A fuel injector cleaner is a product that many car enthusiasts have doubts about as it can be difficult to tell whether or not its doing anything. However as cars age, so does the efficiency of the combustion process and this results in deposits forming inside the injectors as well as other critical engine components.
For that those require a quick answer, from our research and considering multiple factors, we concluded that the best fuel injector cleaner is the Chevron 65740 Techron Concentrate Plus. It’s a tried and tested formula that cleans, restores and protects the entire fuel system and is also backed by lab proven results.
Table of Contents
Fuel System Cleaner Comparison
| Fuel Injector Cleaner | Concentration | Use On |
|---|---|---|
| Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus | Strong | Empty Tank |
| Lucas 10013 | Low | Full or Empty |
| Liqui Moly Jectron | Medium | Full or Empty |
| STP Ultra 5-in-1 | Medium | Full or Empty |
| Red Line Complete SI-1 | Strong | Full Tank |
| BG 44K | Strong | Full or Empty |
To ensure the fuel system of your car is as clean as it can be, regular usage of a fuel injector cleaner is required. The carbon deposits, dirt, gunk or varnish can be tough to remove if the car has been neglected or heavily used.
Car owners that always use lower quality octane fuels are prone to additional carbon deposits. The build up of dirt can even result in the “Check Engine Light” appearing and requiring an OBD2 scanner to remove the code.
Below is a list of the best fuel injector cleaners that remove carbon deposits and helps to improve performance.
The Best Fuel Injector Cleaner
1. Chevron 65740 Techron Concentrate Plus
The Chevron Techron fuel injector cleaner is highly rated worldwide as a powerful product to clean, restore and protect the entire fuel system. The effect this has on the car is more power, better throttle response and an improvement in fuel economy.
Features of the Chevron Techron Fuel Injector Cleaner includes:
- Lab proven results
- Powerful solution for instant results
- Recommended usage every 3,000 miles
- Also be used with ATV’s, bikes and more
- Available in 12 or 20 oz bottles
- 12 oz treats 12 gallons of fuel
Hard cold starts caused by a dirty fuel system can be a thing of the past with regular usage of the Techron injector cleaner. Thanks to lab proven results, the Techron formula by Chevron is an injector cleaner that you can trust to clean the complete fuel system.
Overall, it’s the best fuel injector cleaner for the money and it does exactly what it says on the bottle.
Check it Out2. Lucas 10013 Fuel Treatment
Lucas Oil are a popular American brand that provides a range of oil additives for cars and marine equipment. This particular formula is designed to tackle high emissions and improve the combustion process.
Features of the Lucas Oil 10013 fuel treatment includes:
- Large bottle for regular usage
- Made in the USA
- Cleans and lubricates
- Neutralizes low sulfur fuel issues
- Suitable for both gas and diesel engines
Although expensive, it’s sold by the gallon, which means that when you compare the value for money per gallon, it works out as the same price as the other alternatives.
When it comes to the Lucas Injector cleaner, you won’t hear many bad words. It’s a top rated injector cleaner that eliminates all carbon deposits from all fuel systems.
Check it Out3. Liqui Moly Jectron Fuel Injection Cleaner
The Liqui Moly Jectron is sold in 300 ml containers and it’s designed for performance gasoline vehicles with issues caused by low octane fuels. For medium to heavy carbon deposits, the Liqui Moly easily cleans and restores and this product follows the brand’s excellent reputation.
Features of the Liqui Moly Fuel Injection Cleaner include:
- Keeps intake valves clean
- German approved (TUV)
- Use every 3 months or oil change
- Reduces emissions
Liqui Moly claim that by regular usage of this injector cleaner, it’ll return the car’s original performance in terms of power and economy. In terms of value for money, it’s a concentrated formula hence the small capacity, so regular usage overtime may be more expensive than the alternatives.
Check it Out4. STP Ultra 5-in-1 Fuel System Cleaner
STP provide a wide variety of fuel injector cleaners that are suited towards certain applications. This particular formula is the brand’s new and improved cleaner that’s designed for maximum effectiveness.
Features of the STP Ultra 5-in-1 include:
- Works with all modern gasoline engines
- Suitable for turbo, direct injection and hybrid vehicles
- Compatible with cap-less gas systems
- Reduces frictions by lubricating engine components
- 12 fl. oz. treats up to 35 gallons of gasoline
According to the brand, it’s recommended that you use the STP Ultra 5-in-1 every oil change or 4,000 miles (whichever comes first). It’s also important to note that usage of this fuel injector cleaner won’t void warranties which is a great benefit. Overall, it’s a great all-rounder that ticks all the boxes and it won’t disappoint.
