lhrocker Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Does anyone use any gas additives on a periodic basis to keep their car running good? I use Chevron Techron every now and the, but not sure if it's safe to use on a regular basis. Any thoughts on Techron or any other product that would be considered good for your car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobywagon Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Chevron Techron should be safe to use regularly, since they put it in all of their gas. That said, I don't bother unless I'm starting to have an issue that I believe to be fuel related. If that's the case, then I usually fill the tank and add a bottle of Seafoam. If you are using good gasoline in the first place, additives shouldn't be necessary. I use Chevron and 76. That's pretty much it unless I don't have another choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Chevron Techron is an excellent product. I have used it for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzam Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I've only used Techron when I wanted to clean the contacts for the gas gauge, which worked well. Otherwise a can of Dry Gas to remove moisture from the tank in all my cars every fall is all I've ever used. For the most part I don't think additives aren't needed on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forester2002s Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 For the most part I don't think additives aren't needed on a regular basis. I presume that this double-negative was a typo, and that you really meant to say the opposite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzam Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Yes, often times I will reread my post and edit some of it not reading the entire sentence. Thanks! For clarification: For the most part I don't think additives are needed on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhrocker Posted March 7, 2011 Author Share Posted March 7, 2011 If that's the case, then I usually fill the tank and add a bottle of Seafoam. So you can run seafoam into your gas tank? I thought it was usually put into the engine directly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShagginWagon Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I buy the big bottle of lucas injector cleaner and use it just about every other fill up and on long trips. I think its great stuff. And i notice a tiny bit of better gas mileage with it too. And i only run chevron gas unlees there isnt a chevron , but that is verry rarely. Ive read in some posts that the lucas stuff lubes ur fuel pump too so thats a plus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Lucas - I buy it by the gallon and put it in their little bottles so that on gas cars it'll go in far enough. On cars running good - every oil change. On my tow vehicles - every tank. In my diesel every couple k. In my lawnmower - who's only gas source is usually what fuel I've taken out of cars I'm scrapping. Another way to look at this stuff. Years ago I had bad fuel problems (bad gas) in an S10. I actually forget if it was my carb'd S10 or the throttle body one (95 I think). Anyways I said I'll just run some cleaner through it. I went abotu 400 miles per week. His though was the cleaner would loosen up all kinds of crap in the entore fuel system, starting in the tank. I did it anyways, carried and extra fuel filter, and changed it weekly fo rhte next few weeks. I actually forget what I used - I'd guess Gumout. But that's a different way of looking at it. You're not just cleaning he part you want, but the whole system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisbad Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 So you can run seafoam into your gas tank? I thought it was usually put into the engine directly. with sea foam you are "supposed" to put 1/3 in the oil , 1/3 in the gas tank and 1/3 in the pcv hose. however , i've added the entire bottle to just the gas tank before with no issues. also have put the whole bottle down the pcv hose with no problems. curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 FYI my local old timer "outdoor power equipment guy" says Seafoam is the best fuel stabalizer. I asked him a year or so ago when small engines started having troubles with all the crap they put in the gas (Ethanol) and all the harm it was doing. Knowing that when it sets it draws moisture bad. And at that time Sta-bil hadn't come out with anything for Ethanol yet (since then they have - the Marine green stuff) and I thought it was a MAJOR missed opportunity. Never used it for stabilizer, but I do recall reading that as a use on the can. I still primarily use it for the "catalyst effeciency" code on Subaru's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulwnkl Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I've used fuel additives for some years. I use a proprietary blend of things recommended to me by Dyson Analysis. I think adding a good cleaner to the fuel can (help) keep injectors and even piston crowns and combustion chambers clean. Having said that, my experience is that if you get hard/difficult deposits started, no additive will clean them up all the way. My 118k mile Baja turbo recently benefited from having the injectors ultrasonically cleaned (and rebuilt), which cleaned up the pattern some on 2 of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 If you use cheap gas a fuel system cleaner is a good thing to use once a month or so. Never heard of one hurting anything, except maybe someones wallet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zedhead Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Fuel additives are a muilti million dollar scam. You can use them, but show Me a study that conclusively shows any improvement in a properly maintained engine. There are already so many cleaning agents in the fuel You buy.... more is not always better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchwarzeEwigkt Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Many people, me included, have anecdotal evidence that say certain additives help. I've used Techron, Castle Fireball (local stuff), Seafoam and Lucas stuff all with the same results. Not running so hot Fill up and throw in a can of cleaner Starts