gasoline fuel system question

[Tx_Atty]

My mother has an older lexus 300. She is taking it in for a 90K mile service this week and she asked me about a "suggested" maintenance item. Has anyone heard of a "fuel injection system flush"? It sounds fishy to me but her tech is urging her to do it for $150. Since Im no mechanic I figure one of you might know for certain if it is snake oil or not.

Thanks!

 

[atk]

My mother has an older lexus 300. She is taking it in for a 90K mile service this week and she asked me about a "suggested" maintenance item. Has anyone heard of a "fuel injection system flush"? It sounds fishy to me but her tech is urging her to do it for $150. Since Im no mechanic I figure one of you might know for certain if it is snake oil or not.

Thanks!

well i am not sure about flushing the entire injection system, unless she has been having problems in that area. it always good idea to have the fuel injectors flushed/cleaned, because they do get a build up on them..in fuel injected gas motors, i always try and run an injector cleaner/additive(like Lucas, it really works well). i usually do this when i have changed the oil. just pour the cleaner/additive in the fuel tank and take vehicle for a good drive....just my

 

[CHPMustang]

I did the fuel system "flush" on our 190,000 mile 90 Mustang with Lucas Fuel Treatment. I gained at least 1-2 mpg after using the product,now I add it to every fillup

There's also the Chevron Techron fuel injection system cleaner which runs just a few bucks,that works very well also

 

[Tx_Atty]

so, essentially, she should tell the mechanic to forget it ($150 item) and put in an additive a time or two?

When she asked I said I had heard of fuel additives to clean injectors but not anything that should cost that much. Is there anything more sophisticated he might be doing to justify that cost? She does not have any trouble with the car; it's been a great car.

 

[95_stroker]

Yeah, an injector cleaning is common on gasoline injected engines. And at 2.50 a gallon, it wouldnt take long to get the 150 clams back if there is an improvement in mileage.

 

[kenbowman]

I've actually paid the stealership for an injector cleaning in the past... on my Firebird... and believe it or not, it was actually well worth it! Only cost me $89 though. not $150..
k

 

[JLDickmon]

pintle injectors do need to be cleaned periodically.

on top of that, oil residue, and just plain ol' valve overlap reversion, causes a buildup of crud in the intake runners and that stuff acts like charcoal (soaks up fuel, causing a lean condition - until saturated, then it evaporates back out, causing a rich condition)...

I get $80. to do one, and we use a "fogging oil" type product to clean this crud out as well

 

[Tx_Atty]

well, ok! Thanks for the education and I'll pass on the information.

I appreciate the input!

 

[02SilverStroke]

Another happy customer on the SDD customer service show.

I once had a 1986 Chevy Celebrity Wagon (it was yellow and the kids called it the bananamobile), that we traded with 151,000 miles. A mechanic had already suggested that I have the injectors cleaned. It got to the point of being very hard to start at times because of this. I don't remember what the charge would have been, but had I done it, we would have probably driven the car many more miles.