STP or other fuel system treatments!

Chevyfreek · January 8, 2004

Was just wondering if anyone uses STP or any other fuel system treatments and cleaners on a regular basis? If so, do you feel or know that they have helped your HD run better. I have always run 93 octane fuel from either Mobil or Amoco and have never really used fuel system treatments. These grades of gasoline incorporate fuel system cleaners, but maybe not the best. I have changed my fuel filter on a regular basis as part of the maintainence schedule for my truck. Just wondering what everyone else has been doing as far as their fuel system goes with their trucks. My truck has the 6.0L and runs great. No problems, just looking for some information on this topic. Thanks all....

422 SS · January 8, 2004

I never use fuel additives or premium fuel.I put 87 octane in my 6.0 van and when it hits 20,000 miles I will change the filter.IMO fuel additives or premium fuel in a vehicle made for 87 are a waste of money.The truck was designed by GM to run on regular gas without needing additives.I feel regular filter changes are the best bang for the buck to keep your fuel system happy.

JayMan · January 8, 2004

I'll use the STP Gas Treatment every 5-6 tanks in summer, every tank in winter, to keep moisture away. In a climate that dips to -40 F, you have to worry about that.

Every 6,000 miles I like to use the STP Complete Fuel System cleaner.

It has already been researched that you will experience intake valve deposits, combustion chamber and crown land deposits, and fuel injector tip deposits, if you just run gasoline without extra additives.

How fast these deposits accumulate depend on the type of driving you do: constant Interstate driving at 75 MPH you'll probably be good for 75,000 miles.

Slow town driving: within a year or 4,000 miles you'll notice the difference.

I don't like to use the additives that often as I worry about their effect on the plastic fuel tank and the fuel pump. If anybody offers it in your area, a Motorvac works very well.

I had my truck Motorvac'd at 20,000 miles and noticed a slight difference afterwards: smoother and about 1.5 MPG better fuel economy. There must have been deposits as my oil was clean before, and within 20 miles after the service the oil was black.

The local Motorvac shop recommends an oil change within 100 miles of getting the service done, as the servicing will dissolve all those deposits and put them in the oil.

1BADHD · January 8, 2004

The ONLY addative I use is SEA-FOAM. I put a full bottle in the tank every oil change. And about every 20k miles, I will run it through the TB also. I feel it works great. I hav no CSK, no lifter noise, nothing. My engine is quiet as a mouse! Till I hit the loud pedal!!

Chevyfreek · January 8, 2004

Thanks for the info 1Badhd, I will look into that product. It sounds interesting. Also thanks to everyone else for your responses. I appreciate it....

PaulSter · January 8, 2004

I have always run 93 octane fuel from either Mobil or Amoco and have never really used fuel system treatments.

I take it Westers advises the use of premium?

PaulS

Chevyfreek · January 9, 2004

I just run the 93 octane because it seems to run better in my truck. I ran it before I had the Westers. I don't have the 93 octane tune yet, but I will get it when I get a new set of tires for my truck in the spring....

PaulSter · January 9, 2004

I just run the 93 octane because it seems to run better in my truck. I ran it before I had the Westers. I don't have the 93 octane tune yet, but I will get it when I get a new set of tires for my truck in the spring....

"Seems" to run better?" Respectfully, I doubt it. Here's something snipped from another forum by someone whose judgement I trust!

__________________________________________Sorry if I come off as harsh, but I cannot believe the hardheadedness of some of you people!

There isn't ONE single good reason to run premium fuel in an engine not designed for it. DISCLAIMER: That all changes if you have modded your engine in particular ways (ignition timing and compression being the principal mods).

Contrary to popular belief, engines DO NOT run any better on premium fuel. It's not like you're adding nitrous! Someone mentioned running racing fuel-- that WOULD definitely make it run worse. The higher octane fuels are meant to prevent detonation in higher compression engines and/or those with complex computer controlled timing patterns. Hell, any good ECM will retard timing if sensing detonation. Some cars (imports in particular) rightfully recommend premium fuel-- but point out that the engine will not be harmed by running low octane fuel--only that performance will be affected. That is because the ECM is controlling detonation by retarding the timing.

Get it through your heads-- octane ratings are merely anti-knock ratings. If your vehicle isn't knocking, then you don't need a higher grade of fuel. It doesn't burn cleaner, it doesn't make more power, and it doesn't give better gas mileage. In fact, if the octane is too high, your performance will actually suffer. Quit giving the freakin' oil companies any more $$$ than they're already getting. They're too rich already.

If your engine is largely stock, run exactly what the engineers who built the engines tell you to run. Trust me, they're a lot smarter than most, if not all, of us when it comes to the stuff they engineer.

One more thing-- let's say you drive 15k miles a year. Go ahead and add up the typical .20 cents per gallon difference between regular and premium. Now, calculate that difference over the course of 15k miles and all those tankfuls of gas. It doesn't make a small difference, it makes quite a large difference. Besides, you're not just flushing money down the toilet, you're not adding performance, and in some cases, you're ruining performance.