running better after a little while Keeps running better It's not a placebo effect and it's worked on every car I've owned and on many I've worked on. You ask me, at least those ones make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efseiler Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I highly recommend 'Startron' for ethanol fuels that become laden with water. (That along with Shell gas.) It's somewhat expensive -- approximately $10 (but good for 3 fillups in my Outback.) Eye ain't lion. --Damien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWDFTW Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 Chevron Techron, Gumout with Regain, Redline SL1 all have a good concentration of PEA, which is a primary cleaning agent in most Top Tier fuels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Seafoam makes a great fuel system cleaner, from my experience. It does a good job of cleaning out carb jets and other various orifices fuel comes out of Also makes quick work of any water in a tank of gas. Its a miracle in a can! Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 i thought water in the gas was non existent if your gas was 10% alcohol? and most places have some alcohol in their gas, at least the places i buy gas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulwnkl Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 ...show Me a study that conclusively shows any improvement in a properly maintained engine... You might want to contact SWRI (SouthWest Research Institute). They do _tons_ of independent bench/lab testing on just this kind of topic. I don't have the direct-to-paper links here, so I'll just point you to a couple digests: http://lubecontrol.com/tests_swri.php http://www.fpc1.com/sci_swri.php http://www.fpc1.com/test_reports.php?&a=1 That last is just a flat list of all their tests, testimonials, and so forth. They now make you email SWRI for copies of that testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisbad Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Seafoam makes a great fuel system cleaner, from my experience.It does a good job of cleaning out carb jets and other various orifices fuel comes out of Also makes quick work of any water in a tank of gas. Its a miracle in a can! Twitch AMEN, to that. i love the stuff. plus , watching all that white smoke blowing out the tail pipe is a hoot!!! curtis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brus brother Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 FYI my local old timer "outdoor power equipment guy" says Seafoam is the best fuel stabalizer. I asked him a year or so ago when small engines started having troubles with all the crap they put in the gas (Ethanol) and all the harm it was doing. Knowing that when it sets it draws moisture bad. And at that time Sta-bil hadn't come out with anything for Ethanol yet (since then they have - the Marine green stuff) and I thought it was a MAJOR missed opportunity. Never used it for stabilizer, but I do recall reading that as a use on the can. I still primarily use it for the "catalyst effeciency" code on Subaru's. Please explain. What code #? Reason I ask is that I was about to change cat on my 05 OB after repeated P0420. I had tried one, then two cheaters and then gave up and cleared code after removing cheaters. 1000 miles so far without code reappearing. Wonder if it was just some bad gas and deposits or if Lady Luck is riding in the back seat... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efseiler Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 not if the temp drops...then the water comes out of solution....check out the 'Startron' site for a nice demonstration of that. I think that stuff works really well...I can tell just by using my right foot and examining the exhaust fumes. Think about it...if a mass of plutonium the size of your fist can waste an entire city in a few seconds imagine what a couple ounces of Startron stuff can do for your pet reptile. --Damien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Please explain. What code #?Reason I ask is that I was about to change cat on my 05 OB after repeated P0420. I had tried one, then two cheaters and then gave up and cleared code after removing cheaters. 1000 miles so far without code reappearing. Wonder if it was just some bad gas and deposits or if Lady Luck is riding in the back seat... My ex GF's 06 gets the code whenever she gets cheap, chain gas (Sheets or the local grocery store chain Giant Eagle's Get-Go gas). If she buys a major brand I think she's usually good. But I've had success with this code on 95-99 2.2 and 2.5's by running it through a vacuum line and making enough white smoke to make it look like the neighborhood is on fire.. Several cars I've done this to and put another 1 or 2k on them before selling them with no further issues. Can't beat it for the price, especially with the seeming success I've had with it. I usually get a plastic cap off of a brake clean can or something. Pull the brake booster hose (I never did find a good and convenient smaller vacuum line - but thought about pulling one on the throttle body and inserting a new" hose to do the sucking) and keep pouring the Sea Foam into that cap so that I can see the fluid level and keep sucking it into the engine. That way you can see what's going on and not kill the engine until you're supposed to. I read about it here. It was the first time I had used Sea Foam and now I always keep atleast one on the shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch de la Brat Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 not if the temp drops...then the water comes out of solution....check out the 'Startron' site for a nice demonstration of that. I think that stuff works really well...I can tell just by using my right foot and examining the exhaust fumes. Think about it...if a mass of plutonium the size of your fist can waste an entire city in a few seconds imagine what a couple ounces of Startron stuff can do for your pet reptile. --Damien I'm just curious, where the heck did that last paragraph come from? Lol, I mean no offense, but it just threw me for a loop. Hey, anybody want to discuss the viability of Conklin? Twitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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