Topic: How do you guys CLEAN your DI fuel injectors?

[SKY888]

How do you guys CLEAN your DI fuel injectors in your engine?
how do you make sure that there are no build-ups/clogs?



My second question is, I just received a second set of  used fuel rail w/ DI injectors.    What do you guys recommend to make sure every injector is clean, flowing at max capacity, and in tip top shape?

thanks!

[snaponbob]

Answer 1 --  Sea Foam. Great stuff.

Answer 2 -- Google "flow matching fuel injectors" (good starting point) and start calling companies that clean and flow test injectors. Cost is the major factor in whether or not it is even viable. If so, see "Answer 1".

[SKY888]

so Sea Foam is good stuff, huh?  Never used it before.


about the used fuel rail/injectors....they're being sold fairly cheap.......so I wasnt able to pass.     
At least I have back-up just in case my current ones crap out.   
I never really tried sending out the injectors to companies for cleaning test flows.   I guess there's always the first time.
hopefully, it will not be costly, or else, I'll probably just use sea foam stuff, one I install this second set of injectors

[Carbon Sky]

I put in a little AMSOIL P.I. into the gas tank before every other oil change.  It's an in tank fuel system cleaner.  I run it through the tank with little gas in the tank and at high concentration, then one full tank to flush it out.  That cleans everything except for the intake valves.

To clean the throttle body, and the intake valves since we have DI, I prefer GM Cleenz.  It's an intake cleaner that is safe for O2 sensors and catalytic convertors.  I only tend to do this every few years though, and will only be doing it for the first time this coming warm season (3 year old car).  Although Seafoam works about the same as the GM Cleenz.  I just prefer the Cleenz because it comes in an aerosol can which makes it easier to use then finding a vacuum line to suck the Seafoam in, and because it's delivered as an aerosol, I believe it should do a better job of cleaning all surfaces.

[snaponbob]

C.S. - the ONLY caution would be assuring it is safe for the mass air flow sensors, and I assume it would be. I have experienced what happens if the wrong chemical is used on the air flow sensors. It dies. 

[ChopTop]

This is informative:
How to clean fuel injectors in your car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISpjthvo10U&feature=player_embedded#!

Then called their 1-800-872-8921 and asked who in my area used their system, and told my local Sears business uses their products/system.  However, I'd still check with my independent mechanic and ask if this is something he does or could recommend a shop in my area.

2nd question I'd ask for his advice.

[Carbon Sky]

C.S. - the ONLY caution would be assuring it is safe for the mass air flow sensors, and I assume it would be. I have experienced what happens if the wrong chemical is used on the air flow sensors. It dies. 

Definitely, forgot to mention, but I know for a fact GM cleenz is MAF safe.  Not sure about Seafoam, but I believe it is from memory.

Also, it's best to spray this stuff in, post MAF, but before throttle body.  So the MAF safe-ness should not be an issue.

[JimmyBaja]

Sea Foam IS available in aerosol, its called Sea Foam Deep Creep, same stuff only aerosol.

[SKY888]

so these AEROSOL products.......are these recommended to use for my injectors/fuel rail....that are currently apart from my engine?

or soaking these items on seafoam/gm cleenz is better?

[Carbon Sky]

so these AEROSOL products.......are these recommended to use for my injectors/fuel rail....that are currently apart from my engine?

or soaking these items on seafoam/gm cleenz is better?

I don't see why they wouldn't be able to clean your injectors and fuel rail with them off the car.  My only concern is, your injectors will be in the default off/closed position, and as a result, you will not be able to send solvent through the injector.

BG makes a system that directly hooks up to the fuel rail, on an engine in a car, so that the engine can be run 100% off the solvent, and not as a dilution in the gas tank.  So shops that offer a fuel injector cleaning service use this BG machine, or something similar.

[SKY888]

whats BG?

[Carbon Sky]

BG is a company that specializes in the auto maintenance business.  They specialize in things like injector cleaners and solvents, and even the machines to use the chemicals.  They have a device called the VIA, that will hook up to a fuel rail, and supply it directly with their intake cleaner . . . running 100% concentration, with no dilution of gasoline.  So you don't have to worry about your seals or your fuel pumps getting damaged by solvents, or corrosion, which people running high concentrations of alcohol like E98 should be worried about, since our cars are not even E85 approved.

[SKY888]

gotcha!  thanks!


I was also thinking that the 1500-2500psi being produced by our HPFP, none of these "dirt" will attach to the injectors!  lol

unlike port injectors...who are around 50-80psi.

