Do fuel injectors need periodic cleaning?

Do fuel injectors need periodic cleaning? 23 Aug 2015 12:00 AM  Cleaning fuel injectors is a service frequently recommended by roadside mechanics. But unless there are noticeable signs of clogged injectors (such as a rough idle, stalling, poor acceleration or high emissions levels), it might not be necessary. One tipoff is that fuel injector cleaning is not typically listed on automakers’ routine maintenance schedules. Many shops promote a quick injector service that runs a cleaning solution through the injectors while they’re still mounted in the engine. A more thorough (and expensive) process for severely clogged injectors requires removing the injectors and cleaning them on a machine designed for that purpose. Fuel injectors clog when dirt builds up over time and thousands of miles; when that happens, the injectors don’t deliver the fine mist of gas that provides maximum performance and efficiency. If that happens, one would notice a loss of engine performance or lower fuel economy. The type of gasoline one uses can also be a factor. All gasoline is required to contain detergents that prevent carbon deposits, varnish and other gunk from forming in the fuel system, but not all brands use the same amount. Lower-priced brands often use only the minimum. Detergents have been required by the US Environmental Protection Agency since 1995 because many vehicle owners complained of clogged injectors and fuel-system deposits. Not only has gasoline gotten better since then, but so have the injectors, so problems aren’t as widespread as they used to be. But in Nigeria, where the quality of some of the fuel imported for consumption is grossly below the standard in respectable societies or where the tanks of filling stations garner dirt, motorists sometime experience their injectors getting clogged with the dirt borne from these aforesaid circumstances. However, gasoline direct injection, a more sophisticated injection system that operates under higher pressure, is becoming commonplace in engines, and some GDI systems have proved to be more prone to clogging than regular fuel injection. That’s why some manufacturers recommend adding a fuel system cleaner to your gas tank periodically. Many other gasoline additives that are supposed to clean fuel system parts are also available over the counter, and they may help keep things clean enough so that fuel injector cleaning isn’t necessary. The additional detergents found in Top Tier gas should do the same thing, which might be all your fuel system needs. REACTIONS TO AUTOMEDICS Can I change the single cell of my Toyota Corolla 98 model to double cell? The temperature rise on our way home from dealer shop, and we have to connect the AC fan direct before the temperature go down. You need to find out why the temperature is rising: is it the fan, radiator, thermostat, a leak or something else? Changing to double cell will not solve the problem. I have a 2014 Honda Accord, which has a tracker installed on it. The alarm sounds off at odd intervals; it may sound once in months or weeks. Please, kindly advice on how to stop the noise. Ken You may have to remove the tracker completely from the car. Some of the so called trackers are of low quality, that after installation they start acting up. Some will even have conflict with the engine ECU or disable the engine. Lastly, if the installation is not done correctly it could also pose a problem. I drive a Toyota Camry 2004. Recently, the engine experienced overheating, burning the gasket. In the process of repair, my mechanic advised that I remove the thermostat as we had to replace the broken radiator (no thanks to bad roads) with a double-layer radiator. Is it okay to have the thermostat removed; and will it not affect the cooling system? Temiloluwa Yes, removing the thermostat will have an effect on the way and manner the engine runs and burns fuel excessively. With the thermostat removed and double-cell radiator installed, the engine will possibly never get to optimum working temperature, which will instruct how the ECT sends information to the ECU. In this mode the engine will perpetually stay in an open-loop situation. My advice in this situation is to go with the manufacturer’s specification. I drives RX 300 Lexus 1999 model. I recently discovered the shift lever works well when one moves it, but the problem is that it does not select at D.R and others, after I had just bought fuel at the gas station. The problem is with the transmission, but my advice will be to run a scan on the transmission. The result will guide on what to do. I drive a Nissan X- Trail 2001 model. Recently, I noticed that the vehicle switches off while I am driving or sometimes it will just be moving slowly, even when I press the throttle pedal hard. I ran a scan on the vehicle and the following codes were recorded: P0420 Catalyst system efficiency below threshold Bank1; P0335 crankshaft position sensor A circuit; P0725 Engine speed input circuit DTC status; P0132 Oxygen sensor circuit high voltage bank1. Please, how can I get my mechanic to fix my car, and what do I need to replace in the vehicle? Thank you. This information will help in solving the issues with this vehicle. As the code description implies, the P0420 code means that the vehicle’s control module has detected that the three-way catalytic converter is not working properly (is not as efficient as the factory is expecting). Replacing the oxygen (O2) sensors may sometimes fix the code, but in most cases, the catalytic convert needs to be replaced to fix the problem. If the P0420 code is combined with other codes, try fixing the other codes first. Possible causes: Three-way catalyst converter Bank 1, Exhaust tube, Intake air leaks, Fuel injectors may be faulty, Fuel injector leaks, Spark plugs may be faulty, Improper ignition timing, Engine Control Module. P0335: The Crankshaft Position Sensor (CKP) also known as the crank position sensor is an electronic device used in an engine to record the rate at which the crankshaft is spinning. This information is used by the Electronic Control Module to control ignition and fuel injection. The sensor system consists of a rotating part, typically a disc, as well as a static part, the actual sensor. When the engine is running, the high and low parts of the teeth cause the gap with the sensor to change. The changing gap causes the magnetic field near the sensor to change. The change in the magnetic field causes the voltage from the sensor to change. The crankshaft Position Sensor signal is not detected by the Electronic Control Module during the first few seconds of engine cranking. Possible causes: Faulty crankshaft position sensor, Crankshaft position sensor harness is open or shorted, Crankshaft position sensor circuit poor electrical connection, Signal plate may be damage, Starter motor may be faulty, Starting system circuit, Dead or weak battery. Voltage or a weak starter can trigger a Crankshaft Position Sensor code. Before replacing any parts, recharge or replace the battery. P0725 Codes is triggered when Transmission Control Module does not receive the engine speed signal from Engine Control Module. The Engine Control Module monitors the engine speed through the Crankshaft Position sensor with the engine running, and send signal to the Transmission Control Module. Possible causes: Faulty Crankshaft Position Sensor, Crankshaft Position Sensor harness is open or shorted, Crankshaft Position Sensor circuit poor electrical connection, Communication error between the Engine Control Module and Transmission Control Module. P0132: The front heated oxygen sensor (or O2 sensor 1) is placed into the exhaust manifold. It detects the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gas compared to the outside air. The heated oxygen sensor 1 has a closed-end tube made of ceramic zirconia. The zirconia generates voltage from approximately 1V in richer conditions to 0V in leaner conditions. The heated oxygen sensor 1 signal is sent to the Engine Control Module. The ECM adjusts the injection pulse duration to achieve the ideal air-fuel ratio. The ideal air-fuel ratio occurs near the radical change from 1V to 0V. Possible causes: Faulty Front Heated Oxygen Sensor Bank 1, Front Heated Oxygen Sensor Bank 1 harness is open or shorted, Front Heated Oxygen Sensor Bank 1 circuit poor electrical connection, inappropriate fuel pressure, Faulty fuel injectors, Intake air leaks may be faulty, Exhaust gas leak. I own a Lexus R300 and its showing VSC/Check Engine. Scan reports shows C1271, 1272 and 1273. Please, kindly interpret. Ajileye All the codes have to do with chassis system, which could also cause the VSC to be triggered and that will also trigger the check engine light. The fault I believe is with the ABS pump unit. C1271 – Motor number 1 Input Circuit Short to ground Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: editor@punchng.com