I read the owner's manual after posting, and it says to just not add anything with metal in in...? but says nothing about not adding any cleaner or fuel additives. Can anybody recommend fuel injector cleaner? I've never bought it before...
____________________ Proud owner of a Black 2000 Focus ZX3...
Why do you want to use it? Is something wrong? The reason I'm asking is that I've owned 5 fuel injected cars. I put a minimum of 115,000 miles on each of them, and never had a problem.
I've never used additives like these. IMO, most of them are snake oil. Of course, they all say they're great, and many have celebs e.g. race drivers hawking them. That means nothing in my book. I need proof.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Amsoil has a very nice quality fuel additive which is an injector cleaner.
I have used it in both of my ZX3's and have had no ill effects.
I tend to run a full tank with a dose of this at least once a month to help keep my injectors clean.
Also, Ford does do injection cleaning services which can run you way up into the $200 range...I prefer not to have to do that.
Also, our fuels in the US already contain detergents which are supposed to help prevent problems, however we all know that not one car out there is like the other. It is up to the owner to pay attention to the 'symptoms' and maintenance of their car.
Listen to it...it will talk to you if you pay attention.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
The only reason I ask is because I am running out of ideas for my car's rough idle problem...it's certainly much better then it was when the problem first started a few months back, but still there, and every once and a while it will threaten to stall (but hasn't as of yet), and all of this after I've changed the coil pack, plugs, wires, fuel pump, fuel filter, and of course changed the oil and cleaned the air filter. The engine will just display a slightly rough idle...
____________________ Proud owner of a Black 2000 Focus ZX3...
walk with me into the world of injection: while injectors have come a long way, they are still susceptable to build up in the tracts. while you will likely never see an injector that is crusted over or fully clogged, you WILL find some with crud in them. alot like plaque in the arteries. This build up can affect spray pattern and swirl. This can cause a change in the atomization of fuel, thus having an effect on gas mileage.
You might want to check around some garages to see what they charge for a fuel injection cleaning. They will either remove the injectors to clean them or run a 2 or 3 part chemical through the fuel system. I'v heard of $50-$75 and up.
And some gas (as in stations) is better than others. All it takes is a couple (or so, probably more) fillups from a station that has old tanks that might be starting to rust, to put some dirt(rust) into your system and start to mess things up.
The injector cleaner that they use at the dealership, works.
It depends on where you are driving and the fuel quality. I've been out in the boonies and had the engine be off song, dropped a small container of fuel injector cleaner in and things smooth right out. I've never had even the STP type stuff cause any problems although I keep a bit of the Ford stuff in the trunk now.
FX3: the filters should remove any particulate from bad station tanks. There are gummy components or if you are really unlucky the gas station has been dumping their used oil etc in the tank rather than paying to haul it away. This usually happens to the diesel tanks but has happened to gasoline as well.
Last edited on Wed Jul 13th, 2005 04:59 pm by Codger
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A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
BG 44K is a great cleaner. its a bit pricey but its more effective at cleaning the combustion chamber and valves than the stuff you buy at autozone. You can find this stuff at various shops, ford dealers, and on the web for about 20 bucks.
Also, I have a spare set of zetec injectors that Ive soaked and flushed. 50 bucks to your door.
