Later on a while, your car might not accelerate equally quickly as it in one case did, the engine may not run as smoothly every bit you lot remember, or the fuel economic system may dip—but everything else may otherwise work fine. If that happens, it might exist time to treat your engine to a fuel injector cleaning. Your engine has a lot of moving parts and if there's gunk and grime buildup inside, it has to work even harder to go the job done. A clean engine is a more than efficient engine (and as well a more powerful one), so a fuel injector cleaning is an important part of maintaining your motorcar.

While you can ever visit a mechanic to get this service done, drivers tin can save a bunch of money past doing information technology themselves. Fuel injector cleaners are probably the easiest engine additive to utilize and drivers tin can exercise it even if they have no tools or a garage. These products allow y'all to simply use a fuel injector additive to your fuel tank, cleaning out the inner workings of your engine'southward fuel organization and reducing the chance that you'll need to perform costly maintenance piece of work one-time down the road.

Drivers looking for fuel injector cleaners are spoiled by a huge corporeality of options, but we've made a listing of the best fuel injector cleaners on the marketplace today to make your buying decision easier. These are amidst the most popular and highest rated fuel injector cleaners, and so you can buy these products knowing that they have been tested and approved by other consumers just similar y'all.

For more information on the best fuel injector cleaners, refer to our table of contents.

Table of contents

  • 1. Editor'due south Pick: Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel Organisation Cleaner
  • Promoted Product: Hot Shot's Secret Gasoline Extreme
  • two. Red Line Complete SI-1 Fuel System Cleaner (60103)
  • 3. Royal Imperial Max-Clean Fuel System Cleaner and Stabilizer (11722)
  • iv. Liqui Moly Jectron Fuel Injection Cleaner
  • five. Sea Foam Motor Treatment (SF-16)
  • 6. Lucas Oil Deep Make clean Fuel System Cleaner (10512)
  • 7. STP Ultra 5-in-ane Fuel System Cleaner and Stabilizer
  • 8. STA-BIL 360 Protection Ethanol Treatment and Fuel Stabilizer
  • 9. Gumout Fuel Injector Cleaner (510019)
  • Everything You Need to Know About Fuel Injector Cleaners
  • How do fuel injectors work?
  • How are fuel injectors getting clogged upwardly?
  • What does a fuel injector cleaner do?
  • How practise fuel injector cleaners work?
  • What to look for in a fuel injector cleaner?
  • When do I employ fuel injector cleaner?
  • How oft should I use fuel injector cleaners?
  • How will I know that my engine needs a fuel injector cleaner?
  • What can I expect after a fuel injector cleaner handling?
  • What type of fuel injector cleaners are there?
  • How to Use Fuel Injector Cleaners
  • Additional Resource
  • Q & A

chevron techron concentrate plus fuel system cleaner

This is 1 of the most popular fuel injector cleaners available in today'due south market and it comes from a well-known brand. In fact, it'southward often recommended by automakers as a solution for cleaning the fuel injection system. It works on lighter vehicles of all types, carbureted or fuel injected engines. It will also piece of work on your two-stroke motorcycles, just be sure to put lower amounts in the tank—equally much equally it says on the instructions on the bottle.

According to the company, it will make clean and restore the entire fuel system, including the fuel injectors, intake valves, and combustion chambers. Recommended usage is every 3,000 miles for cars and trucks, or right before an oil alter. For engines that don't take a counter, like your lawnmower, employ it as needed.

Hot Shot's Secret

Billed every bit the most concentrated fuel injector cleaner on the marketplace, Hot Shot's Secret Gasoline Extreme promises to restore your sluggish engine's power and performance, smoothing idle and improving fuel economic system by up to 7.nine% — a number that'southward been verified by 3rd-party testing. It works by removing combustion sleeping room and intake valve deposits, dissolving congenital-up gum and varnish and by lubricating the fuel system.

