Windrocker

Here is a little informative article that a ran across today that I thought was interesting. Especially if you have developed a "knock" in your engine.

Mine developed a knock when going up steep hills at low RPM at around 9000 miles. The only gas it has ever had in it is Shell 89 octane. After one bottle of techron it was gone.

So just FYI -----

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You’ve seen the commercials on television – simply pour a special fluid into your fuel tank for great results. There is so much lore built around fuel system cleaners that separating the myths from the truth can be difficult. Before using any of these products, it’s good to have a little more information.

According to Dick Baumgart, Technical Manager at Valvoline World Headquarters in Lexington, Ky., “Many of today’s cars are designed to operate using 87 octane gasoline. They seem to run great for the first couple of months, then begin to knock, sputter and hesitate,” he said. According to Baumgart, that same car now needs 90 or 92 octane gasoline to operate as it did when new. “Gum, varnish and carbon are the culprits. Gum and varnish restrict fuel flow, which changes the air/fuel ratio. Carbon deposits in the combustion chamber become hot and ignite the fuel charge before the spark plug fires, which causes knock. A quality gas treatment helps prevent this build-up. Other products help remove build-up, improve fuel efficiency and more.”

Some fuel system products available today include gas treatment, octane boosters, fuel system treatments and cleaners, and injector cleaners. According to Baumgart, all of these products do different things for your vehicles. “Gasoline treatments start by adding detergents or cleaning power to fuel. Injector cleaners go it one more by cleaning deposits from injectors. The more concentrated fuel injector cleaners also clean deposits from intake valves. For the ultimate in cleaning the entire fuel system, complete fuel system cleaners do all of that plus clean pistons and combustion chamber deposits.”

So, how do we know these products are working? “While you drive you will notice, after using premium fuel injector cleaners for example, that the vehicle idles smoother and accelerates better with less hesitation,” said Baumgart. “With a complete fuel system cleaner, for example, you will actually notice a slight increase in power and fewer knocks.”

You may have heard that you do not need fuel system cleaners if you use premium gasoline in your vehicles.

“It’s true that today’s premium gasoline contains detergents that help combat deposits. But gasoline sometimes is not consistent from retailer to retailer,” Baumgart explains. “Plus, deposits can still build up on fuel injectors, intake valves, manifolds and ports.” According to Baumgart, using advanced formula fuel system cleaners may reduce the need for using a premium grade of gasoline in your vehicle.

Fuel system cleaners are not necessarily gimmicks for the uninformed. Generally, they are inexpensive to try and easy to use. Fuel system cleaners can help reduce fuel emissions and improve your fuel economy by ensuring your vehicles are running smoothly. To keep your vehicles in top condition, it is recommended that you use gas treatment regularly and a fuel injector cleaner at scheduled oil change intervals (or every 3,000 miles) to keep your fuel injectors and intake valves clean. Your vehicles should also have a complete fuel system treatment once a year.