Tacoma Fuel Injectors

How do you clean the little monsters?

A more important question - why would you clean them?

Ed

Ben Dover wrote:

> How do you clean the little monsters?

Oh just because with most vehicles its part of routine maintenance


"C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: A more important question - why would you clean them?
:
: Ed
:
: Ben Dover wrote:
:
: > How do you clean the little monsters?
:

"Ben Dover" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<R4gsb.23292$mb5.19426@fed1read02>...
> How do you clean the little monsters?


The Dealership basically just uses a chemical cleaner dropped into the
fuel tank to clean the injectors. Some will actually use a pressurized
chemical cleaning as well. You can find a generic cleaner at any auto
parts store.

You should save your money. If you are not having a problem, paying
someone to clean your injectors will only make your wallet lighter. All
US unleaded fuel sold for road use has injector cleaners included
because of EPA regulations. I occasionally add a bottle of Techron fuel
system cleaner to my fuel, but I doubt it is needed.

Take a look at your maintenance schedule (the one from Toyota, not one
the dealer made up). I doubt you'll find injector cleaning listed.
Dealers try to sell all sorts of extra services. This is not done out of
altruistic motives. I purchased my first fuel injected car in 1975
(280Z). I have never paid anyone to clean the fuel injectors of any car
or truck I have owned (including several that passed 140,000 miles) in
the last 28 years. I don't expect to do so any time soon.

I won't say fuel injectors can't become clogged, I just don't think it
as common as some groups would like to have you believe it is.

Ed

Ben Dover wrote:

> Oh just because with most vehicles its part of routine maintenance
>
> "C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> : A more important question - why would you clean them?
> :
> : Ed
> :
> : Ben Dover wrote:
> :
> : > How do you clean the little monsters?
> :

Thank you. That was what I was wondering. The GM EFI has a port on the rail
at the injectors for that purpose.

"atombob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: "Ben Dover" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<R4gsb.23292$mb5.19426@fed1read02>...
: > How do you clean the little monsters?
:
:
: The Dealership basically just uses a chemical cleaner dropped into the
: fuel tank to clean the injectors. Some will actually use a pressurized
: chemical cleaning as well. You can find a generic cleaner at any auto
: parts store.

What about cleaning the throttle body? The dealer charges $75 for that one

"C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: You should save your money. If you are not having a problem, paying
: someone to clean your injectors will only make your wallet lighter. All
: US unleaded fuel sold for road use has injector cleaners included
: because of EPA regulations. I occasionally add a bottle of Techron fuel
: system cleaner to my fuel, but I doubt it is needed.
:
: Take a look at your maintenance schedule (the one from Toyota, not one
: the dealer made up). I doubt you'll find injector cleaning listed.
: Dealers try to sell all sorts of extra services. This is not done out of
: altruistic motives. I purchased my first fuel injected car in 1975
: (280Z). I have never paid anyone to clean the fuel injectors of any car
: or truck I have owned (including several that passed 140,000 miles) in
: the last 28 years. I don't expect to do so any time soon.
:
: I won't say fuel injectors can't become clogged, I just don't think it
: as common as some groups would like to have you believe it is.
:
: Ed
:
: Ben Dover wrote:
:
: > Oh just because with most vehicles its part of routine maintenance
: >
: > "C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: > news:[email protected]...
: > : A more important question - why would you clean them?
: > :
: > : Ed
: > :
: > : Ben Dover wrote:
: > :
: > : > How do you clean the little monsters?
: > :
:

Most cars have a port on the fuel injection rail. The port was originally
intended as point to connect a pressure gague so that you can check the fuel
pressure. As far as I know, GM doesn't recommend regular fuel injection
cleanings either.

Ed

Ben Dover wrote:

> Thank you. That was what I was wondering. The GM EFI has a port on the rail
> at the injectors for that purpose.
>
> "atombob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> : "Ben Dover" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<R4gsb.23292$mb5.19426@fed1read02>...
> : > How do you clean the little monsters?
> :
> :
> : The Dealership basically just uses a chemical cleaner dropped into the
> : fuel tank to clean the injectors. Some will actually use a pressurized
> : chemical cleaning as well. You can find a generic cleaner at any auto
> : parts store.

