Cleaned the fuel system...excellent results

[Grand Moff Joseph]

Today, I took advantage of a great coupon I got in the mail from the Valvoline Quick Service places in the area. The coupon was for their winter "fuel saver" package, which nets you an oil change and fuel system cleaner. As far as I was aware, my car had never received a hardcore fuel system cleaning, and since this is its first real winter, I figured it would be a good idea.

 

Anyway, the fuel system treatment included a gas tank treatment, cleaner piped through a vacuum line, and a manual cleaning of the throttle body. Based on the amount of smoke produced from the exhaust by said cleaners, the engine was not as dirty as I thought it was. In any case, the treatment, coupled with the new plugs and fresh oil, has the old 3.1 driving like its brand new. If nothing else, the throttle response has improved noticeably since it got cleaned.

 

I know, nothing major to see here, but I'm happy with the results, so I thought I'd share.

[digitaloutsider]

How much did you pay for that?

[Grand Moff Joseph]

My cost for everything, including labor, was under $100.

 

Now, before you go off and yell at me, read on.

 

1. The apartment complex where I live does not allow residents to perform any vehicle maintenance on its grounds, for environmental reasons. So, that kind of forces everyone to go out for their services.

 

2. Yes, I know I could have gotten a bottle of Seafoam and used that. However, if I screwed anything up, it would all be on me. However, if the techs at the shop screw something up, it's on them to fix it for me.

 

3. Since I have to go outside for my car service needs (see #1), I calculated the cost of an oil change and a fuel system treatment at any shop in the area to be well over $130, so I saved a good deal of dough today.

 

In any case, I know there are those who will call me dumb for not soing it all myself, but I am happy with the results, and that is all that matters to me.

[manitcor]

thats about rihgt, i do a machine fuel system clean every couple years or so, in between I use the tank addatives (gumout is my choice) and do GM top engine cleaner ever 25k.

 

I always notice a nice little pickup in economy after the machine cleaning. Its freky to watch though as they leave the engine running and it always looks like it might jump out of its mounts.

[slick]

i do a machine fuel system clean every couple years or so..

 

About how much does this run you?

[runt]

Don't worry if people yell at you for having someone else do it for you.

 

It's your car and your decision. And contrary to what other say, there are good mechanics out there. Not to mention, not everyone knows how to do serious work on an engine, even if it is changing oil.

 

But none the less glad to hear that you made out well with it. I might consider doing something like that as much Prix gets older.

[3pt1lumina]

I would agree on having someone else do that kind of work only for the fact that our cars are older and if they break something it's THEIR fault... so they're responsible for getting it fixed.

 

On the other hand, our Valvoline Quick Oil Place here in Rochester (no matter which one you go to) they suck. So many horror stories I won't even go there. But as long as you had good results, then awesome!!

[TeeJay3800]

If nothing else, the throttle response has improved noticeably since it got cleaned.

That was the most noticeable improvement when I had my throttle body cleaned too.

[AWeb80]

I like GM top engine cleaner and sea foam works good too.

[john99gtp]

mmm, seafoam

 

 

 

and to think i ran TEC through that about 20,000 miles ago, and it didnt smoke that bad. i think im liking the seafoam stuff better.

 

 

did you see it smoke? did it look like that?

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

Damn I wish I would have run GM top engine cleaner in my 88.... I bet that would have smoked soooooo bad!!! LOL

 

I put AC Delco Cleens in my 95 (which really looked pretty clean to begin with) and it smoked quite a bit. The burning stink didn't go away till I got her out in the country.. lol. Anyways I didn't notice any difference guess my car wasn't that bad.