Any - Fuel System Cleaner | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Thu 12 Dec 2013 18:59

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Cluedo

Apologies if this one has been done before but does anyone have any experience of the fuel system additives you can buy. I am mainly looking for one to clean the system. To be honest I have no problems with the car and it has just been serviced and passed its MOT. I just thought a good clean of the system might be the correct thing to do after 10 years of motoring using a variety of petrol types - e.g. Supermarket and the odd Shell V Power etc. your thoughts / advice would be welcome. Cheers

Edited by Cluedo on 12/12/2013 at 19:00

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 12 Dec 2013 19:05

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - skidpan

Edited by Avant on 13/12/2013 at 23:52

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 12 Dec 2013 19:20

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Cluedo

Edited by Avant on 14/12/2013 at 00:10

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 12 Dec 2013 19:22

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - skidpan

By your own admission the car is fine so why waste money and add some snake oil to the fuel.

Remember that manufacturers tell you not to use oil and fuel additives in the handbooks.

But as we all know nobody reads handbooks.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 12 Dec 2013 19:30

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - bathtub tom

I think you'll find this subject has discussed to death Cluedo. One recent thread culminated in swapping of insults.

Go ahead and add whatever you like, many here will dismiss it all as snake-oil.

Carburetor or injector cleaner may seem to have some merits if used neat on dismantled items. I've read certain household cleaners are as effective.

Diesel additive will have both those who sing its praises and others who don't.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 12 Dec 2013 21:21

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Armitage Shanks {p}

Earlier this week there was a repeat of a Fifth Gear programme (Greatly superior to Top Gear IMO). Jason Plato obtained an 8 year VW Corrado, the V6 engine, he established that it had left the factory with a claimed 190 bhp and then put it on a dyno to see what it had now; answer 181. He then put in a dose of Redex and after some running around to let it "Work" and on a re-test 5 bhp had been restored, a plug and HT lead change @ £100 restored another 3 taking it to wthin 2 bhp of the factory figure. It may not have been totally scientific but they had nothing to gain by fudging it. I have bought some Redex and I know what my current consumption is so I shall see if there is any improvement over the next tankful.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 12 Dec 2013 22:19

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - galileo

Back in the 1960s a recommended treatment was an 'Italian tune-up' out to a spot on the moors, then trickle a tin of Redex into the carburettor while it was ticking over and give it some revs. The cloud of white smoke this produced was impressive, hard to believe it hadn't done some good in freeing sticky valves etc.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 12 Dec 2013 22:42

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - alan1302

This link shows a 5th Gear Test using Redex:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03nL8Z0dRkI

Does what I would expect it to do.

I have always found Redex a good way to clean an engine out when required. No need to use it all the time though as when it's been used then that's all you need.

Edited by alan1302 on 12/12/2013 at 22:43

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 12 Dec 2013 23:07

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - bathtub tom

>>Back in the 1960s

Back then we were using fuels developed fifty years ago.

I used the 'redex tune-up' then.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 12 Dec 2013 23:14

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Andrew-T

>>Back in the 1960s we were using fuels developed fifty years ago.

I used the 'redex tune-up' then.

And of course that fuel had tetraethyl lead in it. Not now. It used to coat the plugs (and other surfaces presumably).

Edited by Andrew-T on 12/12/2013 at 23:15

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 07:16

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Armitage Shanks {p}

The RAF groundcrew used to tell me that OM38 - the standard issue aircraft hydraulic fluid was Redex in different packaging so I used that, it wan't exactly hard to get hold of!

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 08:22

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Cluedo

Thanks for your input guys. It was the fifth gear programme mentioned above that I saw and made me ask the question. I certainly do not want any insults being thrown about ( did not think this forum was like that ) so suggest we end this one as mentioned above.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 10:51

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Andrew-T

Carburetor or injector cleaner may seem to have some merits if used neat on dismantled items. I've read certain household cleaners are as effective.

Diesel additive will have both those who sing its praises and others who don't.

The attraction of these additives is that even if they don't make a great deal of difference, you don't need to dismantle, just add it to the tank. But if you enjoy dismantling, ....

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 13:27

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Gibbo_Wirral

Edited by Avant on 14/12/2013 at 00:13

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 14:25

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - skidpan

.

Edited by Avant on 14/12/2013 at 00:14

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 16:12

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Andrew-T

Edited by Avant on 14/12/2013 at 00:16

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 17:18

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - skidpan

.

Edited by Avant on 14/12/2013 at 00:17

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 17:38

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - FP

Edited by Avant on 14/12/2013 at 00:18

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 17:50

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Andrew-T

< I come on here to help people and there have been many instances where i have been thanked. >

Then let's start helping them instead of talking down to them, eh?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 18:04

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - thinkpad

Like many I was very sceptical about fuel system cleaners, however since I was doing very short journeys I decided to give Redex a go. The issue for me was my Golf seemed to ocassionally rev a little higher and rough during cold starts.

