Question on Fuel Treatments

[bobbart]

1. Lucas Fuel Treatment as a fuel additive that cleans and lubricates your entire fuel system and upper cylinders, use every fill up.

2. Gumout Regane Complete
Fuel System Cleaner, use every 3000 miles.

I?m not sure which one to use.

Thanks for your input,
bobbarto

[Project84]

Using Lucas Fuel Treatment I actually recorded a DROP in MPG for that tank, did'nt run it in my next tank and I had an increase from average MPG.

So to test, I ran it every-other tank for about 7 or 8 fillups, sure as anything, when it's in the tank, you get worse FE, the next tank you run your mileage will increase, but only by about 1-2 MPG over average. There is no long term (2, 3, or 4 tanks after the Lucas was used) increase in FE.

If you add up all the pennies it takes to go 2 miles, and add up how much that 3oz. squirt of Lucas costs, it equals out to basically provide no money savings, or even cost you a few cents.


These weren't scientific tests, there was no control, and the routes and average speeds along with ambient temps were all different each tank... but none the less, convinced me enough that it isn't worth it.

[bobbart]

What about which one is better for cleaning the entire fuel system,
Lucas or Gumout Regane Complete?

bobbarto

[Project84]

I'd say just do a google search and read other people's reviews. Most people here call products like that "snake oil" and avoid them like the plague. You won't find much in way of wide responses.

[zero_gravity]

you might get a few 'they're total ****' responses - from people like me

[BEEF]

does your car run bad? if not, don't worry about it.

most truely are scams

[Jay2TheRescue]

I've used BG 44k and I've been pleased with it.

[ecofarmer]

I read an older article on treatments with my last daily driver. It talked about the amount or lack of treatment in the gas out of the pump. I decided to use Lucas on my old daily driver but only at about one forth of what it called for by the gallon. The first few tanks I didn’t see any changes, but then I started to see 2 to 4 MPG.

Watch what treatments you use and the mix per a gallon. If you are going to use something strong then it’s best to use it 2 tanks before an oil change so the stuff that gets into your oil gets changed out and dose not sit in the oil to long. Some of the treatments can leave a residue on your plugs.

[bowtieguy]

i've not heard any good things about either of those products. and, yes, most are snake oil.

reviews of "people in the know" on the following are good...

amsoil PI
seafoam
chevron/shell/texaco

for a cheap cleaning, some use 90% isopropyl alcohol or 100% acetone(just a few oz please).

[bobbart]

OK...so what's a great fuel cleaner?


BG Fuel Injection System Cleaner?
Gumout Regane Complete?

It doesn't hurt to put 4 or 5 bottles into your gas tank per year

bobbart

[Jay2TheRescue]

I'd dump a bottle of BG 44k in there and be done with it for the next year. I don't like adding stuff each fillup.

[bowtieguy]

amsoil PI claims to lubricate, but i wouldn't use it, or anything, that expensive on every fill.

a good smokeless(ashless) 2 stroke oil would give you a lube for every fill if that's desired.

[dkjones96]

The only cleaning I've ever had done was a power EFI cleaning at Midas for like $75 I think it was. It worked well! The car seemed more responsive and my miles per tank went up about 20 miles or so.

[ecofarmer]

Seafoam was made for pulling a vacuum hose and running half a bottle into the car letting it site for a few hors and then running in the rest of the bottle. 100 miles latter you need an oil change and check / clean your plugs. B12 is about the same thing but cheaper sold where seafoam is not sold.

It’s good to thin out the oil to help with a flush right before you an oil change or to toss in the gas tank but would never put it in the tank at the mix it calls for.


I do use rubbing alcohol right before a cold chill to help with gas lines freezing up. It’s the same as isopropyl alcohol but in a cheaper package.

[Jay2TheRescue]

But rubbing alcohol is watered down. I don't like the idea of adding water to my tank. Although it would be expensive, I bet Everclear or Virginia Lightning (VA Lightning is nothing more than legally produced moonshine) dumped in the tank would clean it out.

[R.I.D.E.]

BG 44 K was what we used. In the old days of pintle type fuel injectors it would make a difference. The newer designs are not as susceptible to getting gummed up.

In eastern Virginia everything is 10% alcohol, to reduce emisssions. They had to drain the tanks when the stations changed over to keep the alcohol from dissolving all the accumulated goop in the station's tanks.

I havent used any additive after the change over to 10% alcohol here.

regards
gary

[dkjones96]

I like ethanol in my gas. It keeps me from needing to buy things like HEET.

[ecofarmer]

Right rubbing alcohol is 80 or 90% depending on witch one you buy.