The result is a deep clean for your unabridged fuel system — fuel injectors, valves, pistons, rings and pumps — with just ane treatment, keeping key components lubricated and running smoothly. (Plus, using it won't void your manufacturer'due south warranty.)

Available in either a sixteen oz or ane qt bottle, a unmarried treatment of this full-bodied cleaner lasts for 6,000 to 10,000 miles, and reviewers swear past the stuff, saying the difference in performance is noticeable. In addition to cars, it tin can likewise be used with motorcycles, boats, RVs, small-scale gas engines (like a lawnmower or chainsaw), even agricultural equipment. And Hot Shot's Secret fully stands by their product. When you buy direct from the company's site, you'll receive a 100% satisfaction guarantee — plus gratuitous shipping.

red line complete si-1 fuel system cleaner

Nearly of the fuel injector cleaners take the same bones chemicals, but Red Line has patented a formula that puts it in front end of the competitors. Thank you to that, the Consummate SI-one Fuel Cleaner not merely cleans your injectors and the carbon build up in the engine, but besides lubricates the upper part of the cylinder and reduces the need for high octane gasoline.

In other words, information technology will non only clean your engine, but it will make sure that it's lubricated properly and that information technology works fine with lower quality gasoline. The company recommends using one bottle per tank of gas. It tin can be used on all kinds of vehicles, including cars, trucks, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, marine engines, etc.

You can too stock up if you programme on using this on a regular basis, as it'due south available in a ii-pack, vi-pack, and a dozen.

royal purple fuel injector cleaner

Another well-known make in the automotive industry, Royal Purple offers this Max-Make clean Fuel Arrangement Cleaner and Stabilizer. Information technology's a bit more expensive compared to other recommendations on our listing, only the cost is worth it if you want a make clean engine. It will reduce the emissions of your vehicle, helping information technology run smoothly and even meliorate the ability and mileage.

This recommendation also stabilizes the fuel when you don't drive your car for longer periods of fourth dimension. Ane can of this fuel injector cleaner is to be used on xx gallons of fuel. It works on any vehicle with a gasoline or diesel engine, four-stroke or 2-stroke. The company claims you tin can look to come across an average fuel economy improvement of 3.two percent and even a horsepower gain of ii.vi percent on average.

liqui moly jectron gasoline fuel injection cleaner

Here'due south a recommendation for a very powerful additive for cleaning fuel injectors and carbon build up, peculiarly for cars with older engines. It's one of the fastest solutions on the market, with improvements existence seen later only 1,000 miles or one tank of fuel. And since it comes from Liqui Moly, information technology was tested by the strict TUV (Technical Inspection Association) in Federal republic of germany, so it's one of the safest fuel injector cleaner products.

The company says that it will also not impairment oxygen sensors or catalytic converters, and 1 canteen is good for ane tank of fuel. Ane downside is that it can only be used on gasoline engines. Liqui moly claims y'all'll go smoother idling, better throttle response, and cleaner combustion by using its Jectron Fuel Injection Cleaner. It'll also work to assist eliminate starting problems, hesitation and stalling.

Sea Foam Fuel Injector cleaner

Another popular option, Bounding main Foam's Motor Handling can be used on a diversity of dissimilar engine types, including gasoline and diesel motors. Designed to clean away very heavy carbon build ups, information technology will also make clean your fuel system and lubricate information technology and then it volition last longer. Platonic for older engines with a lot of deposits inside, you tin can as well use this in conjunction with other Sea Foam products to eliminate all those deposits from your engine.

The visitor says this motor treatment can even work to stabilize stored fuel for up to two years by resisting evaporation, preserving ignition vapors, and preventing the formation of gum and varnish. This solution just contains petroleum-based ingredients, which means no harsh detergents or abrasive chemicals that could potentially damage your engine.

lucas oil deep clean fuel system cleaner

If you're looking for 1 of the best treatments for carbon build up, consider Lucas Oil's Deep Clean Fuel System Cleaner. You've likely heard of the make if you've walked the aisles of your local auto parts store, as it is ane of t he nigh well-known brands when it comes to automotive lubrication products. Information technology's very successful at treating every metal surface inside the engine and cleaning it of deposits, too as treating your fuel arrangement.