After going through 2 tankfulls using a bottle of Redex the revs seems to have settled down. One other thing that it fixed which I didn't even envisage having any effect on was an engine rattle during cold starts which I am lead to believe is the 'timing chain rattle' on the Mk5 Golf. The usual cost to rectify this problem by the dealer is about a grand which involves replacing the timing chain and tensioner. Now you might say it was just a co-incidence - but I'm thinking since Redex is also claimed to be an upper engine lubricant it could have fixed any sludge/deposits around the timing chain due to short runs.

So under some conditions fuel additives are useful.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 18:44

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - galileo

Redex is also claimed to be an upper engine lubricant it could have fixed any sludge/deposits around the timing chain due to short runs.

I would respectfully point out that Redex is/was advertised as an upper cylinder lubricant, not an upper engine lubricant. As it is dissolved in the fuel and drawn in through the inlet system it should not get anywhere near the cam chain.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 19:19

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - thinkpad

Redex is also claimed to be an upper engine lubricant it could have fixed any sludge/deposits around the timing chain due to short runs.

I would respectfully point out that Redex is/was advertised as an upper cylinder lubricant, not an upper engine lubricant. As it is dissolved in the fuel and drawn in through the inlet system it should not get anywhere near the cam chain.

Ok, I stand corrected.

However, whatever that engine rattle was, it certainly cleared after using fuel additive not to mention better engine start-up.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 14 Dec 2013 09:44

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Andrew-T

< ... Redex is/was advertised as an upper cylinder lubricant, not an upper engine lubricant. As it is dissolved in the fuel and drawn in through the inlet system it should not get anywhere near the cam chain. >

But unless the Redex is burnt with the fuel it should have 'lubricated' the upper cylinder, then been scraped down and recirculated with the sump oil. So some may have reached the timing chain?

Edited by Andrew-T on 14/12/2013 at 09:44

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 14 Dec 2013 12:22

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - bathtub tom

But unless the Redex is burnt with the fuel it should have 'lubricated' the upper cylinder, then been scraped down and recirculated with the sump oil. So some may have reached the timing chain?

If added to the fuel tank, it reaches the combustion chamber very diluted by petrol, where it gets burned off. Any reaching the sump would be homeopathic proportions.

If you've ever dribbled the stuff into a carb with the engine running, the ensuing smoke cloud convinces me it's burned off. Again, any reaching the sump and then the cam chain would have no effect in my opinion.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 23:37

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Avant

I've hidden several posts on this thread where the argument has become (quite needlessly) personal, and left in the actual discussion about the topic raised by Cluedo. I'm sorry that of necessity that has had to include some justified comments about the level of insults. There's nothing wrong with firmly-expressed views, such as calling an additive useless or 'snake-oil' - but no need in stating these views to insult the person taking the opposite view.

This is a perfectly reasonable subject for discussion - a product designed to clean out a fuel system is not necessarily the same as one which claims to improve engine performnce, although there may be some that say they do both.

Personally I've never used additives, and have run some cars in my time to six-figure mileages without any perceptible engine wear. But if people favour them, they are entitled to their opinion.

I shall in future simply delete any personal insults. I hope you'll agree that what remains in this thread represents a reasoned discussion.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 13 Dec 2013 23:41

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Andrew-T

That's fine, but where's the thread gone?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 14 Dec 2013 00:23

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Avant

It never ceases to amaze me how illogical and stupid software can be. After 'hiding' the offending posts all subsequent posts weren't visible either, for no logical reason.

I've now deleted the content of the posts instead, and I think you should be able to see the rest of the thread now.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 14 Dec 2013 01:22

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Wackyracer

Fifth gear seem to be on both sides of the fence so to speak, In one episode they tried several petrol additives and said they all gave a 2% decrease in power and in this episode refered to in this thread they are claiming a noteworthy increase in power.

They are probably right in both cases really, A perfect test engine in a lab is unlikely to benefit from any cleaning properties of additives, Where the used car in the real world will benefit from them.

Edited by Wackyracer on 14/12/2013 at 01:30

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 14 Dec 2013 06:48

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Armitage Shanks {p}

My recollection is that the things that were totally innefective were mechanical or electronic devices? One was a box that was plugged into the lighter socket and had a geren LED light on it, cost £60 and actually nothing inside the box, there was some magnet that was strapped onto a fuel line and the even de-bunked the famous Broquet device which is a hangover from WW2. What did work, not totally suprisingly, was Redex and new plugs abd leads

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Sat 14 Dec 2013 10:38

Any - Fuel System Cleaner - Wackyracer

I don't recall seeing the fuel saving 'devices' (for want of a better word) on fifth gear. I did watch a program some years ago called 'Fuels Gold' presented by Quentin Wilson. where they tried several approaches to reducing their fuel bills versus the cost of the means. From what I remember they tried properly servicing an old car, Some magnet stuck on the fuel line, premium petrol and even a new car.

The bottom line was the properly serviced old car was by far the most cost effective way to save money on their fuel bills.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Ask Honest John

Sell Your Car

Real MPG

Fuel Calculator