ADVICE::Fuel Injection Cleaner

PerfectCreature

My local Sears has a sale on their fuel injection cleaner system that they have going on. They say it increases throttle response, gas mileage and such.
Has anyone had this done by them, or had a similar service with good results...
Would I just be wasting my money by doing this?
Thanks for the advice.

TouchOfEvil

How old is your car? How many miles etc. Most likely you do not need it done.

PerfectCreature

1995, 125,798 miles.
It is also having its transmission fluid changed with a brand new filter as well.
They said they will give a double discount if I do both....
Just wondering if the sears one is a good one...
They say its a three part system.

TouchOfEvil

Well i'm sure you have some crude in there but hard to say if you will see a difference or not.
If the price seems like a good deal go for it.
Myself i run a can of SeaFoam thru the tank every so often to keep things clean.

PerfectCreature

I have never heard of SeaFOam....
We have stuff like marvel mystery oil and Lucas oil, Pennzoil and a few other brands that make their additive fuel cleaners, I've tried those before used Lucas oil a couple times didn't really notice anything.
Was just wondering if you know around 55, 60 bucks would be worth seeing if it does make a difference.
Was more or less hoping someone on here had had it done by sears and could give me a first hand account on what it did for them since I have yet to find a single review on their service...

fatchowmein

TouchOfEvil wrote: »

Myself i run a can of SeaFoam thru the tank every so often to keep things clean.

+1. I run half through the throttle body and the rest through the tank.

PerfectCreature

How do you run it through the throttle body?
I'm not much of an extended fix-ya guy when it comes to mechanical stuff. I can do electrical but...eh... not so much mechanics.

fatchowmein

http://www.lt1engine.com/tech/how-to-seafoam-your-car-clean-carbon-buildup/

I did it through the brake booster line on a 2000 Accord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za-b4wufsvg

PerfectCreature

Hmm. That seafoam stuff looks like quite a bit of work.
You saw results and such I assume?

Face

Just pick up a bottle of Techron at the auto parts store, it's about $10.

fatchowmein

The Accord was idling rough and eventually the check engine light came on with a P0420 code: Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold. I was thinking new catalytic converter and/or O2 sensors but decided to do the Seafoam first. Worked like a charm. Tons of smoke though. Yeah, it'll eat up 30 to 45 minutes of your time. The Accord was at around 135,000 miles IIRC.

As with anything on the 'Net, if you're not comfortable with the information you see, take the car in. Perhaps someone else will add their experience.

Good luck.

Edit: Forgot to mention. I tried to clean out the system with Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant "with Inject Cleaners and Fuel Conditioners" first but it didn't solve the error light nor the rough idling. I did the Seafoam a week after I tried Lucas.

PerfectCreature

I may look into the seafoam stuff.
What about techron...how does that compare to the seafoam?
How much would either cost (roughly) to pick up all the stuff I would need...anyone know estimates?
Has anyone used the Lucas fuel injector cleaner?
My cousin swears by it ....just curious.

fatchowmein

I was editing my post#11 to add comments about Lucas when you edit your post.

I bought the $10 bottle of Lucas but it didn't solve my problem but I did have a big enough problem for the check engine light to come on. I still use Lucas on both our cars but there's a new bottle of Seafoam sitting next to it for backup.

ESavinon

Seafoam's the best. I clean my car's intake once a year with it.

fatchowmein

I should add that I'm a shade tree mechanic with Craftsman tools. There's a lot of talent on this forum so maybe someone with Snap On Tools other than a poser like me will add additional insight this weekend.

PerfectCreature

Well this is what the sears fuel system cleaning says
Description: Fuel System Cleaning is a multi-step service helps clean the fuel system and internal combustion chamber. The procedure involves using a chemical to clean the combustion chamber and related parts, an oil additive, a fuel additive, and cleaning of the throttle body when applicable. This service restores engine performance by improving acceleration, helps eliminate rough idle and hesitation, reduces exhaust emissions, and prolongs the life of most fuel injector systems.

So really that would be about what I would be doing with the SeaFoam (Aside from smoking my block up and maybe getting the fire trucks called, I live in a small town heh)
Maybe have a mechanic to the seafoam and then after just use the lucas oil
Or would I be better off doing the sears ones and then the lucas oil?
Opinions?
Thanks.

willman

I only use the Slick 50 stuff for about $10-$12 bottle. Only fill the tank 1/4-1/3 full so you don't pull all the crude off the top of the gas tank thru the injectors.

PerfectCreature

Yeah I have seen walmart with the slick 50 but I mean there are so many...and so many people boasting so many products...
Hmm. Decisions.

Amherst

Keiko wrote: »

Match in the gas tank; BOOM BOOM!

Try it.

Yes,works every time.

Knucklehead

Once a month I run a tank of premium, no problems.

PerfectCreature

I am not sure that a match would give me the results that will last :P

Dominion

PerfectCreature wrote: »

I am not sure that a match would give me the results that will last :P

BG 44K at Advanced auto parts. it works period.

tonyb

PerfectCreature wrote: »

Hmm. That seafoam stuff looks like quite a bit of work.
You saw results and such I assume?

How does pouring a can of it into your gas tank, sound like alot of work?

The second can is for cleaning the internals and oil, you just want to clean the injectors, yes?

dkg999

Seafoam is da'bomb! I've been using it to keep the dirtbikes, ATV's, power equipment, etc. at the farm running good for many years. I've been using Techron fuel injector cleaner in the vehicles, but probably should switch over to Seafoam.

halo71

Wonder Pie is in order here perhaps?

TouchOfEvil

PerfectCreature wrote: »

Well this is what the sears fuel system cleaning says
Description: Fuel System Cleaning is a multi-step service helps clean the fuel system and internal combustion chamber. The procedure involves using a chemical to clean the combustion chamber and related parts, an oil additive, a fuel additive, and cleaning of the throttle body when applicable. This service restores engine performance by improving acceleration, helps eliminate rough idle and hesitation, reduces exhaust emissions, and prolongs the life of most fuel injector systems.

So really that would be about what I would be doing with the SeaFoam (Aside from smoking my block up and maybe getting the fire trucks called, I live in a small town heh)
Maybe have a mechanic to the seafoam and then after just use the lucas oil
Or would I be better off doing the sears ones and then the lucas oil?
Opinions?
Thanks.

If you want to clean the fuel injection you can simply pour a can of seafoam into the gas tank and leave it be. It will do it's job. The thing from sears takes care of the fuel injection and cleans the internal engine parts. This should help smooth out your idle and such but the same thing can be done with the seafoam via the brake booster line. If you don't feel comfortable with doing though just let sears have at it.
Also stay away from the oil additives all together. If you want better protection go with a better oil in general like a full synthetic.
The oil additives are not good for the motor. Just do some searching around on the net and you can find out what it really does.

engtaz

I have had great success with Seafoam where others that I have tried were a waste of money

heiney9

Redline Fuel System cleaner works absolutely fantastic, better than Seafoam, IMO.

H9

PerfectCreature

So, really just have a mechanic pour the seafoam in the break booster line, add a can to the gas tank and run it to about empty...then fill up?
Am I missing anything?

PerfectCreature

halo71 wrote: »

Wonder Pie is in order here perhaps?

I don't want wonder pie derailing another post since this one is rather important.
Thank.s

engtaz

1/2 in booster line 1/2 in oil. 1 full in tank.