[Carbon Sky]

gotcha!  thanks!


I was also thinking that the 1500-2500psi being produced by our HPFP, none of these "dirt" will attach to the injectors!  lol

unlike port injectors...who are around 50-80psi.

Personally, on a DI engine, I'm not as worried about the injectors fouling.  However, because it is DI, and the fuel is not injected pre intake valves, I'm worried about carbon build up on the intake valves.  Which something like GM Cleenz, or Seafoam Deep Creep would take care of.

[SKY888]

So my question now is.....howcome several owners on different forums....have their DI injectors crapping out?

one injector here....one there.

Are there any symptoms that these DI injectors about to fail?

[JimmyBaja]

Maybe they are using crap gas.

[Carbon Sky]

So my question now is.....howcome several owners on different forums....have their DI injectors crapping out?

one injector here....one there.

Are there any symptoms that these DI injectors about to fail?

Like who?  Definitely doesn't seem that common to me.  And are these in stock setups?  Or with people either tuning and/or replacing parts with performance aftermarket?

[SKY888]

not stock set-ups.

One sky owner, I wont mention his username...but you can see his issue at the BB.

and a couple of cobalt guys.....

[miller11386]

Gut instinct says tune to me. The whole "crank up the fuel pressure as high as it will go" philosophy seems to be tough on the injectors/HPFP's. But that's 100% opinion.

With the PI fuel rail, I would leave the pressure at the stock 2100 psi and just use bigger port injectors as required. Should be as worry free as a stock setup.

[elff]

I drive my card really hard to clean them out. 

[Carbon Sky]

not stock set-ups.

One sky owner, I wont mention his username...but you can see his issue at the BB.

and a couple of cobalt guys.....

Gut instinct says tune to me. The whole "crank up the fuel pressure as high as it will go" philosophy seems to be tough on the injectors/HPFP's. But that's 100% opinion.

With the PI fuel rail, I would leave the pressure at the stock 2100 psi and just use bigger port injectors as required. Should be as worry free as a stock setup.

Same, my bet is the tune was off.  And I too am not a huge fan of the idea of a cam with a more aggressive lobe for the HPFP, and spinning things over stock redline.  My take on this is, if you want more flow/pressure, the pump should be upgraded.  I'm not saying this is the problem, but once I learned of this procedure, it made me question how much past "safe" that GM designed in, did they go?

[RufusMacblorf]

I've read about a problem in other DI engines, such as the Audi 4.2 V8 and a couple of Porsche engines.  It's an issue of carbon build-up on the valves (presumably the outside of the valve).  Apparently gasoline has a natural cleansing effect on the valves when injected upstream.  We lose that benefit when DI injects directly into the cylinder.

I've worried about that in my Sky.  I think Seafoam is a good idea for our engines.  For those of you who use Seafoam, how often to you do it?

[tazz]

I have done it twice or every 15K.

[Carbon Sky]

I've read about a problem in other DI engines, such as the Audi 4.2 V8 and a couple of Porsche engines.  It's an issue of carbon build-up on the valves (presumably the outside of the valve).  Apparently gasoline has a natural cleansing effect on the valves when injected upstream.  We lose that benefit when DI injects directly into the cylinder.

I've worried about that in my Sky.  I think Seafoam is a good idea for our engines.  For those of you who use Seafoam, how often to you do it?

It has been a bit of a problem.  But typically only on cars that are not driven hard enough regularly enough, and often encounter short drives where the engine does not reach a high enough operating temperature to heat up the intake valves sufficiently, to clean them.

Honestly, as elff mentioned, a bit of cruising at a slightly lower gear, like being on the highway in 4th occasionally, is all that is needed to clean off those intake valves a lot of the times, as long as the build up isn't severe.  This was called an "Italian tune up" not too long ago.

But yes, with DI engines, they are more susceptible to intake valve carbon build up.  I find the way I drive, the throttle body stays very clean even 2-3 years of daily driver operation.  So I only tend to do an intake cleaning about every 2-3 years because I just want to limit the amount of harsh solvents that are going through the engine, and what not.

I need new spark plugs more than I need an intake cleaning after 3 years for example.

[SKY888]

My engine only had around 30k miles.........I use 93 octane plus those over the counter injector cleaners dumped into my gas tank . I use 2 bottles instead of 1 to have more concentration.   I also use water/meth injection hoping to steam clean them.


The intake valves are sooooo gummed up when we opened my cylinder head 


I'm hoping that during my engine build,....with adding Port Injectors on my intake manifold................the ethanol blend that I'll be using....will keep my intake valves clean...