Well, I have had to clean the throttle bodies on the last couple of Ford I
have owned. The routing of the PCV gases results in a buldup of gunk on the
throttle body and can lead to the throttle palte sticking. I don't believe any
manufacturer's recommend routine throttle body cleaning. If you don't have a
sticky throttle or idle problems, I would not worry about cleaning the
throttle body. If you do have a concern, then remove the air hose from the
front of the throttle body and hold the throttle plate open, and clean the
gunk out. I usually use a rag soaked in WD-40. There are commerial throttle
body cleaning solutions availale. They are probably OK, but stay away from
harsher chemiclas like brake cleaners or carburetor cleaners.

Regards,

Ed White

Ben Dover wrote:

> What about cleaning the throttle body? The dealer charges $75 for that one
>
> "C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> : You should save your money. If you are not having a problem, paying
> : someone to clean your injectors will only make your wallet lighter. All
> : US unleaded fuel sold for road use has injector cleaners included
> : because of EPA regulations. I occasionally add a bottle of Techron fuel
> : system cleaner to my fuel, but I doubt it is needed.
> :
> : Take a look at your maintenance schedule (the one from Toyota, not one
> : the dealer made up). I doubt you'll find injector cleaning listed.
> : Dealers try to sell all sorts of extra services. This is not done out of
> : altruistic motives. I purchased my first fuel injected car in 1975
> : (280Z). I have never paid anyone to clean the fuel injectors of any car
> : or truck I have owned (including several that passed 140,000 miles) in
> : the last 28 years. I don't expect to do so any time soon.
> :
> : I won't say fuel injectors can't become clogged, I just don't think it
> : as common as some groups would like to have you believe it is.
> :
> : Ed
> :
> : Ben Dover wrote:
> :
> : > Oh just because with most vehicles its part of routine maintenance
> : >
> : > "C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> : > news:[email protected]...
> : > : A more important question - why would you clean them?
> : > :
> : > : Ed
> : > :
> : > : Ben Dover wrote:
> : > :
> : > : > How do you clean the little monsters?
> : > :
> :

Toyota's (the one from the factory) so-called "maintenance schedule" is
pretty lame. There's no mention of either cleaning the injectors or the
throttle body. And the biggest joke is the fuel filter. On the 98 Tacoma's
it sits under the fuel intake and above the starter. You have to have arms
with about 15 joints and the diameter of a pipe cleaner with the strength
of a vice grip to remove the stupid thing. Which isn't even shown in the
maintenance schedule either. The dealer says it's a "lifetime" filter. So
whose "lifetime" are they referring to?


"C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: Well, I have had to clean the throttle bodies on the last couple of Ford
I
: have owned. The routing of the PCV gases results in a buldup of gunk on
the
: throttle body and can lead to the throttle palte sticking. I don't
believe any
: manufacturer's recommend routine throttle body cleaning. If you don't
have a
: sticky throttle or idle problems, I would not worry about cleaning the
: throttle body. If you do have a concern, then remove the air hose from
the
: front of the throttle body and hold the throttle plate open, and clean
the
: gunk out. I usually use a rag soaked in WD-40. There are commerial
throttle
: body cleaning solutions availale. They are probably OK, but stay away
from
: harsher chemiclas like brake cleaners or carburetor cleaners.
:
: Regards,
:
: Ed White
:
: Ben Dover wrote:
:
: > What about cleaning the throttle body? The dealer charges $75 for that
one
: >
: > "C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: > news:[email protected]...
: > : You should save your money. If you are not having a problem, paying
: > : someone to clean your injectors will only make your wallet lighter.
All
: > : US unleaded fuel sold for road use has injector cleaners included
: > : because of EPA regulations. I occasionally add a bottle of Techron
fuel
: > : system cleaner to my fuel, but I doubt it is needed.
: > :
: > : Take a look at your maintenance schedule (the one from Toyota, not
one
: > : the dealer made up). I doubt you'll find injector cleaning listed.
: > : Dealers try to sell all sorts of extra services. This is not done out
of
: > : altruistic motives. I purchased my first fuel injected car in 1975
: > : (280Z). I have never paid anyone to clean the fuel injectors of any
car
: > : or truck I have owned (including several that passed 140,000 miles)
in
: > : the last 28 years. I don't expect to do so any time soon.
: > :
: > : I won't say fuel injectors can't become clogged, I just don't think
it
: > : as common as some groups would like to have you believe it is.
: > :
: > : Ed
: > :
: > : Ben Dover wrote:
: > :
: > : > Oh just because with most vehicles its part of routine maintenance
: > : >
: > : > "C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: > : > news:[email protected]...
: > : > : A more important question - why would you clean them?
: > : > :
: > : > : Ed
: > : > :
: > : > : Ben Dover wrote:
: > : > :
: > : > : > How do you clean the little monsters?
: > : > :
: > :
:

