Fuel Additives ?
Opinions / Recommendations on choice of fuel additives ?
1) Techron
2) Seafoam
3) Berryman B-12 Chemtool
4) Gumout multi system tune up
5) Lucas
1) Techron
2) Seafoam
3) Berryman B-12 Chemtool
4) Gumout multi system tune up
5) Lucas
Last edited by george m44; Sep 13, 2025 at 09:53 AM.
I use Techron because I've always used Techron (for my FI systems), no other reason than that for me.
Before FI it was STP and/or Lucas.
For reality purposes quoting independent tests on ALL fuel additives shows "they are all effective at cleaning fuel injectors and intake valves, but the cleaning of combustion chamber deposits is limited, with only minor improvement observed even after multiple treatments".
And that, "Owners of older engines or those suffering from moderate injector clogging will likely see the most benefit".
Fuel additives are just another product that is a personal choice with minimal long term independent studies done on them.
Like many products it depends on their ad campaigns/and logo placement as to who actually purchases and uses them.
And definitely influenced by one's yearly income.
Before FI it was STP and/or Lucas.
For reality purposes quoting independent tests on ALL fuel additives shows "they are all effective at cleaning fuel injectors and intake valves, but the cleaning of combustion chamber deposits is limited, with only minor improvement observed even after multiple treatments".
And that, "Owners of older engines or those suffering from moderate injector clogging will likely see the most benefit".
Fuel additives are just another product that is a personal choice with minimal long term independent studies done on them.
Like many products it depends on their ad campaigns/and logo placement as to who actually purchases and uses them.
And definitely influenced by one's yearly income.
Most all of these if you use Chevron, Shell and 76 fuel formulators have already added many additives in the gas . One reason why in the long run better to buy from them and not the bargain 7 eleven or like fuels. Not even COSTCO fuels are as good as a general whole depending on the areas and who their fuel distributors are.
I often use all of the above with the exception of Gumout and Berryman . The reason is we get cases of these for free in the shop to pass out to customers as a promo. So hey I am a customer sort of. LOL
The likely dislike for these type of additives is that it makes next to impossible to do proper spark plug reading. But for the average "JOE" DIY this would not matter anyway.
Nothing cleans the back of intake valves, piston crown or combustion chambers better then a good 10 minute spray of water at about 2500 rpm.
Last edited by Callisto; Sep 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM.
My vote is for Techron.
Years ago I had a weedeater I left with fuel over the winter. Come Spring it was difficult to start and ran rough. I mixed an appropriate amount of Techron in the gasoline mixture and ran a tank through the little engine. It ran like new after that.
I have a Honda generator (I've owned for 15 years) that I keep fueled up, and run once a month. I mix StaBil and Techron in its gasoline, and never any problems.
I am not saying Techron is better than the others, but I believe none are better than Techron. I add Techron to my automobile fuel tank around every oil change. With a top tier gasoline, this probably isn’t necessary but it’s just something I do. Using top tier gasoline, I have never had any fuel related problems with my cars.
Years ago I had a weedeater I left with fuel over the winter. Come Spring it was difficult to start and ran rough. I mixed an appropriate amount of Techron in the gasoline mixture and ran a tank through the little engine. It ran like new after that.
I have a Honda generator (I've owned for 15 years) that I keep fueled up, and run once a month. I mix StaBil and Techron in its gasoline, and never any problems.
I am not saying Techron is better than the others, but I believe none are better than Techron. I add Techron to my automobile fuel tank around every oil change. With a top tier gasoline, this probably isn’t necessary but it’s just something I do. Using top tier gasoline, I have never had any fuel related problems with my cars.
Wynns used to make a profesional cleaner for on car injector cleaners that you mixed 50/50 with petrol and ran it directly into the fuel rail and you could hear the change take place and within 1/2 hr they were probably as good as new.
Most never do even the DIY F/I cleaning which should IMO by at or before 100k miles . A service of the at 50k miles will likely prevent having to replace fuel injector as more miles are acquired. But most platforms do not have that in the service recommended for the warranty period requirement.
Yep that's the method. I made good money in the days selling both the machine and the product but as injector designs changed and fuel improved it came to a stop and I haven't done it for a very long time. I had an old Mitsubishi Pajero and it got so bad it almost wouldn't run and suspecting it not to be dirty injectors spent quiet some time diagnosing it before giving it an on-car clean and I was absolutley blown away with the outcome so cleaning products can and may have a place for DIYers. I tell people don't overdose and waste your money.


