When to add petrol injector cleaner fuel additive?

[nickpike]

Hi, I've just had the first service on my 3.8L G2.
The technician advised using engine cleaner additive to the fuel once a year. First I've heard of this really.
Would anyone be knowledgeable regarding this and please advise how often it should be used?
I have a bottle of WURTH left over from using it in my Sonata which reduced the CO reading on the government safety test. The dealer is recommending Fortron. Can someone also recommend a suitable fuel additive. Will there be differences as the vast majority are Americans on this site, and I know there are differences between USA and UK petrol.
This is a right hand drive car used in the UK, with 5500 miles on the clock.
Thanks.

 

[Mark_888]

In the USA, Hyundai has a product that is called Hyundai Fuel Injector Cleaner. It is actually made for Hyundai Motor America by Chevron, which has a similar (or probably identical) product called Chevron Fuel Injector Cleaner with Techron. Techron is listed as an ingredient on the back of the Hyundai branded product, and is a trademark of Chevron.

I use the Chevron product (much cheaper than buying the Hyundai Product at a dealer) about once per year. There is a mention of this in the Owner's manual for Genesis sold by Hyundai Motor America, but it is only required if one is NOT using top-tier gas (http://www.toptiergas.com/licensedbrands/).

I have no idea what similar products are available in the UK.

 

[nickpike]

Many thanks for your help. Your information regarding fuel quality has prompted me to contact Shell UK. I'll see what they come back with.

 

[Mark_888]

Many thanks for your help. Your information regarding fuel quality has prompted me to contact Shell UK. I'll see what they come back with.

Even though the Top Tier Gas program is for the USA, I am sure that the quality of Shell gas in the UK is sufficient. The main thing is that the gas needs have the necessary cleansing additives in the gas to keep the injectors clear.

For example, the ingredient in Chevron Fuel Injector Cleaner that cleans the fuel injectors is Techron, but Chevron gas at the pump also has Techron (although premium has more Techron than regular).

The other issue is that the GDI engines don't have traditional fuel injectors, so not sure if Fuel Injector Cleaner helps with that type engine, but it won't hurt.

 

[lobsenza]

I recommend running fuel injector cleaner every 3-5k miles, even when using top tier fuels. I now do this in all of my vehicles. It is a PITA on cars with the capless filler.

 

[Midnightsun]

It's really only an injector cleaner. Running top tier will negate the need to add this. Personally I have a gallon jug of Lucas upper cylinder lubricant which I dose into the tank of all my cars at every oil change. The reviews I have seen on this product certainly point in the right direction. https://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Cylind...000ARPVOI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

[silberma]

The EPA dictates that all gasolines have detergents in them to keep key engine components clean to satisfy the emission standards. Tier 1 gasolines from the major gas companies have more than the minimum required by the EPA. Additives are a waste of money.

 

[Midnightsun]

The EPA dictates that all gasolines have detergents in them to keep key engine components clean to satisfy the emission standards. Tier 1 gasolines from the major gas companies have more than the minimum required by the EPA. Additives are a waste of money.

Direct injection engines have their own quirks and abnormal buildup is one of them which is why Hyundai recommends the additive in the maintenance routine. Top Tier is not meant to address direct injection entirely but it certainly helps. Here is an interesting article. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/...index.htm?loginMethod=auto&copyrightYear=2016

 

[Seejay]

The cleaner (the cleaner itself or premium gas in the USA) addresses the problem with the substantially higher pressures that a GDI fuel injector operates compared to port injection. That can keep the injectors clean, but I don't see how that is supposed to remove the carbon from the intake valves. PEA does not do that. AFAIK, the only fix for carbon build up in GDI engines is very light port injection (heavy duty engine mod)!
I am doing the occasional italian tune-up, but I have no idea if this is doing any good. This could be snake oil, but there is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siRwcnj8-OE

 

[nickpike]

Shell got back to me. They advise running on their super unleaded called V_Power. It is 98 RON (octane) and contains better detergents and a lubricant for the piston rigs. They say it will keep my engine clean without having to use additives. It contains 5% ethanol but the manual states that's OK up to 10%.

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[Mark_888]

Shell got back to me. They advise running on their super unleaded called V_Power. It is 98 RON (octane) and contains better detergents and a lubricant for the piston rigs. They say it will keep my engine clean without having to use additives. It contains 5% ethanol but the manual states that's OK up to 10%.

Shell V-Power is "premium" octane gas in the US. That is pretty high octane for the V6. I would maybe use a mid grade gas, or custom mix 1/2 regular with 1/2 premium.

Keep in mind that using V-Power is going to cost a lot more than a few bottles of fuel injector cleaner per year.

 

[nickpike]

That is pretty high octane for the V6.

Can you explain what you mean here please? The V Power also has other benefits like slightly better mpg and higher torque at lower revs. I was hoping with prolonged use performance may get better and smoother. The owners manual states a minimum of 95 so I figured 98 would be OK.

 

[Mark_888]

Can you explain what you mean here please? The V Power also has other benefits like slightly better mpg and higher torque at lower revs. I was hoping with prolonged use performance may get better and smoother. The owners manual states a minimum of 95 so I figured 98 would be OK.

If you want to run V-Power on your V6, that is OK, but may be a waste of money. I would experiment to be sure you are getting better mpg.

I doubt that performance will get better over time, unless you have a lot gunk in your engine already that V-Power would help clean out. Not likely in an engine as new as yours that uses synthetic motor oil.

 

[nickpike]

Hi, thanks for the interest. I'll carry on with V Power and see how things go. I don't drive a lot of miles a year and the cost really doesn't bother me. I just enjoy getting the best from the car.

 

[srobak]

Shell got back to me. They advise running [...] V_Power [...] and contains [...] a lubricant for the piston ri[n]gs.

Ermm... that lubricant is called "engine oil". It's been lubing piston rings since the dawn of the ICE.

 

[kn5owa]

I think I'll go with a "Tiger in My Tank"!

 

[silberma]

It is a waste of money to run high octane gas in a Genesis. Cheaper to use additives every 3-4K miles

 

[nickpike]

A review I watched on youtube stated that the higher compression ratio on these 3.8L engines is better suited to higher octane fuels. Mine is 98 RON. I want to enjoy my car to the max and I am not bothered about the extra cost that's not much more anyway. If I was bothered about fuel cost, I would not have purchased a Genesis.