Do fuel additives really work? If so which is the best to add to the gas to clean fuel injectors.
I have 99 explorer that I have recently posted about have a couple second start when turning the key. I use to put the key in and it would just fire right up as I turned the key.
Now it cranks for 1-2 seconds before fireing up. I had fuel pump and fuel filter and spark plugs changed in September.
Wondering if my Fuel Injectors are clogged? Have 103,000 miles. Only takes 1-2 seconds of cranking when the vehicle has been sitting for about 2 hours or more, other than that it fires up right away if been driving it and go to the store and start it back up within 2 hours.
No problems with it running bad or nothing. Runs good and quiet.
Kind of scared to add something to the fuel.
Do you think running something in the fuel will help as far as a fuel injector cleaner and which brand if so?
Thanks

 

fuel additives wont actually harm anything unless you have an existing problem thats not normal. there are fuel additives in the fuel itself that you put in.... i personally use gumout all in one. it does alot of things all in one bottle. most other brands dont do everything it does. it even gets rid of moisture in the fuel system.....

 

You might try a top end cleaning with Seafoam. That helps sometimes.

 

It can't hurt to try a good quality additive.
As I've posted here before I'm a truck driver and my vehicles do mileages that vary from 5,000 thru 15,000 to 150,000 and above per year.
Fuel injectors and even engine components have a finite life before they wear out or become gunked up with carbon and other coatings that prevent then from working properly.
A good fuel additive can keep the fuel system cleaner for longer or in some cases (but NOT always), can undo pre-existing carbon & varnsh build up.
I've heard that seafoam is good but can't get it here in the UK. For over 20 years I've used Wynns diesel fuel conditioner in my trucks and Redex in my gas vehicles. Not in every tankfull, but every month or two depending on mileage and more often in winter in the diesels to prevent gelling.
Because of a supply problem with Wynns I got a batch of Lucas upper cylinder lubricant & fuel conditioner just yesterday. It says on the jug that it works with both gas and diesel engines. I put a couple of tablespoons full into my girlfriend's car, a small GM turbo diesel compact. It had about 1/3rd tank of fuel and this morning when it was down to 1/4 tank she remarked that acceleration was snappier than she had noticed in a while. Her car hadn't had any Wynns fuel treatment for about 6 months prior to this.
Soooo... it's early days but it looks like it works; those results are the same as I'd expect with Wynns under the same conditions; better, more complete combustion so a little more power and lower emissions, and as it passes through the system it cleans & lubricates the fuel injectors.
The big test will be using it in my semi truck. The gallon jug treats 400 galls of fuel and it's supposed to pay for itself in incresed fuel economy alone. Time will tell.

 

I use the walmart gas treatment and fuel injector cleaner...and it seems to help a little - I may see 1-2 mpg. increase in mileage..and a small increase in performance...my 97 sport has 134,000 miles on it so anything will be useful to keep it going strong....

 

Hi im a newbe i have 4, 95 explorers and have found that a mixture of Acetone with your gas will do wonders for fuel milege,also will clean injectors,o2 sensors,i mix 4.5oz to a full tank you can get Acetone at walmart home depot,or any place that sell hardware or paint supply store

 

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Since my first fuel-injected car in '86 I've been putting Techron in the tank twice a year. I've driven 3 cars with it totaling 400,000 miles, and none of them ever had a fuel injector problem. For me......good insurance.

 

I was told that you shouldn't have to add additives in your fuel because of the additives that they add to gasoline nowadays. That's what a technician told me from a Ford Dealership.

 

Well, you started this thread and you've received a good half dozen answers from people who do use additives and think they work well enough to keep using them.
But your Ford guy (who presumably knows you have a starting problem) says they aren't needed.
Hmm, I wonder of the Ford guy is trying to sell you something, like a set of injectors perhaps? He may well be right when he's discussing a newer car with no starting problems BUT all he's doing is retelling you the official Ford line. Ford wants to sell you consumable parts (and fuel injectors are consumables).
I also believe that todays fuel isn't as great for your engine as it's made out to be because emissions legislation is cutting back or removing some additives altogether. An additive needs to be used to restore those benefits.
But as an update, I'm now 100% converted to Lucas fuel treatment & upper cylinder lube. It DEFINITELY improves power and mileage, and pays for itself too so it's not an out-of-pocket expense.
At the end of the day, it's your call. I'm not going to argue with you or tell you what to do, al I can do is pass on my experiences to you.

 

Allan, I appreciate what you have to say. Yes I started this thread and was curious to see if people thought additives were good to add. I see from the threads that some people do believe in them.
Also, in regards to my starting issue, come to find out that the Fuel Pump that was replaced in my Explorer back in September was failing again. They said the new one had a bad Check Valve and since it was still under warranty ( 12 months; 12,000 miles ) of course they replaced with a new Fuel Pump again. No problems with it starting. Fires right up after barely turning the key.

But I do have 104,000 miles on my vehicle and was interested if Fuel Additives do help. I am not very mechanically inclined so the responses that I see helps.

 

No problem. All we can do is pass on our experiences. I'm curious about the acetone that was mentioned before by another poster. I've heard miracle stories about it before but the downside is that, if you use a proprietary additive and it wrecks the engine you can sue the company but by taking it on yourself to add an alien chemical to your system you're assuming the entire risk yourself if it all goes t**ts-up.
I might still try it on a single-tankful basis on my g/f's car.

 

I've tryed different fuel additives to my Explorer and don't really know if they work or not. I've even tried using premium fuel at the pump and still didn't notice any real change. However, I can't see the problem of putting in a good name brand injector cleaner once a month. Either way, I still get about 15/20 miles to the gallon!

 

allan1010.......that way she won't wanna get married!

 

I am a believer that you should give your vehicle a shot of a good fuel injector cleaner once or twice a year. It might help but it won't hurt anything if you don't need it. Better to prevent problems than have to try to fix them after the fact.

The best 2 in my book are Amsoil PI and Techron.
Neither are cheap (like the Wal Mart one) but are worth the money to prevent problems. The Techron is $6 to $10 depending on the size, that's for one treatment. Last year I decided with 5 trucks the Techron was too much so I doodled out the price and bought a gallon of the PI ($50).
You only need a little so it is cheaper in the long run.

Either one will do the job.