[Kevin Alexander]

I'm looking to regain a little fuel and engine performance w/ my 2000 Dodge Dakota V6. It has only 25,000 miles on it, but the engine seems a little lethargic at times, and the gas mileage seems as if it's taken a nose dive lately. Has anyone had any positive experiences w/ those fuel injector cleaning additives that you put in the gas tank? If so, what do you recommend? ...Actually, I'd appreciate any unrelated suggestions as well. I'd appreciate your help. Thanks.

[Chuck_W]

One that I like is BG 44K. BG is professional-use only so you probably won't find it on the shelf in most parts stores, mostly through dealerships and other repair shops.

http://www.bgprod.com/bgconsumer/bgservices/44k.html

[Bob Graz]

I use Gumout fuel injector cleaner when my cars start running a little rough and have had very good results with it. It's not particularly expensive either.I'd guess I run a bottle through the gas tank about 2x per year.

[Shane Roach]

Sea Foam is excellent stuff. You can use it as a normal fuel-system cleaner by pouring it in the tank, or put it in the intake manifold to remove deposits from intake runners, valves and combustion chambers. You can also add it to the oil to clean varnish off of internal parts, but most folks suggest that you only do this if you're going to change the oil within the next day.

I've used it in the intake on my 240SX and in the tank on my car and the wifey's Sunfire, and have had great results each time. If you do the intake method, be aware that you will have MASSIVE amounts of white smoke out the exhaust for a few minutes, and that much extra particulate (ages of carbon deposits being dissolved/burned off) tends to foul spark plugs and oxygen sensors. Be prepared to change those parts immediately after the treatment, but keep the old ones to swap back in if you do it again later.

Also, have you changed the fuel filter on your truck recently? If not, that may restore much of the departed power and fuel mileage.

[Michael Varacin]

This may stir some debate, but it was recommended to me a long time ago to just use a quart of automatic transmission fluid. It contains many of the same detergants that the specific cleaners have.

I put a quart in a full tank maybe once a year with no problems. 295,000 miles, still going strong.

[Jason Kirkpatri]

Quote:

This may stir some debate, but it was recommended to me a long time ago to just use a quart of automatic transmission fluid. It contains many of the same detergants that the specific cleaners have.

This would be an accurate statement. The mechanics at the GM dealership I worked at previously used this method all the time on their own personal vehicles.

I had the injectors cleaned professionally on a high-mileage vehicle several years ago (225,000 miles on an Isuzu Trooper). I think the cost was around $99, and it was worth every penny. I think the cost has come down on this proceedure.

I watched them do it, and as I recall, the intake was hooked to their machine, which pumped the cleaning stuff in, and serious smoke was coming out the tail pipe. When they were done, she was running like new.

[todbnla]

Another vote for Sea Foam great stuff, odd name.

[Philip_G]

techron, comes in a black bottle and runs about 6 bucks, be sure it says techron on it, run two tanks through, good stuff. There's another less expensive chevron product that isn't as good. Autozone doesn't carry it but shucks/kragen/checker does.

as for ATF, sure I've heard of it used to flush engines (works good, 3 qts ATF one qt heavy oil, let idle for 30 minutes, drain, fill with oil and forget about it)
but I've not heard of anyone mixing it with gas to clean injectors.
same for sea foam, do they sell an injector cleaner also, or are you referring to the oil additive (which IS good stuff)

[Shane Roach]

Philip, I was talking about the Sea Foam Auto/Marine motor treatment (see the link in my earlier post), which can be used in the gas tank, the intake, or the crankcase. It can also be mixed 1:1 with gasoline for use in an injector cleaning machine that feeds directly into the fuel rail.

Sea Foam's site also lists a hydraulic system additive, bug remover, and penetrating lubricant. What they don't have is a FAQ section or info to confirm or dispel what I've heard about its use in oil, which is similar to the ATF procedure you described but in lower concentration (about 1.5 oz. per quart of oil).

[RobertR]

So can adding Sea Foam be done in place of fuel system cleaning at a garage, or in addition to it?