As a result, using this tin improve the performance and fuel economy of your car, as well every bit reducing NOx emissions. If you're experiencing knocking and pinging with your engine, this is likewise worth a shot to try to eliminate those issues. The simply major drawback with this solution is that information technology tin only be used in gasoline engines.

STP Fuel System Cleaner and Stabilizer, Advanced Synthetic Technology

Another brand with a great reputation in the manufacture, STP offers this advanced synthetic fuel system cleaner and stabilizer. Not only will it clean your fuel organization, it'll as well piece of work to stabilize the fuel and forestall rust inside its metallic components. The company says this formula boasts three times the corporeality of detergents compared to other products, helping it remove 61 pct of intake valve deposits and restore the injector to 95 percent of its original operation.

Use this on a full tank of fuel (effectually twenty gallons) and you should experience some noticeable results, including lower emissions and amend fuel economy. Information technology'll also piece of work to reduce friction by lubricating engine parts, potentially improving performance. It's compatible with cap-less gas systems and is safe to employ on modern gasoline engines with turbochargers, direct injection, and fifty-fifty hybrid vehicles.

sta-bil 360 protection ethanol treatment and fuel stabilizer

If you lot're running ethanol-blended fuels in your engine, have a wait at STA-BIL's 360 Protection Ethanol Treatment and Fuel Stabilizer. It's one of the most popular ethanol treatments out there, designed to forestall ethanol fuel-related damage to your vehicle. Like many other cleaners, it claims to increase engine ability and efficiency, while working to prevent corrosion.

This recommendation works with gasoline and diesel fuel engines, but ideally on ethanol-blended fuels. A ten-ounce bottle tin be used on upwardly to 50 gallons of fuel, so one bottle can go a long way. For those storing fuel for a long menstruum of time, this product can work to proceed that fuel fresh for upwardly to 12 months.

gumout fuel injector cleaner

Hesitant to spend a lot of coin to run into if fuel injector cleaner tin can actually improve the performance of your engine? Here'due south an affordable option you lot can use to give it a try, designed to remove carbon deposits from key engine parts. Information technology'll practice a good job at restoring your fuel injectors to their previous celebrity, although it won't be as effective equally other recommendations on our list. It volition however, still work to prevent future carbon build up on your fuel injectors, intake valves, and ports.

Safe to utilise on engines with forced induction, this solution is also oxygen sensor safe and should work to reduce emissions while slightly improving fuel economy and performance. If y'all're on a budget, this is what nosotros would recommend and if you're happy with the results, you can proceed sticking with it.

four cylinder engine bay

Photo credit: Banglens / Shutterstock.com

Taking care of a machine or truck engine is a task that we almost always assign to our mechanics, which is expected—you tin can't really do much on your engine nowadays, besides checking the oil and coolant levels. However, going to a mechanic can be very expensive, even if the problem you lot take often requires a simple solution.

One of the most common problems with any fuel injected engine is that the injectors that bring the fuel to the combustion bedchamber tin become chock-full up. If you lot think about it, these are one of the vital parts of the engine—no fuel in the chamber ways no combustion and consequently a car that will lose its power, have worse fuel economy, and increased emissions.

If y'all've never experienced your engine losing power even if it was regularly maintained, you are one of the lucky few. Clogged upward fuel injectors are so mutual that every auto parts store has dozens of unlike and then-called "fuel injector cleaners" that purportedly can clean your entire fuel system and make your engine work similar new again. That is if information technology doesn't have other problems already.

Here, we'll talk nearly everything you demand to know nigh fuel injector cleaners and we try to answer every question you have, like why they are needed in the first place, how to apply them, should you use them yourself, or go to a mechanic, and then on.

