Top Fuel System Carbon Cleaner Year Review: What works, What Doesn't?
Fuel System Cleaners: Effectiveness and Insights
Overview of Fuel System Cleaners
- The speaker reviews various fuel system cleaners used throughout the year, comparing their effectiveness based on different driving conditions.
- Highlights Liqui Moly's throttle valve cleaner, which claims to clean intake valves effectively, even in GDI engines.
Inspection Process Before Treatment
- Initial inspection of the catalytic converter is conducted by removing the air-fuel sensor for a visual assessment.
- The speaker inspects intake valves by removing engine components and using a borescope to reveal significant carbon buildup on the valves.
Cleaning Procedure
- Focuses on one specific intake valve for before-and-after comparisons; multiple layers of carbon are observed.
- Prepares for cleaning by warming up the car and accessing the throttle body; uses a discharge pipe from Liqui Moly’s product.
Application of Cleaner
- The cleaning process involves maintaining RPM above 2,000 while spraying the cleaner into the intake system.
- After application, no smoke is observed during operation; however, some misfiring occurs post-treatment due to residual product in the system.
Results and Observations Post-Treatment
- Upon inspection after treatment, minimal difference is noted between before and after footage of intake valves.
- A second round of treatment is performed due to unsatisfactory initial results; check engine lights appear but clear after several drive cycles.
Final Assessment
- Close examination reveals slight improvements in cylinder one but overall results are largely unsuccessful across all cylinders inspected.
- No significant change in catalytic converter appearance or performance noted post-cleaning.
Conclusion on Product Efficacy
Fuel Injector and Piston Analysis
Observations on Cylinder Deposits
- The speaker notes the presence of impurities on the piston top, suggesting potential clogging in fuel injector holes.
- Cylinder 3 mirrors cylinder 2's pale deposits but reveals some carbon exposure at the piston edge, indicating similar issues.
- A check on the catalytic converter is performed to assess carbon deposit accumulation from combustion; BG's claim about cleaning O2 sensors is mentioned.
Product Application and Initial Driving Conditions
- The product is introduced into the fuel tank using a funnel, with a noted strong fishy smell possibly due to its ingredients.
- The driving conditions are described as approximately 70% city and 30% highway, avoiding wide-open throttle driving for accurate results.
- Emphasis is placed on typical user behavior when using fuel system cleaners without aggressive driving.
Results After Treatment
Cylinder Cleanliness Post-Treatment
- After 351 miles, significant cleaning of carbon deposits is observed in cylinder one, revealing clearer indentations on the piston.
- No wear is detected in the cylinder wall upon closer inspection; reflections were misinterpreted as wear previously.
- Similar improvements are noted across cylinders two and three, with cleaner centers and better-defined piston features.
Catalytic Converter Assessment
- The speaker expresses curiosity about where carbon deposits end up post-treatment while noting improved cleanliness in cylinder four.
- The oxygen sensor shows minimal change; however, there’s an unexpected improvement in catalytic converter cleanliness with no signs of clogging.
Future Experimentation Plans
Repeating Tests with Different Driving Styles
- Acknowledgment that not all pistons became shiny after one tank suggests further testing will be conducted under different driving conditions (spirited driving).
- Previous use of BG44K was without spirited driving; this time it will include more aggressive acceleration to gauge effectiveness fully.
Baseline Footage Collection
- Baseline footage captures initial conditions across all cylinders before treatment; shiny metal exposure indicates areas most affected by heat during combustion.
Final Results After Additional Driving
Enhanced Cleaning Observations
Observations on Fuel System Cleaner Effectiveness
Initial Observations and Product Performance
- The speaker notes improved visibility of the piston crown inscription after using the product, indicating some level of cleaning.
- Despite a darker appearance in the catalytic converter post-use, no significant clogging was observed; previous experiences suggest that spirited driving can enhance carbon clearing.
- The speaker expresses disappointment with the product's performance relative to its cost, suggesting that multiple cans may be necessary for optimal results.
Cleaning Efficacy Over Time
- The fuel system cleaner claims to consistently deliver PEA (polyether amine), an industry-standard active ingredient, which is expected to improve cleaning efficiency.
- Baseline shots reveal significant carbon buildup on injector tips and pistons before treatment; this sets a reference point for evaluating cleaning effectiveness.
- After initial use of another product (bg44k platinum), baseline conditions show varying levels of cleanliness across cylinders.
Application Methodology and Results
- Instructions recommend adding 10 mL of cleaner per 10 L of gas; adjustments are made based on tank capacity for effective application.
- A conservative approach is taken by driving normally without spirited driving to assess average user experience over 1,000 miles with regular cleaner application.
Comparative Analysis Post-Treatment
- Inspection reveals increased shininess in piston centers but also returning brown deposits, indicating limited long-term effectiveness compared to bg44k platinum.
- Catalytic converter shows improvement in cleanliness post-treatment; however, no hard deposits were found lodged within it.
Double Dose Testing Outcomes
- A second run with double the recommended dose yields similar results regarding piston cleanliness as the single dose application.
- Significant reduction in carbon buildup on injector tips is noted across all cylinders after both dosing methods were tested.