Hi, I must be on a mailing list for PFJones (think I bought a towbar from them a few years ago) and this came through over the holidays - fuel system cleaner. Any thoughts from anyone as to whether this would be effective at all or is it all hype? I couldn't find it on their website so no idea what it costs.

(Sorry about the formatting below - I just cut and pasted the email)

Treat
your car or boat this Christmas by using

Dieseljones Fuel system cleaner

COMPATIBLE FOR USE IN ALL PETROL AND DIESEL
ENGINES

BENEFITS

• Highly Concentrated

• One product for both
  Petrol and Diesel Engines

• Cleans fuel tank, fuel
  line, fuel pump removing lacquer- varnish, acid and soot
  deposits

• Cleans Lambda/Oxygen
  sensors, Fuel Injectors & EGR valves

• Reduce noxious exhaust
  emissions

• Cleans carburetor
  needles & Jets

• Improves fuel
  consumption reduces costs

• Improves
  performance

• Reduces exhaust
  emissions & black smoke

• Removes water/moisture
  from fuel tank/lines

• British made product
  
• Eliminates conditions
  necessary for microbe growth and microbe clogged fuel
  filters

• 
  
  Simple
  “in tank” treatment is all that’s required. (1 can + (a min) 25 ltr of
  fuel every 6 to 10k miles)

No harm in trying. Though if it's a spray not sure how it would get though the system unlike EGR, turbo cleaner which is sprayed in to the inlet pipe and just after the air filter. I've used a few times and do notice the floor afterwards covered in soot.

9 times out of 10 a lot of it is just hype. The only ones I've know work is a full engine de-coke called terraclean and revive turbo and engine cleaner. I tried these after having a few problems with an old car. So what I did was put the revive through the car all you do is take off the air inlet after the mass air flow sensor and follow the instructions on the bottle. The next day it went in for a service and terraclean the total cost was £230 and made the car like brand new. I'd been quoted at the dealer £3500 plus vat and labour to sort it out. So I saved myself a fortune in the long run and I got amazing results.

Just to add I don't really have a problem that I'm trying to fix at the moment, its just that at 8 years and 100,000 miles I thought it might do some good...or would I be risking dislodging some dirt which would just cause me more problems?

It is possible it could dislodge some dirt that could cause a problem that's why I would recommend a service straight after putting it in. At 100,000 miles it would make a big difference the revive and terraclean it did for me at just 40,000 miles and solved my turbo over boost, egr sticking and high emissions. But I must admit I did get a diesel and only do 6000 miles a year so that was my bad really. I do no this method does work but there will be other methods that work to that others could advise you on.

ford don't recommend any fuel system cleaner or engine flush , as long as you replace fuel filter at recommended intervals, then theres no point unless your having injector issues and want to try it before replacing injectors.

No manufacturers recommend any type of cleaners but that's only because it can solve problems that what cost you a fortune to solve at the dealership.

BG244K for Diesels

BG44K for petrol

1 can a year with a full tank

:D

Is this the same as using the so called premium fuels available at some filling stations which claim to have cleaning properties and increase mpg? I tried a tank full a while back and to be honest didnt see or feel any difference. Not sure if this is expected to be noticable after one use or if it is a gradual thing though.

I think you have to have a few tank fills to notice any difference, I have always used Premium fuels as well as the odd BK can once a year.

Not had any issues with my diesel to date (touch wood).

All this Malark over fuel filters on here, I don't even think it's in the service schedule, ask any Taxi driver who has done 300K+ if he's ever had it changed or any aggro over it. complete waste of time changing them.

Only thing it could probably do with is some injector cleaning going in the fuel tank, works a little bit.

I see blocked fuel filters on diesels alot, , 63 plate focus recently, 20k milage and had problem, filter was full of crap and water, but got in to fuel pump, pump destroyed. Expensive!!

Well it was the fuel filter that solved my recent problem,

I had a post up about my Focus Diesel losing power at 2000 revs.

Stef suggested the fuel filter and when the old one was taken off it was a mess, new filter in. problem solved.

Might be a good idea changing your garage that services your car if they are giving you the impression that a fuel filter is not in the service schedule.

They wont change it at every service interval but it does have to be changed.

I have always changed my fuel filters in the past when servicing my cars. for all they cost, wheres the harm.