Fuel injectors are one of the most important engine parts that are used to introduce fuel to the combustion sleeping room, where it is mixed with air and and then combusted to create power. The injector receives the fuel from a high-pressure fuel pump and cheers to a very small nozzle, atomizes the fuel in very small particles so it tin mix with air quickly.

The best analogy nosotros can think of is a deodorant—a bottle already under pressure that has a pocket-sized nozzle that atomizes the liquid into very small particles. The fuel injector works much in the same way, with the only departure existence that hither the nozzle is even smaller and the injected fuel is almost misty in appearance. Newer injectors for directly injection engines even accept several nozzles on the tip to help for a improve air-fuel mixture.

This is the style that every new internal combustion engine gets the fuel into the bedchamber, regardless if it's a gasoline or diesel burner. The procedure is controlled by the ECU (the car's reckoner), and so the injector volition ever supply the fuel correct when the engine needs it. Timing is very important, as injecting fuel likewise early on or likewise late can cause the engine not to work as expected or even impairment it.

Considering the injector is a very delicate part, with very small-scale canals and constantly under high pressure, it needs well-nigh ideal working conditions, like extremely clean fuel and in the instance of directly injection systems, a make clean nozzle tip and a clean combustion bedchamber.

Expectedly, the gasoline and diesel fuel fuels that we put in our cars are never as make clean every bit it should exist. Autonomously from pocket-size deposits, the fuel that we get today has small-scale amounts of water and some octane-boosting ingredients.

All of these things tin accept detrimental effects on the fuel injectors, only the number-one enemy is definitely carbon buildup. This is something that happens to every engine with time—during the procedure of combustion, the majority of the carbon leaves the engine through the exhaust system, but some of information technology stays in the combustion sleeping room and in time it can cake the passages of fuel and air-fuel mixture. Add together to that the possibility of the injector rusting from the water in the fuel and some byproducts from the octane-boosting Ethanol that is existence widely used today, and with that your car can offset losing ability and consume more fuel in no time.

This is why keeping your fuel injectors clean is important—you non only lose ability, but your fuel economic system will fall off too. Clean injectors can relieve you coin!

Fuel injector cleaners are additives that are meant to clean all those deposits in the injector as well as in the combustion bedchamber and help your engine work in optimal conditions, with the right air-fuel mixture. Retrieve of them equally detergents for your fuel system.

These cleaners can clean the within of your injector, just also the carbon buildup in the combustion chamber, backside the intake valve, around the spark plug, etc. All of them have active ingredients that assistance dissolve the deposits into much smaller pieces and then the engine itself ejects them through the exhaust organisation.

Fuel injector cleaners are a mixture of circuitous chemicals, nearly of them solvents that can easily clean deposits. The main cleansing agent of these additives is a chemical called PEA or polyetheramine, which is a nitrogen-based detergent that is bully at dissolving carbon deposits. In addition to that, PEA is very resistant to high temperatures, which makes information technology great for cleaning the fuel injector as well as deposits in the combustion chamber, where the temperature tin can go upward to 1200-degrees F.

Some cleaners contain other chemicals that the manufacturers claim it makes them superior to others, merely scientific studies take shown that polyetheramine is all-time at cleaning carbon build upwards and you should always look for additives that incorporate this chemical.

Always expect for a fuel injection cleaner that contains the detergent Polyetheramine (PEA), as it is the strongest cleaning agent. Some of the cleaners volition have Polyisobutene (PIB), that helps remove water from the fuel and Polyisobutylene amine (PIBA), which is also a cleaning agent, but non as strong as Polyetheramine. Older fuel injector cleaners even accept alcohol in them for water removal, but they can impairment parts of the fuel system and are best to be avoided.

These cleaners are the easiest to use amid whatsoever other engine additives on the market. They should be poured into an near empty tank of fuel simply before you fill upwards at the gas station and and so the tank should be emptied by leaving the engine to idle or by driving the car.

