SteveT2008

I went to a hardware store today to buy a fuel system cleaner. Oh boy! there are so much brands and types of fuel system cleaners that I became confused. I haven't use fuel system cleaner for more than 15 years, but in the good "old days", there were only 5 or 8 types of fuel cleaner. But now it is like jungle.


So my question is what is your favorite fuel system cleaner for routine maintenance in this "modern" world ?

W95civicEXcoupe

Redline SI-1
Gumout Regane (there are three...)

Useless in fuel unless you suspect water: Seafoam

Jury is out: Royal Purple MaxClean

If its not PEA-based cleaner t is gimmick. All I listed - Redline and Gumout - are.

SteveT2008

Just bought a bottle of Gumout Regane. Now I'm waiting the fuel tank becomes near empty .


The Red line looks better but the hardware store doesn't have that.

W95civicEXcoupe

Redline SI-1 should run you about $14.99 (! damn) but its WORTH IT. You can put in even 20z. through 15 gas tanks and it works great, putting it all in atonce is just wasting it though it says to put one in initially. Not sure..

Gumout ANYTHING WITH REGANE. THEY HAVE THREE is also "pretty good." You can get 2 or so for the price of 1 Redline bottle. But Redline works THAT GOOD.

It is because of this I am hesitant about the Royal Purple MaxClean. Its more Seafoamish, in my opinion.

You made the right choice and I SHOULD go out and get a bottle before parts store closes.

Jimi Hondrix

How would you know if any of that **** is doing any good for your fuel system/injectors or just a an expensive placebo affect planted in your minds by big corporate advertising?

I'll **** in your gas tank and call it Suds of Speed for $10 a shot

orangehonda

Here are the photos from my use of Redline Fuel System Cleaner

Full narration here
Fuel Economy on a Honda R18A: INTERIM RESULTS - Redline Fuel System Cleaner SI-1

Cylinder 4


Cylinder 3


Cylinder 2


Cylinder 1


Spark plugs

B serious

iTrader: (1)

So...the only tangible benefit is that your piston tops are clean? No improved economy, the car wasn't knocking in the first place....

Why don't you just put the money into your pocket? Who cares if there's carbon on the pistons? Name brand fuels have detergents built in......

W95civicEXcoupe

OK, fuel cleaners aren't for you then.

But you can save money by going with "no-name gas" and regular dosing these cleaners and come out ahead.

And while gas itself is even a cleaner, it's possible to be more clean, much the same way straight water can de-carbon an engine better than Seafoam can (seafoam is just "milder," therefore "safer" .. to de-carbon.. If done properly for intake and throttle body cleaning.. there is other stuff too..) and an engine WILL run smoother after that. Because even with regular upkeep, carbon can build there. Or, in the case of a TSB on my 2003 GMC Envoy XL with the Vortec 4200.. VERY necessary to de-carbon the TBI. Truck will run like garbage if you don't. It's how they made the engine. Fact.

But by the tone of your guy's posts, be comfortable with your superior knowledge and enjoy your non-use of cleaners.. This discussion ABOUT CLEANERS does not seem to be for you.

*side note: If a cleaner does not have PEA chemicals in it, it is useless and is in fact wasting money. But if it is PEA-based.. Can't beat SI-1 and Gumout.

**side note 2, has to be said: Injectors spray better, not all gas has same detergency or cleaners, Shell Nitro is a marketing gimmick (Nitrogen? Really?? ..) Kirkland "No-Name Gas" has "5 times as much detergency" as major, figure that out, so.. yeah. Done.

Someone will soon chime in with "Chevron Techron" and while it has never done anything good for me, Chevrolet also recommended it to fix sticking fuel senders OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.. Same way Subaru and GM recommend Head Sealer Products, so.

W95civicEXcoupe

OH shoot. Almost forgot.. at least SI-1 (how the hell did they get that name?) also cleans out "Ethanol poop." From whole fuel system. Everywhere gas goes, it goes. The anti-additive crowd always leaves that one out.

I used to know a site where they were supposed to list "Gas stations that sell gas without Ethanol" but it appears that there may in fact be no such thing.. since, when gas stations get their deliveries of gas.. There are only so many places where it could come from, and I don't think there is provably a thing as "Ethanol-free gas" at one "special" station amongst a sea of others.. This my own personal view, but.. I think "Ethanol-free gas" is a lie. And a large part of this came from checking out the stations listed.

