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Summary
  • The fuel cleaner removes contaminants in the fuel system and engine.
  • Fuel system cleaners work, but you have to choose the right formula and apply the cleaner correctly.
  • Choose a fuel injector cleaner that’s compatible, has the best active ingredients, and is potent enough for the job.
  • Fuel cleaners improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, lubricate and protect parts, and make the parts last longer.

What is it with fuel cleaners? Some drivers and mechanics recommend regularly using cleaning products to improve the vehicle’s performance. Others say the cleaners do nothing or make things worse, forcing you to replace the old or worn-out fuel system part. Do fuel injector cleaners work?

Do Fuel System Cleaners Work As Promised?

While fuel cleaners generally work, the effectiveness of individual products can vary widely. There are also some things they cannot do, such as fix damaged fuel injectors. They can, however, remove carbon deposits and improve fuel flow, which can improve the engine’s performance. If you plan to use a fuel cleaner, you’ll probably be better off with a polyetheramine-based (PEA) formula.

What Is A Fuel Cleaner?

Also called fuel system cleaner and fuel injection cleaner, it’s a cleaning product that removes contaminants in the fuel system and engine. Typically, the problem spot is the tip of the injector where olefin particles (found in gas) can get trapped. But usually, injectors don’t need cleaning the way they did when Multipoint fuel injection became a common thing in the mid-80s.

What Does The Fuel Cleaner Do?

A fuel cleaner removes contaminants in or on parts that carry fuel from the tank to the engine. Eliminating the unwanted residue and by-products of various processes allows the cleaner to restore the fuel system and engine to running like new.

, Fuel Cleaners: Do They Actually Work?

Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.

Pro Tip: That being said, the fuel system on a vehicle that is driven every day will be clean by default and won’t usually need cleaning. A vehicle that has been parked for a long time so that the fuel in the tank and lines is creating a lot of varnish is a different story.

Today’s vehicles use a fuel injection system to supply gasoline or diesel to the internal combustion engine. The system uses injectors to deliver the exact quantity of fuel needed for the ideal air-fuel ratio, with the engine controller using feedback information to modify injector operation for optimum efficiency and emissions.

A faulty fuel injector can add the wrong quantity of fuel to the air-fuel ratio, making the cylinder that engine feeds run rich or lean. If the issue involves contaminants like carbon or rust (which can be fine enough to go right through the fuel filter), the injector might become clogged, reducing the fuel sprayed into the engine or cutting off the supply entirely. The engine will operate at reduced efficiency or potentially fail to start from the lack of fuel.

, Fuel Cleaners: Do They Actually Work?

Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.

Pro Tip: Carbon or varnish can be dissolved by fuel system cleaners but rust cannot. Usually, a system that is clogged with rust will need the injectors and fuel rail replaced and the fuel tank will need to be aggressively cleaned. This happens on farm vehicles where the gas is stored in a homemade steel tank that gathers internal rust due to condensation.

Unfortunately, carbon and other contaminants can appear and accumulate anywhere in the fuel system if poor or contaminated fuel is used, or if the vehicle spends too much time parked without being driven. Once the by-products have built up on a part, such as one of the fuel injectors, they can prove difficult to remove with ordinary cleaning methods.

Picking the Right Fuel Cleaner For Your Car

There are numerous fuel injector cleaner products available, but not all of them do the same thing. If you use a fuel cleaner that isn’t suited for your vehicle’s specific needs, you might end up with a subpar or negative outcome.

Avoid issues by choosing the right fuel cleaner. Here are some things to look for:

Compatibility With Your Vehicle

Some fuel cleaners are formulated to work with specific engines. Using them on incompatible vehicles might lead to issues. Always ensure that your chosen cleaner is compatible with your vehicle’s engine.

Older vehicles have engines that use carburetors instead of fuel injectors to blend air and fuel into the correct mixture. They require a fuel cleaner formulated for use with a carburetor.

Active Ingredients

Check the fuel cleaner’s list of active ingredients. You’re looking for either polyetheramine (PEA) or polyisobutene (PIB). These additives are tailor-made to efficiently clean contaminants like carbon deposits and varnish in the fuel system and engine.

If you want additional benefits, like lubrication, look for a fuel cleaner that includes those additives.

Cleaning Potency

Finally, consider the strength of the fuel injector cleaner that you need. The higher the product’s potency, the more effectively it cleans contaminants. However, highly potent cleaners also cost more.

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How Do Fuel System Cleaners Work?

Most fuel cleaners contain carefully formulated chemical additives that do the heavy lifting. Some active ingredients target carbon deposit build-ups while others lubricate surfaces.

Polybutene amine (PBA) is one of the most common active ingredients. Other examples include PEA and polyisobutene PIB.

These active ingredients are detergents that act as surface active agents or surfactants. They form micelle structures that pry dirt away from surfaces and capture the latter for disposal. The two surfactants are particularly effective against carbon deposits.

Why Should You Use A Fuel Injector Cleaner?

Here are the benefits that fuel cleaners bring to your vehicle:

Efficient Fuel System and Engine

Parts like the combustion chamber and fuel injectors can benefit from regular cleaning. Carbon deposits get in the way of their operation, so removing the contaminants enables the fuel and engine parts to function properly. But engines that are operated regularly using good quality fuel and don’t make short trips don’t typically have carbon issues to begin with. Cars don’t develop carbon while putting in a lot of highway miles.

Improved Fuel Efficiency

The fuel cleaner also contributes to fuel efficiency. Clean injectors can work precisely and without delay, delivering the right amount of fuel at the right time. Meanwhile, a clean combustion chamber can burn the air-fuel mix more completely, generating more power while minimizing the unburned fuel. Your vehicle can get more mileage out of its fuel and will run more smoothly, making your driving experience more pleasant.

Lubrication and Protection

Many fuel cleaners also have lubricating additives that apply a layer of lubricant to the surfaces they clean. Lubrication reduces friction between moving parts, preventing overheating and reducing wear. The lubricating layer also makes it more difficult for carbon to get a grip on the protected surface, slowing down the deposit build-up.

Longer-Lasting Parts

Parts don’t only work better when they’re clean. They also last longer because they don’t have to overcome issues like clogging, overheating, and metal-on-metal contact. These problems wear out the affected part, so preventing them extends the part’s service life.

About The Authors
Reviewed By Technical Reviewer at CarParts.com

Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.

Written By Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

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