Favorite injector cleaner
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,018
Likes: 210
From: SoCal
I've never found an over-the-counter injector cleaner that made a noticeable difference. Ford's injectors are in general pretty resistant to clogging from conventional operations. You would have to do some pretty bad fouling of the fuel system to get it to clog.
Having said that, the most effective way of cleaning the fuel injectors is to pump the cleaner, whatever it is, directly into the fuel rail and run the engine on it. I've done this by using a Schrader nozzle from one of those tire inflator cans, and installing it on top of a can of fuel injector spray with the correct valve. I first disconnect the fuel pump relay, and remove the core from the Schrader valve on the fuel rail, and screw on the Schrader fitting from the tire-fill nozzle. I pressurize the rail with the spray cleaner and start the engine, and keep the pressure up to let the engine run for a while. Sometimes the engine stalls, and I have to restart it. I successfully did this on at least one engine; it actually made an improvement in how the engine ran. Just make sure to remove the little rubber gasket in the Schrader nozzle first.
Having said that, the most effective way of cleaning the fuel injectors is to pump the cleaner, whatever it is, directly into the fuel rail and run the engine on it. I've done this by using a Schrader nozzle from one of those tire inflator cans, and installing it on top of a can of fuel injector spray with the correct valve. I first disconnect the fuel pump relay, and remove the core from the Schrader valve on the fuel rail, and screw on the Schrader fitting from the tire-fill nozzle. I pressurize the rail with the spray cleaner and start the engine, and keep the pressure up to let the engine run for a while. Sometimes the engine stalls, and I have to restart it. I successfully did this on at least one engine; it actually made an improvement in how the engine ran. Just make sure to remove the little rubber gasket in the Schrader nozzle first.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
Gumout Regane Complete Fuel System Cleaner
double dose 1 large bottle in 1/2 tank of gas
Gumout® - Regane® Complete Fuel System Cleaner
or Chevron Techron Concentrate
20 oz in 1/2 tank
both contain effective amounts of polyetheramine, the best gasoline system cleaner on the market. Amsoil and Redline make cleaners with the same ingridient but overpriced.
the rest on the market are just run of the mill mild solvent cleaners with lots of fillers, not worth bringing home.
one problem with the pre 1996 4L was that they used bank fuel injection. raw gas set in the hot intake runners below the injectors and cooked, coked and baked into stuck on gummy crud on the intake valve and runner. blocked air flow.
Regane and Techron dissolve and knock this crud out.
the sequential 3Ls and 96 on 4L are not as bad for this but still build up some crud on the valves/runners.
same happens to the outside of the injector pintles on rigs that are run hard and turned off hot.
gums do build up even in the self cleaning Ford V6 injectors.
another benefit of the polyetheramine cleaners is they are very effective at taking out combustion chamber and exhaust valve deposits. will clean your spark plugs.
they even loosen and help remove ring/piston groove deposits. not as effective as a an intake douche and soak with Berryman's B12
run the polyetheramine cleaners no more often than every 5k miles to prevent crankcase buildup.
even the top tier gasolines such as Chevron have so little cleaner as to be ineffective, especially in the Ford OHV 4L carbon machine
double dose 1 large bottle in 1/2 tank of gas
Gumout® - Regane® Complete Fuel System Cleaner
or Chevron Techron Concentrate
20 oz in 1/2 tank
both contain effective amounts of polyetheramine, the best gasoline system cleaner on the market. Amsoil and Redline make cleaners with the same ingridient but overpriced.
the rest on the market are just run of the mill mild solvent cleaners with lots of fillers, not worth bringing home.
one problem with the pre 1996 4L was that they used bank fuel injection. raw gas set in the hot intake runners below the injectors and cooked, coked and baked into stuck on gummy crud on the intake valve and runner. blocked air flow.
Regane and Techron dissolve and knock this crud out.
the sequential 3Ls and 96 on 4L are not as bad for this but still build up some crud on the valves/runners.
same happens to the outside of the injector pintles on rigs that are run hard and turned off hot.
gums do build up even in the self cleaning Ford V6 injectors.
another benefit of the polyetheramine cleaners is they are very effective at taking out combustion chamber and exhaust valve deposits. will clean your spark plugs.
they even loosen and help remove ring/piston groove deposits. not as effective as a an intake douche and soak with Berryman's B12
run the polyetheramine cleaners no more often than every 5k miles to prevent crankcase buildup.
even the top tier gasolines such as Chevron have so little cleaner as to be ineffective, especially in the Ford OHV 4L carbon machine
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
I find if I regularly run my vehicle, and gas it up, the detergents in my gas (including techron) usually keep it clean, and my mechanic seems to agree.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
For the injectors, as well as an all around engine cleaner I have no problems with Seafoam. As far as just injectors, I also think purging the injectors is not a bad idea. Although, I would NOT do it to a newer cars injectors because I have been told by trusted mechanics that the newer injectors are much more sensitive and the purging cleaners cause collateral damage to the injectors.
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