I THOUGHT the car ran better after going to said stations, but.. same way Royal Purpke motor oil is a "good" oil while others hate it because they don't come out and say what's in it.. Placebo. Even though my car runs really good on it.. And, as always, even better on Redline. And I was a RP fanboy until I discovered Redline, and tried it the same way I did RP.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

I see. The question "what's the point of using a cleaner?" is only answerable by saying "cleaners are not for you".

W95civicEXcoupe

For you, yes. Since there is no answer that will suit you. (Your mind is already made up, that cleaners should not be used. After all.. "What's the point.. of using a cleaner.")

You wanna go back and forth? I'm not.

SteveT2008

I'm not expecting "miracle" like huge fuel saving or 50% more power with fuel system cleaner. I just don't want my civic has the same fate of my dying Nissan Altima 1993. I never really take care of my Altima. This car is really dependable but the engine starts to behave erratically at idling or during acceleration. I poured a bottle of Gumout Regane into the Altima fuel tank yesterday and I notice some improvement today. Not sure, if it was because of cleaner or because of the nice dry weather today. I'm going to wait several days to see if things will get better. Anyway I have nothing to loose. I use this car as guinea pig .

W95civicEXcoupe

It's all good, don't listen to the naysayer.

Check out Redline SI-1 my dude. Here is a linky
The reviews there are honest.

That would be a good choise to use.

Jimi Hondrix

Seriously.. I will **** in your gas tank and my uric acid will clean your carbon build up...

eghatch9295

iTrader: (1)

fuel system cleaner is useless, pointless, overpriced crap. my 293k mile daily has never ever seen a drop of that garbage, and guess what? runs great. whatever carbon deposits i have are probably holding my engine together. paypal me $15, and i will send you 8 ounces of rubbing alcohol.

Jimi Hondrix

I can imagine some idiots pissing into their gas tank now just because they heard it online that it will help their fuel system.

Disclaimer: I was joking and **** at your own risk..lol

W95civicEXcoupe

Again.. Fuel system cleaner is not for you two.

W95civicEXcoupe

Now... Urine, sugar, and water are BAD things to be in the gas tank because the car probably won't start with those in there. I remember this from sabotaging things.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

Its only for people who:
-Want their pistons to be clean.
-Don't want to answer any logical fu#&king questions, god dammit.

cafrog

I've owned Hondas since 1996 (and drove them all hard). I was always taught (and reinforced) that fuel additives where not something you should do to a Honda. I have no proof of bad results from additives but I've always stayed away.

W95civicEXcoupe

Fuel injector cleaners are a great way to IMPROVE overall system cleanliness over what might be a "baseline." They also combat the negative effects of Ethanol, and Redline gets rid of "Ethanol poop" pretty well.

If you don't use Fuel Cleaners then they ain't for you, but I can't speak negatively of coffee because I don't drink it. You also don't NEED coffee.

Redline SI-1 is a damn good one.. PEA is the cleaning basis, as opposed to solvents or detergents - both of which are already in gas. No need to worry about water gas (to a certain extent) or whatever. But use your own knowledge, since we know it all.

Read the reviews on Amazon they are usually pretty good. MY REVIEW OF IT IS AS AN AMAZON VERIFIED REVIEW: JOSEPH CORBISIERO "WEIRDO." Here is a link to that. Amazon.com: Joseph Corbisiero "weirdo"'s review of Red Line (60103) Complete SI-1 Fuel System...

81&store=automotive

v4lu3s

My favorite fuel system cleaner is Top Tier gasoline. There is a reason the manufacturers recommend certain brands over others.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

So...overall tangible benefits? I'm asking as a serious, non facetious question. You say it cleans everything. But what does that mean for the end user?

You're giving me a hard time...but I actually read your blog. I was surprised that you noted no improvement in economy or change in anything else except for clean piston tops. Sure, that's nice to show off at a party when everyone's got their boroscopes out and getting well drunk and wild and everything. But what does it all mean?

Are there ill effects to NOT using a cleaner? What are the actual benefits?

Bently_Coop

Bently_Coop

I have used seafoam and techron. I stay away from the rest. Honestly I do believe seafoam works but the Techron I can't tell at all.

Seafoam in my truck cleared up the IACV through the brake booster line and smoothed out the idle temporarily. It also cleared up a nasty engine vibration I had from doing a bunch of maintenance on it. (plugs, fuel filter, pcv)

I would encourage you too watch the videos posted and come to your own conclusions. The piston pictures in the videos and ITT are really the only way us small timers can show a actual difference. Anyone can purchase a bore scope camera. But not everyone can analyze fuel injectors.