Fuel Additives : Do they work?

[bango]

As the title says - the query is about Fuel additives.

Do they work?

Are they recommended?

Is the change noticeable?

Can they be harmful?

A few examples :

Click here to go to the SOLUTION

[VCheng]

Is the question a general one, or specific to petrol engines, and further to products that are put into the fuel tank only, or not?

[bango]

Well, I have a petrol car, so I'll be interested in Petrol based answer.

I've been told (by liquimoly people themsleves) that their injector cleaners and octane boosters do wonders.

I wanted to know if that's true from someone who's not a stake holder.

[adilyaqoob]

Well it surely did do wonders when I used Jet Fuel of STP in my civic 2000.

[VCheng]

Well, I have a petrol car, so I'll be interested in Petrol based answer.

I've been told (by liquimoly people themsleves) that their injector cleaners and octane boosters do wonders.

I wanted to know if that's true from someone who's not a stake holder.

It depends on the problem.

If the problem is bad fuel, then octane boosters may work to prevent detonation. If the problem in the engine are causing detonation, then they may not.

Injector cleaners may work, but only if used regularly to prevent fouling of the nozzles. Used once or twice after fouling has occured does not achieve much if added at concentrations suitable for the fuel tank.

Generally, additives are not a good idea IMO. It is better to resolve the underlying issue properly rather than relying on these stop gap measures.

[bango]

Generally, additives are not a good idea IMO. It is better to resolve the underlying issue properly rather than relying on these stop gap measures.

Well, the basic problem making me consider octane booster is the crappy fuel. Even the hi-octane I have tried from most of the fuel pumps in Lahore is no different from the regular fuel.

[Ahsaan7]

What is this thing?And what is their purpose?

[Saaduk]

Bango, Please consider this

YouTube - ‪Fifth Gear - Fuel additives test‬‎

Hope it answers your questions. I personally tried almost every product available in the market, sadly it doesnt help at all.

[BackToCivicFaiez]

^^those are performance adding additives...but bango is talking about other ones, like for cleaning etc purposes....

[VCheng]

Well, the basic problem making me consider octane booster is the crappy fuel. Even the hi-octane I have tried from most of the fuel pumps in Lahore is no different from the regular fuel.

That makes sense.

But let's start with something even more basic: What is the problem that you have noticed that leads you to conclude that crappy fuel is the culprit?

Chances are that if you truly got Hi-Octane fuel and it did not solve the problem, then an octane booster will not help either. However, a fradulent station may be selling premium as Hi-Octane.

In this case, it depends on the cost of adding an octane booster versus the cost of retarding the timing or other measures to deal with knocking issues, if that is indeed the problem you are facing.

[bango]

OK, I've been to Islamabad twice since I've had this car. And everytime I get my car refilled from there, it starts idling smoother, it gets kinda lighter and the throttle response is noticeably improved.

As soon as I get it refilled from any of the many fuel stations I've tried in Lahore, it gets sluggish, and start so knock (at a very minute level).

I know my tappet adjustment is just fine, otherwise it'll knock on Islamabad fuel as well, right?

@Saad - I'll view that video now.

[iLLDuDe786]

Theres alot of tuner/exotic/high-end cars in lahore, and they all don't go to isloo for fillups so i hope you find a pump which sells reliable hi octane.

As for the additives, i would never ever put any of these in my car.

[Born2Race]

As for the additives, i would never ever put any of these in my car.

i second. because as we all know what kind of fuel we get in pakistan, its already filled with a lot of impurities, i dont want my engine to be further screwed up by adding additives. this thing would surely be effective in states and other regions where they get good quality fuel, not like us where we get gravel and small impurities mixed with fuel

[bango]

On the contrary, wouldn't they be more needed on a place where the feul isn't good? I mean if you're getting awesome fuel, why would you need any additives at all?

Illdude - logical. I guess I need to find the right pumps.

Anyone knows which is the best place to get hioctane in Lahore? (in a couple of days this question may sound stupid because we might not be getting fuel at all since muzaffar garh is feared to be submerged soon)

[daniyalahmad]

What about the additives that the petrol companies here in Pakistan talk about?
Like "Techron" in Caltex and Premier XL by PSO?
I would like to know about them aswell.

[RetardedBuddy]

What about the additives that the petrol companies here in Pakistan talk about?
Like "Techron" in Caltex and Premier XL by PSO?
I would like to know about them aswell.

Marketing gimmicks imo

[iLLDuDe786]

You bring a good point bango, but these additives are not designed to work on petrol which is already in horrible state (impure). So it just doesn't seem logical to me..

[VCheng]

OK, I've been to Islamabad twice since I've had this car. And everytime I get my car refilled from there, it starts idling smoother, it gets kinda lighter and the throttle response is noticeably improved.

As soon as I get it refilled from any of the many fuel stations I've tried in Lahore, it gets sluggish, and start so knock (at a very minute level).

I know my tappet adjustment is just fine, otherwise it'll knock on Islamabad fuel as well, right?

@Saad - I'll view that video now.

Your car is fine. Ask around who offers better fuel in Lahore. I am sure you will find someone who is not, or less, of a cheat. I think that is all your poor car needs: better fuel if you can find it.

[Born2Race]

On the contrary, wouldn't they be more needed on a place where the feul isn't good? I mean if you're getting awesome fuel, why would you need any additives at all?

i take my comment back which i posted earlier. just did some research on fuel additives and this is what i came through.

Recommended fuel additives: Some makes of cars (e.g. Opel Astra) are not able to run optimally on the Indian fuel quality, and their manufacturers recommend fuel additives to keep the fuel system clean. If your car came with this instruction, make use of the recommended fuel additives.

this quote is taken from an article on an Indian automobile forum. well if considering pakistan, the fuel quality we get over here would be the same or a little less or a little better than India but no better than what they would be getting in America or Japan. and as mentioned in the article, ''their manufacturers recommend fuel additives to keep the fuel system clean", our fuel systems would have been already ****** up by the fuel quality we get over here. so, you should try searching over the internet if Honda recommends fuel additives to be used in their cars

[Skill]

Shameless repacking industery has spread distrustful products in the name of liquimoly,caltex,stp,zic etc,in such circumstances,geting origional additives is also a big question mark.