This means that they don't work right abroad—you demand to drive several hundred miles before you tin can feel the difference. Anyway, always read the instructions on the bottle – some bottles of cleaner are for merely a small corporeality of fuel and then perhaps you'll need more than one for a full tank.

If your car was non cleaned for a long time and it has a lot of carbon deposits, 1 total tank of gasoline or diesel fuel and a canteen of fuel injector cleaner might not be plenty to effectively clean the injectors and the combustion bedchamber. When that's the instance, merely put another canteen of additive in an almost empty tank of gas and empty it by driving.

In that location is a difference in opinion on this topic. Some mechanics volition advise you to use a fuel injector cleaner every yr, or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, earlier the oil change. Additive manufacturers will even instruct you to use it every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. These are non rules. We would propose confronting using these additives on new engines, every bit in that circumstances they can even assistance build carbon build upward, which was scientifically proven in some research.

Our communication is to use fuel injector cleaners on older engines before an oil change, as well every bit engines that are frequently used in cold climate and driven on shorter distances or in congested finish and get traffic. In these situations, carbon builds upward much faster and using a fuel injector cleaner will aid in maintaining the optimal working weather of your engine.

Using a higher quality gasoline or diesel fuel volition also help against clogging upwardly of the injectors and less carbon build up, so be sure that your car e'er gets the all-time one.

Engine with a lot of carbon build upward and clogged injectors volition start losing ability, begin to consume more fuel, rattle at idle and have ignition problems. However, all those symptoms can be due to other parts of the engine, then be certain to always maintain your car routinely by regular oil, oil filter and air filter changes as well as spark plugs in the case of gasoline engines.

Y'all can await several improvements on your engine later on treating it with a fuel engine cleaner, but these results won't happen immediately — you oftentimes take to drive a few hundred miles for information technology to work. Improvements include regaining power and enhanced throttle response, improve fuel economic system and fewer vibrations at idle. For best results though, it's best that yous check your spark plugs and air filter as well, as they tin likewise help your engine run ameliorate.

At that place are several types of fuel injector cleaners out at that place. The basic ones volition only clean the fuel system and the carbon build up within the combustion sleeping room. However, there are cleaners that will also stabilize the fuel or even boost the octane value to aid the engine run smoothly even on lower quality gasoline.

Some of them volition even have lubricants that can help maintaining the fuel system of your car for longer periods of time. You lot can recognize all these products right away – they will either have "3 in 1" or even "v in i" description on the package. Read thoroughly on the benefits of every unmarried 1 earlier buying.

Keeping your fuel injectors make clean play a huge function in how efficiently your car'southward engine is running. Using fuel injector cleaners is an like shooting fish in a barrel way to brand sure your motorcar is operating at its peak and besides getting ameliorate fuel efficiency.

Using fuel injector cleaners is a pretty simple task and anyone can do it—there is no need to go to a mechanic. Before you brainstorm, it's important to use a fuel injector cleaner on a close to empty gas tank but before you're about to fill at a gas station.