Well I think the fuel filter replacement interval is highly dependent on the
quality of fuel you are buying. Most Fords have a huge fuel filter, but they
still recommend replacement every 30,000 miles. My SO's Grand Voyager has a
filter the size of an asprin bottle and it wasn't replaced until the van had
over 115K miles. Even then, there was not a problem that related to the
original filter.

Are you sure your Toytoya has only one filter? Some vehicles have one filter
near the tank that is replaced on a regular basis and a second filter near the
injectors that should never need replacement. There should also be a sock type
strainer on the fuel pick-up in the tank. Cars with electronically controlled
fuel injection are not particularly vulnerable to most fuel contaminanats, so I
would not worry too much about the filter. If Toyota says it doesn't need
replacement, then it probably doesn't. If the dealer says it doesn't need
replacing, then it must REALLY not need replacing.

Ed

Ben Dover wrote:

> Toyota's (the one from the factory) so-called "maintenance schedule" is
> pretty lame. There's no mention of either cleaning the injectors or the
> throttle body. And the biggest joke is the fuel filter. On the 98 Tacoma's
> it sits under the fuel intake and above the starter. You have to have arms
> with about 15 joints and the diameter of a pipe cleaner with the strength
> of a vice grip to remove the stupid thing. Which isn't even shown in the
> maintenance schedule either. The dealer says it's a "lifetime" filter. So
> whose "lifetime" are they referring to?
>
> "C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> : Well, I have had to clean the throttle bodies on the last couple of Ford
> I
> : have owned. The routing of the PCV gases results in a buldup of gunk on
> the
> : throttle body and can lead to the throttle palte sticking. I don't
> believe any
> : manufacturer's recommend routine throttle body cleaning. If you don't
> have a
> : sticky throttle or idle problems, I would not worry about cleaning the
> : throttle body. If you do have a concern, then remove the air hose from
> the
> : front of the throttle body and hold the throttle plate open, and clean
> the
> : gunk out. I usually use a rag soaked in WD-40. There are commerial
> throttle
> : body cleaning solutions availale. They are probably OK, but stay away
> from
> : harsher chemiclas like brake cleaners or carburetor cleaners.
> :
> : Regards,
> :
> : Ed White
> :
> : Ben Dover wrote:
> :
> : > What about cleaning the throttle body? The dealer charges $75 for that
> one
> : >
> : > "C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> : > news:[email protected]...
> : > : You should save your money. If you are not having a problem, paying
> : > : someone to clean your injectors will only make your wallet lighter.
> All
> : > : US unleaded fuel sold for road use has injector cleaners included
> : > : because of EPA regulations. I occasionally add a bottle of Techron
> fuel
> : > : system cleaner to my fuel, but I doubt it is needed.
> : > :
> : > : Take a look at your maintenance schedule (the one from Toyota, not
> one
> : > : the dealer made up). I doubt you'll find injector cleaning listed.
> : > : Dealers try to sell all sorts of extra services. This is not done out
> of
> : > : altruistic motives. I purchased my first fuel injected car in 1975
> : > : (280Z). I have never paid anyone to clean the fuel injectors of any
> car
> : > : or truck I have owned (including several that passed 140,000 miles)
> in
> : > : the last 28 years. I don't expect to do so any time soon.
> : > :
> : > : I won't say fuel injectors can't become clogged, I just don't think
> it
> : > : as common as some groups would like to have you believe it is.
> : > :
> : > : Ed
> : > :
> : > : Ben Dover wrote:
> : > :
> : > : > Oh just because with most vehicles its part of routine maintenance
> : > : >
> : > : > "C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> : > : > news:[email protected]...
> : > : > : A more important question - why would you clean them?
> : > : > :
> : > : > : Ed
> : > : > :
> : > : > : Ben Dover wrote:
> : > : > :
> : > : > : > How do you clean the little monsters?
> : > : > :
> : > :
> :

In Aridzona all the fuel comes through a single pipeline so quality isn't
an issue.


