The fuel system performs a big role in the proper operation of the car engine. It extracts the main nutrients from the fuel and supplies these nutrients to run the engine. Fuel is known as engine heart. For the cleaning of your fuel system, you must use a fuel system cleaner or fuel injector cleaner.
Fuel system cleaners are products that help to clean the full fuel system and remove the harmful gum, sediment, and carbon deposits that can badly influence the engine’s health and vehicle performance.
What is a Fuel Injector Cleaner?
A fuel injector cleaner is a product that is mixed directly with the fuel being pumped into the fuel tank. The fuel injector cleaner is also known as a fuel system cleaner. In spite of the fuel supplier’s guarantee, the fuel delivered to you is not 100% pure.
This fuel contains additives and, sometimes, may be damaged during storage in the fuel tank. These can cause coarse material to stick to the tank and reduce tank capacity.
The fuel injector cleaner loosens contaminants and acts as a solvent that burns with the fuel during the combustion process.
Components of Fuel System Cleaner
The fuel system cleaner has the following major chemical components:
- Polyisobutylene
- Polyether Amine
- Polyisobutylene Amine
1) Polyisobutylene
Polyisobutylene, sometimes known as “PIB .”It is employed for the cleaning of fuel injector cleaners and diesel injector cleaners. It acts as a detergent, removing deposits and contamination from fuel lines and fuel injectors. Studies have also shown that this chemical helps to fix misfiring issues and decreases engine knocking.
2) Polyether Amine
This chemical is sometimes referred to as “PEA”. It is very efficient in eliminating solid deposits that delay flow in flow lines and fuel system cleaner. This chemical effectively breaks down contamination bonds at the molecular level.
As the contamination is removed from the injector wall, the decomposed deposits are carried out safely through the car’s exhaust gases after passing through the catalytic converter and combustion chamber.
One of the main advantages of this chemical is that it has the capability to completely remove the solid deposits from engines, fuel lines, and injector nozzles without leaving any residue.
3) Polyisobutylene Amine
This chemical is also referred to as PIBA. It has the same function as polyisobutylene, but the main difference is that it works efficiently in the presence of humidity. However, because of its incapability to filter the burner, it usually uses for maintenance services instead of eliminating long-term sludge or solid deposits.
How To Use Fuel Injector Cleaner?
Follow the below-given steps to use fuel system cleaner:
Step 1: Choose a fuel injector cleaner
Before starting the cleaning of the fuel system or fuel injector, keep in mind that you must use a high-quality product for this job.
Multiple fuel injector cleaners are available in the market. Therefore, take your time and choose a high-quality fuel system cleaner that can provide you excellent quality and long-lasting service.
Tip: A high-quality fuel injector cleaner makes your car’s fuel system cleaner and runs efficiently. Your selected fuel system cleaner should also improve fuel economy and boost engine power. Good fuel cleaners are also universal and can be used with either diesel or petrol engines.
Step 2: Prepare your fuel injector cleaner
Fuel system cleaner is a necessary product for fuel system cleaning. To clean the fuel injector, firstly, eliminate the fuel tank cap from the car. This fuel tank is most commonly installed on the driver’s side.
Remove the cleaner bottle cap and pour the cleaner into the fuel tank. The cleaner must properly go into the tank. As you have poured the cleaner according to the requirements, put the lid back on the bottle.
Tip: It is recommended to use the cleaner when the fuel tank is almost empty. In the case of an empty tank, this cleaner works more efficiently. Read the label on the bottler of the cleaner and follow the manufacturer’s directions for using the correct amount of injector cleaner.
Step 3: Fill your tank with Fuel
After pouring cleaner, fill your fuel tank with fuel. It is recommended to add a cleaner when the tank is almost vacant. This will properly mix the injector cleaner and fuel.
How much should you use the Fuel System Cleaner?
There are certain factors that affect how often you should use the fuel system cleaner. Some of these factors are:
- From how much time you are driving your vehicle
- Age of your car
- Type of fuel
If you use diesel fuel, you may need to use it more often.
It also gives you an indication that the injector needs to be cleaned if you notice any symptoms of fuel injector clogging. Some of the injector clogging signs are given below:
- Car idling
- Problem while you start the car
- Reduction in fuel economy
Also, with the age of your vehicle, you may need to use more cleaning products as carbon can build up over time, even if you clean your injector regularly.
How Do I Know My Fuel Injector Is Clogged?
Sometimes, your car’s overall performance starts reducing. This reduction in performance may represent a clogged fuel injector. As the fuel system clogs with dirt, a very small amount of fuel enters the engine. In this case, the engine may be difficult to start or may not turn on at all.
One more symptom of a clogged fuel injector is that your engine starts to produce uneven idling. An uneven supply of fuel delivered to the engine causes significant variations in engine idle speed. This problem is also displayed on your car dashboard.
You may also find that the vehicle’s overall fuel consumption is significantly reduced.
If you face any of the above-given problems, I recommend that you contact a reputable local mechanic and let him know your problem. The mechanic will properly clean your fuel system and get you up and running in no time.
FAQ Section
What are the advantages of a Fuel System Cleaner?
One of the main advantages of the fuel system cleaner is that it extends the engine service life and helps to restore lost performance. However, the effectiveness of fuel additives depends on the quality and quantity of the cleaner elements.
Fuel injector cleaner uses a premium formula that cleans deposits and instantly improves engine performance with just one application.
The fuel injector cleaner has the following major advantages:
- It improves fuel economy
- It fights corrosion &rust
- This cleaner reduces friction & wear
- It extends engine life
- It increases performance and horsepower
- It helps to fix hard-starting issues
Why do you need a Fuel injector cleaner?
Over time, hydrocarbons and other deposits can build up in the fuel line. This build-up can prevent the fuel injector from allowing fuel to flow to the engine. Or you could leave the injector open and overfill it. Proper and timely use of injector cleaners can prevent this build-up.
Where is fuel tank located in car?
The fuel tank is located on the driver’s side for convenience.
What are the signs of a clogged fuel injector?
A clogged fuel injector is a major problem that stops your vehicle engine to work properly. As you detect a clogged fuel injector, immediately fix it. The following are the most common symptoms of a clogged fuel injector:
- Car idling
- Problem while you start the car
- Reduction in fuel economy
- Stalling
- Engine misfires
Can I put fuel injector cleaner in a half tank?
Yes, you may add a fuel injector cleaner to a half-filled tank, but it’s not advised. It is recommended to add the cleaner first, then the fuel.
How long does it take for fuel injector cleaner to work?
The fuel injector cleaner initiates its action as it’s added to the fuel tank of your car. However, it requires some time before the results become apparent. Typically, you can expect to observe effects within a range of 100 to 300 miles following the usage of the fuel injector cleaner.