Fuel injector cleaners

Hello everyone Toyota dealership always wants me to pay for fuel cleaner service which is kinda pricey does anyone get this done? Or do any of you just by fuel injector cleaners from auto parts stores

 

I had it done once it was like 189.00 bucks couldn’t tell a difference when they did it my step dad puts seafoam in his gas tank once a month swears by it this guy at nappa uses Lucas oil products

 

Thanks for the info will try that

 

Make sure you're using Top Tier fuel too. I use Seafoam in the crank and the tank just before an oil change. Read the instructions on the can!

 

I had a discount coupon, so I had the dealer do their thing once before a long road trip... I have been using Seafoam ever since.

 

Have used Lucas and Techron before didn’t really notice a difference but would like to hope it’s “cleaning” the fuel system as some sort of preventative maintenance

From reading previous Seafoam threads on here I have chosen to use it from new in my 18’ tundra- did my first oil change @ 3k and added it to fuel only- will add to crankcase before rest of oil changes- for same “cleaning & preventive maintenance “ of crank

QUESTION:
Just bought a 16’ 4Runner with 38K on it’s 4.0 V6 - previous 1 owner got it serviced at dealer regularly. I can tell what kind of car owner they were by a couple things I’m trying to address or “bring back to life” want to add Seafoam to fuel and oil as soon as possible
Is there anything to be worried about with the fuel system- such as filters etc collecting debris- that i will have to change after running Seafoam thru the system????

 

Never used injector cleaner. Additives in gasoline. Gasoline is an excellent solvent. Your injectors are fine. Your Tundra has indirect injection, the valves are fine..
You want to clean something, do the throttle body or put in a new air cleaner from Denso.. Wash the outside, etc

If you must.. Use a nitrogen based PEA cleaner.. But don't think you need it very often.

 

Not with Seafoam.

 

I've never had an injector "service" done on my Tundra. And probably never will.

I've never had injector "service" done on my 1997 T100. I'm on the OEM injectors and at 262,000 miles. It gets slightly better gas mileage than when it was new.

 

Seafoam was developed for two stroke outboard boat engines back in the 50s. It was designed to break down deposits inherit in mixed gas engines.

They obviously have changed the secret sauce since then. I'm shocked they left the nitrogen based cleaner out of their cleaner. Techron, Shell "Nitrogen" gasoline, and GumOut have PEA additives and after a few applications, CAN make a minor difference.

Like Jofus mentioned above, its likely not needed provided you use a high grade detergent gasoline and a maximum of 10% ethanol.

Now direct injection and turbo engines are a whole different ball of wax when it comes to carbon build up. Good luck to those folks, your on your own.

 

I used Seafoam in the crank case to de-gunk this Camry V6 before replacing the VC gaskets, the results were amazing.

 

Complete waste of money to have dealer do injector cleaning. I do not believe in any of the cleaners and have had no success with them. PEA is probably the most important additive and I use Techron once a year in our vehicles. I do not notice one bit of difference but I do just to say I did. Sea foam is not bad and have used it in small engines before with a little success.

 

Rex... Can you explain to us what you actually did and the thoughts behind it? Crankcase application? Drained when, what services, etc

 

Something interesting I learned about top tier fuels. I E-mailed Sunoco about them not being a top tier fuel and asked them why they were not a top tier fuel. They said their fuel exceeds all manufacture and meets all government standards. They told me it cost them tens of thousands of dollars to “be a member” of the top tier standards group. They said they much rather put their money into the product then into a group that charges to be a member. I guess it like a Members Only Jacket. You can be a member, if you buy it.

Sunoco is now listed on the top tier website but it wasn't in my owners manual so they must have gave in.

 

This was a high mileage engine that didn't get the best care when it came to oil / filter changes, sludge was visible inside the valve cover and all up in the fill cap. I poured a full can of Seafoam into the oil, and drove it 500 miles. I changed the oil & filter, and repeated the process. I replaced the valve cover gaskets, and resumed scheduled oil & filter changes. I drove the piss out of that car for a few years after that, and never had a problem.

 

Impressive. It seems like a different scenario than the OPs. Seafoam was designed for 2 stroke contamination. It's probable that you utilized it in the most realistic manner left.. Lol

 

I use BG 44K and have had good results. BTW: I am totally skeptical of the "GNC-like supplement" placebo/snake oil BS of octane boosters, fuel injector cleaners, etc. For me, Seafoam-anything is at the top of that list.

However, I was having a stumbling issue on startup that went away after using the BG 44K.

When I was having these issues I thought I'd start simple and swap the fuel filter. Thats when the Toyota dealer informed me there is no fuel filter on a '14 Tundra. I assume same for newer Tundras.

Moving on, I then cleaned the throttle body (dirty- yes, but no change) and then the MAF sensor (couldn't tell if it was dirty, yet still no change). I used the appropriate cleaner for each.

Then I did some more research and stumbled into BG 44K from someone on this forum. I used a can of that and the stumbling went away.

For whatever that is worth...your results may vary.

 

Wait... What you can safely add seafoam to the crankcase ? Guess i should pay
more attention to the directions on the can. LOL

Was actually heading out today to wallyworld to get some seafoam and thought i would check-in and see what everyone was using, found this thread.

I always add it to the lawn mower and trimmer and let them run dry before winter storage, but never thought of adding to the tundra oil.

Im not due for an oild change for another month or so. I may just add it to the oil prior to the oil change.

 

question for you who have added it to your fuel.

directions say 1 oz per gallon - since the can is 16oz's, my assumtion is you just added the whole can to a fill up?

or do you use the smaller concentrated fuel injector cleaner thats 5.25 oz's

I added to much to my mower once, and it smoked like crazy.
now i just add about 1.5 and smokes a lot less. Cant see me driving
down the road after adding to the fuel and the truck smoking like a
freight train.