  1. Buy the right fuel injector cleaner for your engine:All fuel injector cleaners are non created equally. Virtually of them will work on any type of fuel, but there are some that will work only on gasoline, diesel fuel, or ethanol blends. As well, yous should check if it works with turbo engines, if you have one, or with catalytic converters. Read the instructions on every packet thoroughly, so you can be sure that yous'll purchase the right one for your engine type.
  2. Cheque the instructions for the right corporeality of fuel injector cleaner you need:The instructions will help with measuring the right quantity yous need for the size of your tank also. Almost ever, i bottle of a fuel injector cleaner is plenty for one tank, only if y'all have larger or smaller than the boilerplate fuel tank, you may need to put more or less of the condiment.
  3. Be sure that the fuel level in your car is low:Fuel injector cleaners can piece of work even if you lot put them inside a total tank of fuel, simply it's best to put them inside an empty tank, so they will mix with the fuel amend.
  4. Remove the fuel cap:Remove the fuel cap, as every cleaner should be mixed with gas.
  5. Cascade the fuel injector cleaner into the fuel tank:Open the canteen and pour the fuel injector cleaner. Utilize the funnel if one is provided with the canteen so naught spills out. Some bottles have boosted measuring devices on them (attached to the bottle) – be sure to fill them with the right amount of cleaner before pouring information technology into the tank.
  6. Refill your tank with fuel:After pouring the fuel injector cleaner, you should refill your car with gasoline, diesel or any type of fuel that your car uses. That'due south why it's platonic you are at a gas station while doing these steps. Dispose of the empty bottle responsibly.
  7. Empty the fuel tank by driving your machine:This is self-explanatory, but there are some things to consider if you want the best cleaning.
    -Information technology's all-time to drive your car at the highway or at higher speeds. In doing this, the pressure in the fuel system will be higher, which tin help the cleaner remove the deposits easily. This volition also help in cleaning the carbon deposits inside the combustion chamber and eject them through the frazzle.
    -Employ higher engine rpms. You tin do this even when the car is stationary, or when driving. In other words, don't hesitate to press that gas pedal, as it will help in ameliorate cleaning.
  8. Repeat steps i to 7 if needed:1 bottle of fuel injector cleaner unremarkably does the trick if your engine has deposits inside or some of the injectors is stuck. However, if the engine is still non working every bit normal, you can repeat steps one to vii. These additives don't have adverse effects on the engine and using them more than one time is not a problem.

Contempo Updates:

Nov fifteen, 2021: Removed unavailable Marvel Mystery Oil product. Updated links.

October 13, 2021: Added additional product links.

August 20, 2021: Promoted Product added (Hot Shot's Secret Gasoline Farthermost)

March 19, 2021: Updated the description for many of the product recommendations for clarity, updated images to reflect packaging changes on several products.

January 27, 2021: Updated with a new top recommendation.

We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases y'all make using the retail links in our product reviews. Larn more nearly how this works.

Photograph credit: CyrilLutz / Shutterstock.com

Should I employ fuel injector cleaners on a carbureted engine?

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Carburetors tin also go clogged upward, fifty-fifty though not as quickly every bit injectors. That said, a fuel injector cleaner can exist used non but to make clean up the carburetor but besides to clean carbon deposits inside the engine. We definitely recommend using 1 if you have an older engine.

Tin can I utilize the same fuel injector cleaner on a gasoline and diesel fuel engine?

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Yous should always buy fuel injector cleaners that are specified for the fuel you use in your vehicle. Both of them accept like cleaning characteristics, but they also have some additional additives that will only help the blazon of fuel they're intended for. That said, virtually of the products can work on all type of fuels—gasoline, diesel fuel, biodiesel, or even Ethanol blends.

Can these additives repair a bad fuel injector?

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If your mechanic told you lot that you accept a bad fuel injector, these cleaners won't help. You should change the injector with a new one or if it'south possible, repair it at a professional.

Should I go to a professional to make clean my injectors?

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In most circumstances, only pouring a fuel injection additive in your gas tank tin help your car bulldoze better. However, if the injectors in your engine are very chock-full up and there is a lot of carbon build up, you lot might desire to visit a mechanic. They have additional cleaning techniques which crave removing the injector and cleaning it, likewise as opening the engine to physically and chemically remove the carbon build up. Fifty-fifty though in that location are some kits online that you tin can use to exercise these things yourself, nosotros propose against doing it, as modern engines have a lot of sensitive parts that y'all must remove before cleaning.

Can a fuel injector cleaner damage my engine?

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All fuel additives from reputable manufacturers are tested on a diverseness of engines and fuel types, so it is highly unlikely that they will damage your engine in one way or another.