Preventive maintenance - Do Fuel/Oil additives really work?

[Arese]

Hi everyone, recently did my 90K major service on my audi a4 b7 2.0 TFSI.
No issues the car is running great and I got all filters changed along with oil change. (fuel filter is not supposed to be replaced in the 90K service but did it anyway)

Now I'm wondering given the age of the car if there would be any benefits to the engine to use any recommended fuel/oil additive?
I know most fuel additives claim to reduce fuel comsumption or magically promise higher performances are just worthless.

I'm not looking for these additives falsely claiming to improve car's performances but more for the ones (if any exist) that effectively clean up the engine as a prevention.

I've done some googling and I found out about a subset of fuel additive that aims to clean fuel injectors and help prevent fuel injectors clog.
Since I got the car I've been filling up my car with premium 98 which apparently has extra detergents that helps avoid carbon and other dirt deposits in the injecotors but the thing is that I don't know what type of gazoline the car used to run on before.

What do you think? Are these products legit? Any befinits for me to use some?


I'm curious to know what are you all guys your thoughts about this?

Thanks

[EvolutionArmory]

When I was a dealer tech we tried almost every in tank fuel additive to help with carbon build up low performance/misfire issues and none of them work.

These additives work OK as preventative maintenance but aren’t going to work well on hard carbon that builds up and causes issues. If you are having issues it’s too late for a fuel additive.

I only know of 2 ways to get rid of hard carbon. Burn it off with excessive heat or physically remove it. Most of these additives might work ok on older cars that aren’t direct injection but DI is a completely different animal.

[Arese]

Thanks for the insights.
Actually after posting I found this awesome video of a guy who reviewed a fuel cleaner by physically checking the inside of cylinders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SoZnymBSC8&t=534s

Your comments checks out with his findings.

[Theiceman]

the only thing additives do for our car is line the pockets of those selling them.
Quality gas and oil already have additive packages. I would not waste my money.

[Charles.waite]

When I was a dealer tech we tried almost every in tank fuel additive to help with carbon build up low performance/misfire issues and none of them work.

These additives work OK as preventative maintenance but aren’t going to work well on hard carbon that builds up and causes issues. If you are having issues it’s too late for a fuel additive.

I only know of 2 ways to get rid of hard carbon. Burn it off with excessive heat or physically remove it. Most of these additives might work ok on older cars that aren’t direct injection but DI is a completely different animal.

Meth injection will keep carbon at bay, but thats not so much an additive...

[Theiceman]

Meth injection will keep carbon at bay, but thats not so much an additive...

"yes honey i need to by this meth injection kit for my car., you don't want me to have unnecessary carbon buildup cleaning bills do you ? "

[Charles.waite]

"yes honey i need to by this meth injection kit for my car., you don't want me to have unnecessary carbon buildup cleaning bills do you ? "

How could she possibly say no to such a well reasoned argument?!

“Honey, this will SAVE us money in the long run!”

[Theiceman]

How could she possibly say no to such a well reasoned argument?!

“Honey, this will SAVE us money in the long run!”

a note to those who try this argument ..
the B7 is REALLY uncomfortable to sleep in.

[Charles.waite]

Hah!

I remember sleeping in the back of my Saab 9-5 wagon with my wife once when I got to college a day early and the dorms weren’t open yet. Let’s just say there was plenty of room for activities.

[canadianA4B7]

"yes honey i need to by this meth injection kit for my car., you don't want me to have unnecessary carbon buildup cleaning bills do you ? "

Use better words. I think it was Saab who had actually used wiper fluid injection on a production car years ago. It was called turbo cooling or engine cleaning. Both don’t look to be illegal in our country as it’s “actual use” should be called what it does not what it is. You really think the wife wud be against an “engine cleaning system” installed on her car? If she knew it was there to aid in engine temps, clean valves and overall just make the car run better......? If your married don’t you guys know this stuff already??

[Charles.waite]

My wife tends to not put up with my “car bullshit”. It’s a bit of a “don’t ask don’t tell” situation which is fine. As long as her car is always working (which it is) then she more or less tolerates my nodding nonsense.

However the real boss (my 4y/o daughter has no patience for car stuff, and reasonable arguments don’t work with her. So yea...

