to their location in the combustion chamber, injection nozzles of direct injection engines are subjected to particularly high stresses. In some cases, the material cannot permanently withstand pressure and heat, and the valves fray at their edges, which also leads to a deteriorated spray pattern.

Much more frequently, however, direct-injection engines suffer from the coking of the injection valves, which in some cases causes them to fail completely. Other defects include short circuits in the solenoid coils of the injection valves, deposits caused by additives, and brittle cable connections to the control unit. In addition, worn sealing rings in the injection valves can lead to leaks and thus to fuel loss.

Symptoms and consequential damage in the event of defective injectors

Depending on the degree of damage, a disturbed fuel supply caused by one or more defective injection nozzles is noticeable in different ways. Everything is possible, from imperceptible drops in performance, worsened exhaust behavior and starting difficulties to increased fuel consumption, rough idling, flashing, or permanent illumination of the engine control light, to engine knocking (uncontrolled ignition of the gasoline) and permanent combustion misfires.

The consequences of defective injection nozzles can be serious. If unburned fuel gets into the particulate filter or catalytic converter, these can be destroyed. If the misdirected fuel jet washes off the oil film on the cylinder wall in the case of direct injectors due to a defective injection nozzle, this can even lead to piston seizure. So anyone who notices the symptoms described on their car should visit a workshop as soon as possible.

Fuel Injector Cleaner – Best Choice

Best choice

Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner

The one-tank clean up solution for gas-powered auto engines, whether old or new. Used every 3,000 miles, its powerful detergents break up and clear away stubborn carbon deposits to maximize fuel economy and restore engine power. 5,0 Rating
Clean deposits from fuel injectors, carburetors, intake valves, and combustion chambers.
Cleans, restores, and protects the entire fuel system, including sulfur-contaminated fuel gauge sensors.
Maximize fuel economy.
Restore lost power and performance.
Restore and protect operation of the fuel gauge sensor.

How to choose fuel injector cleaner

System cleaner

Best 5 Fuel Injector Cleaners

1.

Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner

Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner
  •  Minimize harmful exhaust emissions.
  • Remove deposits from the two-stroke engine.

4,9 Rating

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2.

LUCAS LUC Fuel Treatment

LUCAS LUC Fuel Treatment

  • Cleans and lubricates the fuel system.
  • Increases the life of pumps and injectors.

4,9 Rating

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3.

Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate

Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Concentrate

  • Rejuvenate & stabilize old gasoline.
  • Improves fuel economy and reduces emissions.

4,8 Rating

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4.

Red Line Complete SI-1 Fuel System Cleaner

Red Line Complete SI-1 Fuel System Cleaner

  • Contains synthetic upper cylinder lubricant.
  • Cleans to nearly 100 percent efficiency in one treatment.

4,5 Rating

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5.

Royal Purple Max-Clean Fuel System Cleaner and Stabilizer

Royal Purple Max-Clean Fuel System Cleaner and Stabilizer

  • Improve fuel economy and restore horsepower.
  • Prevent premature spark plug fouling.

4,5 Rating

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We have tested Fuel Injector Cleaners and selected the best products for you

Engine cleaners at a glance

  • When it comes to engine cleaners, a distinction is made between the so-called cold cleaners for use in the engine compartment and the engine flush, which is poured over the engine and cleans or optimizes the engine from the inside.
  • While the cold cleaner cleans the engine and engine compartment of oil and grease contamination in combination with dirt, the engine flush cleans and dissolves deposits on injectors and intake valves and protects them from corrosion. It is available for the tanks of gasoline or diesel engines or for the oil circuit.

The engine wash

Your engine also needs an “engine wash” from time to time to keep it clean from the inside and to care for it. Two different methods are used for engine flushing. Either the engine flush is added to the tank contents or mixed with the engine oil before the oil change.

injector cleaner

System cleaner for gasoline or diesel

The fuel system can also be made more efficient for combustion in the engine. In this case, additives are not added to increase performance, but rather as cleaners that clean the fuel-carrying components. Deposits on valves and injection nozzles, on the high-pressure pump, or on spark plugs and glow plugs are loosened. This is later noticeable in terms of throttle response, fuel consumption, and exhaust gas values. These engine cleaners are simply added to the tank contents, but beware there are different products for gasoline and diesel engines.

Engine Cleaner Notice: Before each trip abroad, the use of a car engine cleaner is favorable, because on the road is not always available high-quality fuel, which can add more to the fuel system. Therefore, in this case, a system cleaner should be used.

System cleaner engine wash advantages/disadvantages

Advantages

  • Simply fill into the empty tank and refuel normally.
  • Restores the original performance of the engine.
  • Recommended when only low-quality fuel is available.

Disadvantages

  • Pay attention to the indication of the tank capacity.
  • Do not confuse engine cleaner diesel with engine cleaner gasoline.

Conclusion

Many tests have shown that an injector cleaner, depending on its type and composition, can be very effective and completely free the injectors from dirt and impurities as well as heavy incrustations.

David Muench (Carnes Mechanical)

David Muench (Carnes Mechanical)

Hey, I’m David. I’ve worked in a cars store for 6 years. I write reviews and guides, helping people to choose the most suitable technicals and best product for them. I’m happy to finally share my knowledge of the industry here, on CarnesMechanical.

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