What Are Fuel Injectors and Cleaners?
Fuel Injectors and Impact on Gas Mileage
Before we answer the question, “What are injector cleaners?” we should briefly talk about fuel injectors. For those who aren’t sure, fuel injectors have a small nozzle that sprays fuel into an engine’s cylinder. Pump gasoline can cause carbon deposits and corrosion over time, clogging your fuel injectors. Clogged injectors can lead to poor performance AND decrease your fuel mileage.
When you consider today’s high cost of gas, increasing fuel mileage even slightly can make a difference to your wallet. Let’s look at a hypothetical scenario. Suppose your vehicle has a 20-gallon gas tank, and you’re currently averaging 25 MPG. Now, suppose you could add 2 MPG by using a quality fuel cleaner. Do the math; instead of getting 500 miles on a tank of fuel, you’re now getting roughly 540 miles!
If you fill up once a week, that difference equates to more than 1,000 extra miles over a full 26 weeks (one year). That’s money that stays in your pocket!
The difference in fuel economy will vary. Again, the example above is merely hypothetical to illustrate the point. Some people might see a bigger boost while others might only enjoy a more minor increase in MPG. Nevertheless, a small boost is better than nothing.
If you’d like to learn more about how fuel injection systems work, this article goes in-depth.
What Are Injector Cleaners?
Dissolvents vs. Detergents
So, what exactly are injector cleaners? It should be noted that fuel injector cleaners typically fall into two categories: dissolvents and detergents. Polyetheramine (PEA) is a dissolvent. It breaks down carbon deposits and impurities in fuel lines, pumps, injectors, and more without leaving residue behind. It’s a potent ingredient. They blend the best fuel injector cleaners with PEA.
Whereas dissolvents break down and dissolve carbon deposits, detergents force those deposits to detach and exit the fuel system. There has been some debate on detergents’ effectiveness and ability to remove deposits efficiently.
A good fuel injector cleaner can help improve gas mileage, vehicle performance, and lower maintenance costs by keeping the engine clean. A clean engine delivers more power and better performance because it doesn’t have to work as hard.