What is true... to have car fuel injectors cleaned or not?

donut · Post by **donut** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 5:23 pm

You guys are smart cookies and a close friend took her 2004 Cadillac CTS (only 61k and she keeps it in showroom condition... seriously, it gets "dusted" in the garage) for an oil change and to have a Diagnostic check on a Check Engine light...
Diagnostic showed she needed a new gas cap ($25) ... the bill for both needs? $100ish... but wait, after 3 hours to find this out... $1100 of additional services were recommended ... not sure the entire list but it included a $142 amount to clean the fuel injectors...

whew, so the question I have is, Do fuel injectors require cleaning? or does one just periodically add an additive to the fuel to accomplish cleaning?

Thank you in advance, googling has arguments both ways and is confusing, but I "think" many years ago a mechanic shared with me this being a farce type of service.

evilone · Post by **evilone** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:25 pm

donut wrote:Diagnostic showed she needed a new gas cap ($25)An hour diagnosis and a new gas cap...it was probably just the gas cap not tightened fully.

$1100 of additional services were recommended The classic upsell...I'm guessing she took it to the dealer

whew, so the question I have is, Do fuel injectors require cleaning? or does one just periodically add an additive to the fuel to accomplish cleaning?The fuel injector cleaning is a deep clean. If the car sits a lot then it's not a bad idea

odinxxix · Post by **odinxxix** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:11 pm

deep cleaning is a good idea. but you could try soaking them in injector cleaner. if that is they way you go then once they have been removed from the intake and fuel rail you will need to replace the o-rings. 9 times outta 10 you take a chunk off of them when removed. also when you put them back in make sure the intake is clean in the holes where injectors go and use some motor oil on the o-rings and becareful. atleast if its the base model it will only have 4 injectors. i hade to do all 8 on my 1996 sedan deville, but that was for different reasons. starter is under the intake on my caddy.

LMH · Post by **LMH** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 10:28 am

Getting to the injectors on a 3.6 northstar is hard and for 125$ they are just and only running a bottle of cleaner through it, more than likely some BG. Just use Chevron TECHRON Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner in your tank and you will be fine, this is what EVERYONE I know with a CTS uses. Do a search on it. Theres no way theyre removing the injectors and "deep cleaning" them for 125$. Ask the dealer yourself for sure.

donut · Post by **donut** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:40 pm

Many thanks for the replies and info.
It turns out she had "some" of the list done yesterday, but time did not permit the injector cleaning (she plans on doing it next week)
I will have her read this thread and buy the recommended Chevron product ASAP.

Carnie · Post by **Carnie** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:21 pm

I have found that mechanic garages are turning into a bunch of crooks. You can go in for an oil change and come out with them telling you your carburetor belt needs cleaned (I am well aware this is not a part) for $600. I personally run injector cleaner through my gas every 4-5 tanks and do as much work as I can myself. If something does warrant a professional, I tend to go to the small "momandpop" shops that actually care about good service quality opposed to adding greedy depth to their pockets. They're hard to find, but they are out there.

donut · Post by **donut** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:52 pm

Carnie wrote:I have found that mechanic garages are turning into a bunch of crooks. You can go in for an oil change and come out with them telling you your carburetor belt needs cleaned (I am well aware this is not a part) for $600. I personally run injector cleaner through my gas every 4-5 tanks and do as much work as I can myself. If something does warrant a professional, I tend to go to the small "momandpop" shops that actually care about good service quality opposed to adding greedy depth to their pockets. They're hard to find, but they are out there.

boy I here ya...
this all happened at the caddy dealership, she thought it needed to be taken there for the check engine light diagnosis...
and we thought we had a local trustable shop...but that's another story....

eliteguy50 · Post by **eliteguy50** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 2:38 pm

You can go to autozone or similar car part shops. They will check the codes for free. Then when you take it to the shop, you'll know if they're honest.

veedubh20 · Post by **veedubh20** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:44 am

the fuel injector cleaner can used a spacial can that use shop air and connect to from fuel pressure test. BG fuel injector cleaners and a small can bk44 in the gas tank.

any of the injector has no continunuty. injector need to replaced! cost $100 buck a piece.

veedubh20 · Post by **veedubh20** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:46 am

Here is the video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcVElZOfEmY

does clean the clog injectors.

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