Fuel Injector Cleaning

[Black02Silverado]

First off, why do you think they need to be cleaned?  MPG down? Rough idle?  If you run a Top Tier fuel and from a station that has a high turn over of fuel then there really isn't any need to run a cleaner.

[Stefan12]

thanks for info guys i think i know what i gotta do! but last question, with a k&n which is free’er flow could you run bigger injectors to get more torque or would this make no difference without a programmer?

[Black02Silverado]

32 minutes ago, Stefan12 said:

thanks for info guys i think i know what i gotta do! but last question, with a k&n which is free’er flow could you run bigger injectors to get more torque or would this make no difference without a programmer?

The only way bigger injectors would benefit is if you got a larger fuel pump to be able to supply them and then went with a larger cam as well and then added headers and a cold air intake.  Just a K&N filter does not add that much more air at all.  If that.

[swathdiver]

7 hours ago, Stefan12 said:

just checked and truck doesn’t have the rpo sheet

Do you see the numbers 799 or 243 on the cylinder heads, facing the sides but at the front of the engine?  If you see 862 or 706, those are for the LM7 and L59.

[sefiroxx]

You would need a programmer. The computer takes input from the o2 sensor and make adjustments to injector pulse width

[Reitan]

Sea Foam works great. They have this product called Sea Foam Spray that that uses a special straw and you inject it thru the throttle body.  Watch a few clips on it. It is very important to run the engine at 2,000 rpm so the product does not touch the mass air flow sensor. 

https://seafoamsales.com/sea-foam-spray/

[MaverickZ71]

Chevron Techron Fuel System (NOT Fuel Injector) cleaner is available at Wally World and parts stores and works good.  It can even free up a sticking fuel gauge float.  The owner's manual says to use GM Fuel System Cleaner at each oil change, if you don't use Top Tier fuels.  I only use Top Tier fuels, and still use the Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner every 2000 miles.  The Chevron TFS cleaner is the same as the GM Fuel System Cleaner.  At least that's what the dealer told me--the bottles are the same, just the labels are different.  It's cheaper at Wally World or the parts stores than it is at the GM dealer, of course.  

[carnau]

On 8/17/2018 at 6:24 PM, Brianibew said:

Run a few tanks with sea foam in it.  I think it’s good stuff.

Sea foam is terrible. I would not recommend putting it in anything. In fact I did a science fair project with my daughter (it won the state science fair BTW) using 4 different types of cleaners and the results would amaze you. I will link the images as soon as I can get back to my house. We tested for the amount of carbon tracking, and the ability to remove water from the fuel.

 

On 8/17/2018 at 5:27 PM, Stefan12 said:

Hey guys i have an 06 1500 5.3. it’s got about 140,000km on it. I like to do my own stuff whenever i can and it’s come about me that my injectors could probably use a cleaning. Does pouring “injector cleaner” in the tank actually work? i’ve always been told no. if it doesn’t could someone send me a link or describe to me how to bypass the pump and regulator so i can pull the injectors? also what do i clean them with? i know there’s a big tool for cleaning injectors but it’s also pretty expensive, any info would be great!

Hey Stefan. Fuel tank fuel injector cleaners do work. How much they work really depends on the chemicals used. If you were going to use a parts store cleaner I would recommend using STP. It burns the cleanest and removes the most amount of carbon when purchasing from the local parts store. The best of all the injector cleaners I tested was the Justice Brothers fuel injection cleaner. It can be bought off Amazon but I have not been able to locate it inside any parts stores.

 

Justice Brothers fuel additive - https://amzn.to/2w5mKFC
STP fuel Additive. - https://amzn.to/2ORf1lw

 

(you can see the difference in the cost of the 2 above lol)

As far as the best method for cleaning injectors, if you have access to pressurized air would be to use a Injector cleaning tool with a mixture of the top engine cleaner GM offers and fuel. In order to use this you would need pressurized air, the cleaner and a shut off valve for the return to the fuel tank. It would be a little costly. I will link the tools you would need below. What you would do is connect the tool to the service fitting. Close off the return valve to the fuel tank and removed the fuel pump relay. Mix the solution and run the system at 100psi off the solution a few times. This will get you the best results.