"C. E. White" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: Well I think the fuel filter replacement interval is highly dependent on
the
: quality of fuel you are buying. Most Fords have a huge fuel filter, but
they
: still recommend replacement every 30,000 miles. My SO's Grand Voyager has
a
: filter the size of an asprin bottle and it wasn't replaced until the van
had
: over 115K miles. Even then, there was not a problem that related to the
: original filter.
:

To my knowledge there is no other accessible filter (although many would
say even the one is not accessible). It is a pretty big filter, though....
No, Toyota (factory) draws a blank when you try to find any info on
changing it. The Dealer did tell me "lifetime" which is strange because if
a Dealer can make a fast buck on changing something they will. Although
this is not a fast (easy) buck. When I pressed them on it, they said
"maybe" at 60-70,000 miles. I figure as long as its not giving me any
trouble, why screw with it.

: Are you sure your Toytoya has only one filter? Some vehicles have one
filter
: near the tank that is replaced on a regular basis and a second filter
near the
: injectors that should never need replacement. There should also be a sock
type
: strainer on the fuel pick-up in the tank. Cars with electronically
controlled
: fuel injection are not particularly vulnerable to most fuel
contaminanats, so I
: would not worry too much about the filter. If Toyota says it doesn't need
: replacement, then it probably doesn't. If the dealer says it doesn't need
: replacing, then it must REALLY not need replacing.
:
: Ed

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
says...
> You should save your money. If you are not having a problem, paying
> someone to clean your injectors will only make your wallet lighter. All
> US unleaded fuel sold for road use has injector cleaners included
> because of EPA regulations. I occasionally add a bottle of Techron fuel
> system cleaner to my fuel, but I doubt it is needed.
>
> Take a look at your maintenance schedule (the one from Toyota, not one
> the dealer made up). I doubt you'll find injector cleaning listed.
> Dealers try to sell all sorts of extra services. This is not done out of
> altruistic motives. I purchased my first fuel injected car in 1975
> (280Z). I have never paid anyone to clean the fuel injectors of any car
> or truck I have owned (including several that passed 140,000 miles) in
> the last 28 years. I don't expect to do so any time soon.
>
> I won't say fuel injectors can't become clogged, I just don't think it
> as common as some groups would like to have you believe it is.
>

Mine was running rough and it was greatly improved by getting them
cleaned but I wouldn't pay more than $50 US to have it done, all they do
is hook a bottle of the solvent up to your fuel line and run the engine
on it until it's empty. If you know where on the fuel rail to put it
you could even do it yourself.

--
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In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
says...
> Well I think the fuel filter replacement interval is highly dependent on the
> quality of fuel you are buying. Most Fords have a huge fuel filter, but they
> still recommend replacement every 30,000 miles. My SO's Grand Voyager has a
> filter the size of an asprin bottle and it wasn't replaced until the van had
> over 115K miles. Even then, there was not a problem that related to the
> original filter.

When mine fell off I figured it was about time to replace it Mine is
under the passengers side in the most rust prone location they could
find.
--
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In article <aJtsb.126$cX1.6@fed1read02>, [email protected]
says...
> Thank you. That was what I was wondering. The GM EFI has a port on the rail
> at the injectors for that purpose.
>

Unles you fill your tank completely up with Tactrol or some other
cleaner I don't think those add ins are effective, I never saw any
results with them. The pressurized bottle on the other hand worked
great.
--
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Chris Phillipo wrote:

> Unles you fill your tank completely up with Tactrol or some other
> cleaner I don't think those add ins are effective, I never saw any
> results with them. The pressurized bottle on the other hand worked
> great.

I suppose if you wait until the injectors are so clogged that you can tell you
have a problem, the add-ins might not be effective. However, as a preventative
they may have some value.

Ed

Ben Dover wrote:

> In Aridzona all the fuel comes through a single pipeline so quality isn't
> an issue.

They send different products down the same pipeline all the time. Plus, how it
is handled after the pipeline probably has more to do with contamination than
what happened in the pipeline.

Ed