Your car is not only a vehicle that gets you from point A to point B but goes much beyond that and is often considered a prized possession.
Proper maintenance is very important to keep your precious car running efficiently and smoothly so that it gives you reliable performance for a very long time.
This also helps to prevent major repairs, which is not only expensive but also keeps your car out of service for several days causing you a lot of inconvenience.
Car care does not only mean tire rotation and oil change, the fuel system of your car needs equal care as well. This is where good fuel injectors and system additives come in.
Best Fuel Injector Cleaners & System Additives for the Money
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 9.7 | Check Price | |
 | 9.5 | Check Price | |
 | Liqui Moly 2007 Jectron Gasoline Fuel Injection Cleaner - 300 ml , blue , 10.14 Fl Oz (Pack of 1 ) | 9.1 | Check Price |
What Is a Fuel Injector Cleaner?
Although fuel injectors have been around since the 50s, only the more recent modern car models have them by default. Fuel injectors help to maximize the performance of the car.
When the car runs and the engine fuel i.e. diesel and gasoline run through the engine, carbon deposits are formed inside the fuel injectors and the car engine, causing poor fuel economy, loss of engine power and even may cause car engine breakdown.
A fuel injector cleaner is essentially a chemical liquid that is added periodically to the car fuel to remove the build-up and deposits from the fuel system of your car. It also helps to clean the fuel injectors and ensures that the car engine works efficiently.
A fuel injector cleaner is usually added to the fuel once in a while; it helps to get the best fuel economy possible and also ensures that your car delivers the best performance.
Using a fuel injector must be a part of your regular car maintenance routine.
Do You Need to Use a Fuel Injector Cleaner for Your Car?
Each time you fill fuel into your car, you introduce contaminants that can prevent the fuel injector from firing on all the cylinders. The cleaner, which is made up of high-tech formulae and special serums remove the build-up from the car’s gas that is left behind by impure fuels.
While some people are of the opinion that each time you refuel your vehicle, you should make use of a fuel injector cleaner, others feel that it should be used every time you change the oil, while some others feel that using a fuel injector cleaner is sufficient once a year.
And, some people are of the firm opinion that these cleaners must not be used at all. However, choosing the middle path is the best.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Fuel Injector Cleaner
Choosing the right fuel injector cleaner may be a confusing decision.
Before you actually go ahead and buy one, ensure that the fuel cleaner you decide to buy meets certain requirements.
Know Your Engine
When you buy a fuel injector cleaner for your car, you must buy one that is best-suited for your specific vehicle.
For instance, a diesel fuel injector cleaner will not work properly on a car equipped with a petrol engine and vice versa and using them interchangeably can cause serious engine problems.
Buy a cleaner according to the specification of your engine, fuel used and the usage of the engine. Engines of high-performance cars are more sensitive to injectors that are dirty as compared to regular cars.
For example, in the case of a sports car, you have to ensure that the fuel injector is very clean when compared to your regular utility car.
Purchasing the Right Amount
There are various sizes and quantities of fuel injector cleaning fluids available in the market and you can buy either a small bottle of it or a gallon.
The cleaner is flammable and when not in use, should be stored safely and kept out of reach of children.
You could buy a small quantity that is just sufficient for one cleaning or for a few uses. If you opt to buy a large quantity though, ensure that you store it safely.
Look for Manufacturer Recommendations
Not every fuel injector cleaner is compatible with all types of car engines. So, it is a good idea to check the manufacturer’s suggestions before buying the cleaner.
This way you can avoid any mistakes and get the best results. Before you buy and use a cleaner for your fuel injector, it is always a good idea to do some research.
Check Fluid Strength
Most of the modern cars have built-in catalytic converters, which are an integral part of the car’s exhaust system and these converters work with the fumes of the fuel.
Sometimes, when the fuel fumes mix with the cleaner, it can cause damage and your car may display the “engine check” light.
Although in most cases, this does not harm the catalytic converter; however, in the case that you make use of the wrong fluid or if the fluid is too strong, then the catalytic converter can get burned.
Cost Efficiency
The cleaner should not only do an effective job of cleaning, it should not be too expensive and be cost-effective, as you will be using the fluid often for as long as you have the car.
Reviews of the Best Fuel Injector Cleaners
The market has many options of fuel injector cleaners and you have hundreds of choices which makes it quite difficult to determine the injector cleaner right for your car.