Whew--sorry--rant is now over. If I've convinced just ONE of you, then I feel this effort was worthwhile.

There you have it. Step back to 87, if it knocks or pings, step up to 89, and so on. Dont' blindly use something because you "think" it's better. Base your decisions on well-known and well-established facts.

Peace--out!

PaulS

1BADHD · January 9, 2004

Its is true, if the truck isnt tuned for high octane, it is a waste of money. BUT, if the tune requires the high octane, then you MUST run it, top prevent damage. As in my case with the Westers. I have the 93 octane tune. If I put anything less than that in it. It will ping like a MOFO.

Butch 02 Denali · January 9, 2004

Step back to 87, if it knocks or pings, step up to 89, and so on. Dont' blindly use something because you "think" it's better. Base your decisions on well-known and well-established facts.

Peace--out!

PaulS

Pauls,

I agree with what you said, but what you don't realize and is the Wester's tuning has two sets of tables, one for 87 octane and one for 93 octane, it will choose the correct tuning for the octane that's in the tank. So yes Chevyfreek will get more performance from 93 octane, he doesn't just "think" it's better, it is. The Wester's 93 only tune will outperform the 87/93 tune by about 20 HP more though, which is why he will be getting that tune.

Butch 02 Sierra Denali

Chevyfreek · January 9, 2004

Well Butch it would be nice to have and additional 20HP. I am going to get the full 93 octane tune and see what happens this spring/summer. I understand where everyone is coming from here and I agree that if you are running a stock engine than 93 octane is not neccesary. Even a new vehicle can ping a bit under load with the A/C running and 87 octane fuel in the tank. I think it just depend on personal preference and what type of vehicle you drive. Not to mention whether or not you have the Westers tune helping your engine run to its potential....

Thanks again all....

PaulSter · January 9, 2004

Step back to 87, if it knocks or pings, step up to 89, and so on. Dont' blindly use something because you "think" it's better. Base your decisions on well-known and well-established facts.

Peace--out!

PaulS

Pauls,

I agree with what you said, but what you don't realize and is the Wester's tuning has two sets of tables, one for 87 octane and one for 93 octane, it will choose the correct tuning for the octane that's in the tank. So yes Chevyfreek will get more performance from 93 octane, he doesn't just "think" it's better, it is. The Wester's 93 only tune will outperform the 87/93 tune by about 20 HP more though, which is why he will be getting that tune.

Butch 02 Sierra Denali

Butch-- Yup, I'm in agreement. My Westers question was more rhetorical as I am very familiar with their product. I was posting more from a general standpoint as he mentioned that he used the 93 octane even before he got the Westers.

Anyway-- lots of good info here!

Thanks all--

PaulS

tinman · January 10, 2004

I use to run 87 octane gas in my truck . I tried a little experment . Making sevral long trips on 87 and 92 then tried 89. What I found out is that the higher that octane the better the gas mileage . I tried it over and over again . Then tried it in the wifes 1/2 ton (4.8L) same thing there was about a 1 to 2mpg differance. I figured I wasnt saving any money buy buying regular gas plus I get a anoing little ping once in a while . I do feel a little better performace . Maybe the computer gives me a little more timming with the higher octane. 9:1 compression is not what I would call low compression anyways

just my 2 cents try it for you self.

Chevyfreek · January 10, 2004

I agree with you tinman that you can get better gas mileage on the highway with 93 octane gasoline. I always thought that for the extra few dollars its costs for premium it could not hurt to run it in my truck. With the Westers I new it was the only way to go. It will br even more so when I get the full 93 octane tune.

JayMan · January 10, 2004

I run ethanol gas from Mohawk, a Canadian fuel company. The octane is either 90 (Ontario) or 93 (Manitoba). It's way cheaper than regular unleaded due to the subsidies, so I pick the highest octane I can find.

I get less of a MPG improvement: keeping careful track of my fuel and MPG, I average about 1 MPG more with 93 octane ethanol. However, based on my subjective analysis, the truck feels peppier, always starts instantly hot or cold, and has never made a pinging noise even in hot weather going uphill.

Since running the ethanol in 2001, the motor and the oil appear to stay cleaner. I had a Motorvac in late 2001 and the oil turned BLACK immediately, so I changed the oil within 40 miles of getting the service.

In Nov of 2003, I had the Motorvac again. Didn't appear to make any difference, and the oil stayed clean. That tells me the level of deposits were MUCH lower running ethanol.

I still like to add the STP gas treat every tank in winter, every 5-6 tanks in summer. I don't want a freeze in winter at -40. Since the port fuel injection returns warm fuel back to the tank, you WILL get condensation in winter. Some folks claim ethanol prevents ice, but I don't take chances.