Check it Out5. Red Line Complete Fuel System Cleaner
The Red Line formula is another popular formula that’s safe for continual use for cars that are used heavily or previously neglected and need their fuel systems cleaned. Red Line claim that it cleans to nearly 100% efficiency from just one treatment, which is very impressive.
Features of the Red Line Complete fuel system cleaner include:
- Reduces the need for octane by up to 2 points
- Uses synthetic upper cylinder lubricant
- Safe for continual usage
- Lab proven results for 100% efficiency
- Recommended to use one bottle per tank
It’s a highly concentrated formula that’s great for storing in the car and regular usage of this fuel injector cleaner can make a huge difference to the way your car outputs its power. Overall, it’s the best fuel injector cleaner additive for regular use and it even includes a cylinder lube additive inside the formula too.
Check it Out6. BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner
Features of the BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner include:
- Each can treats up to 20 gallons of gasoline
- Proven to restore lost power
- Powerful formula for instant results
- Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor safe
There are many highly rated injector cleaners to choose from but the unique selling point of the BG formula is its aggressiveness. For those suffering from a check engine light and want a powerful solution to fix it, the BG fuel injector cleaner is ideal.
Check it OutFuel Injector Cleaner Buying Guide
There are plenty of people that think fuel injector cleaners are a waste of time and they do nothing for the health of the cars fuel system. However, there are thousands of proven test cases in labs that state otherwise. Fuel injector cleaners are a chemistry milestone and they restore performance without spending large amounts.
Carbon deposits are a by-product from the combustion inside the engine and as cars become older, the build up increases. Cars that are neglected or constantly run on low octane fuels for years will see a faster build up of carbon deposits.
Ensuring your fuel system is as clean as it can be requires a top rated injector cleaner and not the cheap stuff found at your local shops. Below are some factors to consider before pouring a range of products into your fuel tank.
Benefits of Using a Fuel Injector Cleaner
From cleaning the fuel system with a suitable injector cleaner, you can expect the following benefits:
- Improved fuel economy
- Restored power
- Better throttle response
- Smoother engine
- Reduced smoke from exhaust
- Better engine emissions
- … and much more
The benefits are thanks to a chemical known as PEA (Polyetheramine) that dissolves the deposits and flushes them through the fuel system safely.
Container Capacity and Concentration
PEA (Polyetheramine) is the ingredient that you should be looking out for and a high concentration of this is a good sign. If the product doesn’t include this chemical, you are wasting your time using it on a regular basis.
A smaller container capacity is often preferred to a larger alternative as it makes it much simpler to pour it all into a full tank. Measuring the injector cleaner in the container before pouring it into your fuel tank can be time consuming and an unnecessary hassle.
How to Use Injector Cleaner
The majority of injector cleaners require you to pour it into the tank when it’s empty. This method of use means it’s mixed better with the fuel because if it was the other way around, it can stay at the top of the tank and not mix as well.
Depending upon the concentration and the formula of the fuel injector will determine the frequency of use. Some brands suggest that you should use the product on an annual basis whilst others can be as short as every 3 months.
However, we recommend using the products between oil changes or a certain distance that’s stated on the bottle. Not all cars will be used the same during a certain time frame, therefore it’s better to use the fuel injector cleaner based on the amount of miles you have driven.
How To Tell If The Injectors Are Clogged
Neglected, high mileage or problematic cars can have a build up of carbon deposits that overtime can cause the injectors to become clogged. When the injectors are clogged, some of the symptoms can include:
- Struggling to start
- Lack of power
- Not all cylinders firing
- Engine stutter or hesitation
- Rough idling
- Poor emission
- Poor fuel economy
- Check engine light
The list can keep going and it simply shows the importance of cleaning the fuel system regularly. Its simple, if the injectors are clogged, the engine isn’t getting the fuel it requires to run efficiently. Clogged injectors is a common issue that many cars suffer and its one that can be misdiagnosed as EGR valve problems.
Conclusion
Fuel injector cleaners are a cheap product to purchase but one that comes with many benefits when using it on a regular basis. For high mileage, neglected or heavily used vehicles, it’s highly advised to use it on a regular basis. A popular time to use it is after an oil change because this will mean all the engine fluids are serviced.