Here, we have reviewed some of the best ones to help you make the ideal choice.
Liqui Moly Fuel Injection Cleaner
Made in Germany, the Liqui Moly Fuel Injection Cleaner is designed only for gasoline car engines and helps to prevent stalling, starting problems, etc.
The cleaner helps to clean your car’s injection system by releasing the carbon deposits and removing them from the valves and pipes and this helps the vehicle to utilize fuel more optimally and also prevents it from backfiring.
The use of the Liqui Moly fuel injection cleaner delivers more miles for every gallon and is quite popular among customers. The handy applicator allows you to add it your fuel tank as a top-up.
Although the quantity of the cleaner is small, it is sufficient for around 18 gallons of fuel, though the effects of the cleaner last for only 1,000-2,000 miles at the most.
Pros
- Suited especially for cars equipped with catalytic converters.
- Lessens fuel emissions and consumption.
- Comes with an easy applicator.
Cons
- Bottle size is quite small.
- Compatible only with vehicles with gasoline engines.
Where to Buy
On Amazon
Verdict
The Liqui Moly fuel injection cleaner is an excellent cleaner and users claim that it enhances the overall performance of the car, both in terms of acceleration and drivability.
And, the best part is that the cleaner fluid is fairly inexpensive, which makes it an excellent choice for your car.
ISO-HEET Injector Cleaner
Manufactured by Gold Eagle Co., Chicago which was started way back in 1932, the ISO-HEET injector cleaner is an extremely versatile fuel cleaner that works both as a water remover and as an antifreeze agent.
You can use the cleaner fluid all-year round and in 4-cycle and 2-cycle diesel and gas engines that makes it an excellent option for car owners.
ISO-HEET injector cleaner eliminates the excess water fuel from the fuel system, thus preventing rusting and corrosion.
The ISO-HEET has an inbuilt antifreeze that makes it excellent if you are filling your fuel tank in sub-zero temperatures.
And, when you are not using ISO-HEET in the form of an antifreeze, then it can be used to remove any condensation and water in hot conditions.
Since it is an antifreeze agent it is recommended that you use a bottle of the cleaner each time you top-up the fuel in the cold season, which can make it an expensive proposition.
Nevertheless, the benefits of ISO-HEET makes it worth the while in case of extreme conditions.
Pros
- Among the only fuel injector cleaners that also works as an antifreeze agent.
- Can be used in both diesel and gasoline engines.
- Aids in removing water from the fuel system, thereby preventing rusting and corrosion.
Cons
- Can get expensive with repeated use.
- May not be as good as the other cleaners for the purpose of general cleaning.
Where to Buy
On Amazon
Verdict
The ISO-HEET injector cleaner is truly a versatile all-rounder. It is a great product to keep your car running smoothly, especially in extreme climatic conditions.
However, it may get expensive in the long run due to multiple applications; nevertheless, this is a good product to consider and a great choice for cold climates.
BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner
The BG 44K Fuel System Cleaner has been in the market since 2013 and is among the best-rated fuel injector cleaners. The cleaner fluid can treat around 20 gallons of gasoline and restore the performance of your car’s fuel injector.
The best part is that the BG 44K is compatible with all types of fuel systems and can enhance the power output and combustion quality of your vehicle.
Apart from its excellent cleaning abilities, the BG 44K is extremely easy to apply.
So, if you’re looking for a cleaner to clean your fuel system efficiently, remove all the impurities and restore your vehicle’s mileage and performance, then the BG 44K is definitely an excellent product you can buy.
Pros
- Can treat 20 gallons of gasoline.
- Simple to use.
- Enhances power output and quality of combustion.
Cons
- Expensive compared to other fuel cleaners in the category.
Where to Buy
On Amazon
Verdict
Although in terms of the quantity, the BG 44K fuel system cleaner is not a lot, one bottle of the fluid can be used to treat 20 gallons of gasoline, which is huge.
The easy application of the cleaner makes it one of the most efficient products in the category that helps in increasing the power output and combustion quality, which makes it definitely worth considering for your car.
Final Thoughts
As we already know, the fuel that we use in our cars is never 100% pure and contains contaminants, which can build-up over time and cause problems.
So, using a cleaner for your fuel injector not only helps to boost your car’s performance but also helps to prevent any engine problems and also helps to extend the life of the fuel injector.
We hope that our buying guide and reviews are able to help you decide as to which is the best cleaner for your vehicle.