[PNW Avant]

I have a friend who was an ase certified mechanic who swore by autorx. But that is not your every day oil additive. It has specific cleaning and rinsing cycles over a series of miles.

My brother was having issues with his v10 r8 and a local performance shop ran a BG oil additive that was specifically for direct injection. Supposedly it increased compression before/after.

Both the products I mention above are more for cleaning piston rings, not for cleaning carbon on the valves.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[kdean512]

I have a friend who was an ase certified mechanic who swore by autorx. But that is not your every day oil additive. It has specific cleaning and rinsing cycles over a series of miles.

My brother was having issues with his v10 r8 and a local performance shop ran a BG oil additive that was specifically for direct injection. Supposedly it increased compression before/after.

Both the products I mention above are more for cleaning piston rings, not for cleaning carbon on the valves.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

The product you are referring to is EPR. In theory it can reduce intake valve deposits by cleaning piston rings and reducing blowby. BG also recommends MOA and 44k on GDI engines. MOA is an oil additive and 44k is a fuel system cleaner. These products are often bundled together and go for about $50-60. I typically change the oil every 5k and use MOA with every change and 44k/EPR every other change. I honestly can't speak to it's effectiveness because I have only had my A4 for about 18k miles but there are plenty of testimonials online.

Sent from my LGUS997 using Audizine mobile app

[EvolutionArmory]

The product you are referring to is EPR. In theory it can reduce intake valve deposits by cleaning piston rings and reducing blowby. BG also recommends MOA and 44k on GDI engines. MOA is an oil additive and 44k is a fuel system cleaner. These products are often bundled together and go for about $50-60. I typically change the oil every 5k and use MOA with every change and 44k/EPR every other change. I honestly can't speak to it's effectiveness because I have only had my A4 for about 18k miles but there are plenty of testimonials online.

Sent from my LGUS997 using Audizine mobile app

The BG products are OK for preventative maintenance but not much else. I’ve done more BG fuel services than I can count and none of them really did anything to cure a problem that was already there. It always ended up pulling the manifold and cleaning valves or replacing injectors.

[jonathandugan20]

Hi everyone, recently did my 90K major service on my audi a4 b7 2.0 TFSI.
No issues the car is running great and I got all filters changed along with oil change. (fuel filter is not supposed to be replaced in the 90K service but did it anyway)

Now I'm wondering given the age of the car if there would be any benefits to the engine to use any recommended fuel/oil additive?
I know most fuel additives claim to reduce fuel comsumption or magically promise higher performances are just worthless.

I'm not looking for these additives falsely claiming to improve car's performances but more for the ones (if any exist) that effectively clean up the engine as a prevention.

I've done some googling and I found out about a subset of fuel additive that aims to clean fuel injectors and help prevent fuel injectors clog.
Since I got the car I've been filling up my car with premium 98 which apparently has extra detergents that helps avoid carbon and other dirt deposits in the injecotors but the thing is that I don't know what type of gazoline the car used to run on before.

What do you think? Are these products legit? Any befinits for me to use some?


I'm curious to know what are you all guys your thoughts about this?

Thanks

I always ran injector cleaner.. but after changing my injectors recently the products didn't keep the carbon buildup off of the injectors

Sent from my SM-G960U using Audizine mobile app

[Theiceman]

I always ran injector cleaner.. but after changing my injectors recently the products didn't keep the carbon buildup off of the injectors

Sent from my SM-G960U using Audizine mobile app

any rough estimates on how much you have spent in injection cleaner over the life of the car ? just help some people understand how much money they are handing over in additives for no real reason .

[jonathandugan20]

any rough estimates on how much you have spent in injection cleaner over the life of the car ? just help some people understand how much money they are handing over in additives for no real reason .

I've had the vehicle 2 years so maybe 120 or 150. I was hoping it would help my misfire issue.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Audizine mobile app

[esandes]

PEA additives help. Shell V Power and Chevron Techron has a ton of this so it's the best value compared to buying additives to add to the fuel.

Run this good gas and do Italian tune ups now and then. Run the engine under vacuum too.

[esandes]

Under vacuum...I mean use the engine as a break while going down hill.

[80sGuy]

Try Seafoam'ing it.