Here are the tools you would require for this.
Cleaning tool - https://amzn.to/2w4prr1
Fuel Pinch Pliers - https://amzn.to/2N68nrg

GM Cleaner - https://amzn.to/2wi5ixb 

 

Hope this helps.

[Brianibew]

2 hours ago, carnau said:

Sea foam is terrible. I would not recommend putting it in anything. In fact I did a science fair project with my daughter (it won the state science fair BTW) using 4 different types of cleaners and the results would amaze you. I will link the images as soon as I can get back to my house. We tested for the amount of carbon tracking, and the ability to remove water from the fuel.

 

Hey Stefan. Fuel tank fuel injector cleaners do work. How much they work really depends on the chemicals used. If you were going to use a parts store cleaner I would recommend using STP. It burns the cleanest and removes the most amount of carbon when purchasing from the local parts store. The best of all the injector cleaners I tested was the Justice Brothers fuel injection cleaner. It can be bought off Amazon but I have not been able to locate it inside any parts stores.

 

Justice Brothers fuel additive - https://amzn.to/2w5mKFC
STP fuel Additive. - https://amzn.to/2ORf1lw

 

(you can see the difference in the cost of the 2 above lol)

As far as the best method for cleaning injectors, if you have access to pressurized air would be to use a Injector cleaning tool with a mixture of the top engine cleaner GM offers and fuel. In order to use this you would need pressurized air, the cleaner and a shut off valve for the return to the fuel tank. It would be a little costly. I will link the tools you would need below. What you would do is connect the tool to the service fitting. Close off the return valve to the fuel tank and removed the fuel pump relay. Mix the solution and run the system at 100psi off the solution a few times. This will get you the best results.

Here are the tools you would require for this.
Cleaning tool - https://amzn.to/2w4prr1
Fuel Pinch Pliers - https://amzn.to/2N68nrg

GM Cleaner - https://amzn.to/2wi5ixb 

 

Hope this helps.

That’s cool and all about your science project, but I’ve been using Seafoam for 20 years and have had no problems using it in my vehicles, motorcycles, and small engines and have never had any adverse side effects.  Use it as it states on the bottle and it works.  To each their own.  Who wants to talk about oil now?  ?

[carnau]

18 hours ago, Brianibew said:

That’s cool and all about your science project, but I’ve been using Seafoam for 20 years and have had no problems using it in my vehicles, motorcycles, and small engines and have never had any adverse side effects.  Use it as it states on the bottle and it works.  To each their own.  Who wants to talk about oil now?  ?

I agree. 20 years ago when they were promoting the brand and using quality products, it was a good product because they were losing money with it. Then it became a household name because of how good it was and then they changed the formula to be more cost effective. Great marketing strategy. Do this though, Take a white dollar store bowl and put a little bit of seafoam in the bowl and set it on fire. See what you're left with and decide if that's what you want to be left with in your engine when it burns. It's cool that you have been using it for 20 years and all... But times change and so do cars and products. I WOULD LOVE TO DISCUSS OIL! 

[carnau]

Went ahead and did the test again at work today to show what I am talking about. The first bowl is just 1/8 cup of plain 87 fuel. The second bowl is 1/8 cup of 87 fuel mixed with 1tbs of JB injector cleaner and 1tbs of water. The third bowl is 1/8 cup of 87 fuel, 1tbs seafoam, 1tbs water. (I added the water to show which would also remove water from the system. Here are the results. I wish you could touch the slime/goop in the bottom of the seafoam. It is like pure honey.

 

[AlljackedupZ71]

That is crazy! Personally I have used seafoam and loved it.. brought back quite a few small engines with it without tearing the carbs apart from ethanol garbage.

 

BUT, that JB injector cleaner sure did work lol.