Top tier fuel a cleaning additives

[Jdreg]

I’ve been doing some reading and discovered what could be another reason to use premium, fuel unrelated to mileage and performance improvement. I was aware that all grades are top tier at a top tier supplier, but I did not know that premium can also contain an even higher levels of cleaning additives. This could be very important in direct injection engines prone to carbon buildup. Does anyone have any input or experience on this. Please don’t make this about octane again.
Thanks

 

[Jose_Gti]

interested as well

 

[heiney9]

It helps, but ultimately since no fuel (or very little) touches the part of the valves that are prone to carbon build up, nothing can stop it from eventually happening. This probably will delay it for a bit.

I use top tier because it does seem to help a bit, but it also keeps the entire fuel system clean.

Unscientific evidence I have: My 2009 MK5 GTi is at 91K miles and I've used top tier fuel and so far no carbon issues that I am aware of.

Since you should be running premium for best results, why not run a top tier brand?

 

[oddspyke]

I don't know that it would help with carbon build up. DI engines build up carbon because the fuel never hits the back of the intake valves to clean them. More detergent won't help if it never gets to where the build up is.

 

[7umberjackZac]

Well I've only been running BP -93 since I walnut blasted at 40k. I plan on checking valves again (boroscope) after I get catch can installed to see if I need to blast them again. Let you know

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[SweetJones_29]

If our cars were port injected gas additives would help with carbon build up. Unfortunately since no gas is sprayed through the intake runners directed injected cars will still experience carbon build up. There in no getting around removing the intake and having to clean the valves every 30 to 70k that I have seen. The only benefit I see to top gear gas is for cleaning the valves and fuel injectors.

 

[The Fed]

Gasoline is a powerful solvent so how much can modern fuel be improved? I'd say it's mainly snake oil.

 

[Elwood]

I found the best deterrent to carbon build up on the back of the intake valves is looong road trips.

 

[AAK1992]

Well I've only been running BP -93 since I walnut blasted at 40k. I plan on checking valves again (boroscope) after I get catch can installed to see if I need to blast them again. Let you know

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

May I ask how your valves looked at 40K before the cleaning? Were you having idle/misfire issues or something? Definitely interested in your findings on this, thanks!

 

[Strange Mud]

Gasoline is a powerful solvent so how much can modern fuel be improved? I'd say it's mainly snake oil.

I'm sure on MSN there is a worthwhile click-bait link that explains it......




sorry poor impulse control

 

[vjmvjm]

I’ve been doing some reading and discovered what could be another reason to use premium, fuel unrelated to mileage and performance improvement. I was aware that all grades are top tier at a top tier supplier, but I did not know that premium can also contain an even higher levels of cleaning additives. This could be very important in direct injection engines prone to carbon buildup. Does anyone have any input or experience on this. Please don’t make this about octane again.
Thanks

1) Don't assume that more is better. Have you seen any evidence of this, other than anecdotal internet lore? You don't necessarily need more, you just need enough.

2) Don't assume that all top tier premium contains more cleaning additives than regular. You'll notice that no fuel brands ever give you any details on how much cleaning additive they actually use.

3) As others have noted in this thread, carbon buildup in direct injection engines is a different animal.

 

[heiney9]

Some of you need to get educated on what Top Tier fuel is. Most Euro car companies specifically recommend it and were part of the team that helped create the formulations, etc.

I am not going to post a bunch of links, (do your own research) but VW states using top tier fuel does combat carbon build up (on the valves) to a degree. Also there is a lot research on what a top tier formulation is and non-top tier fuel does NOT contain the same cleaning agents.

As alwasy, the internet has a wealth of information, but do whatever you see fit for your situation.

 

[ashchuckton]

Those additives can help keep the injectors - piston tops clean & that's a good benefit. But it isn't going to help keep carbon off the intake valves. I add a bottle of Chevron Techron every 5,000 miles. My favorite snake oil.

 

[david9962000]

Chevron as a very good additive. Techron.

 

[RogueGTI]

I'm still planning to punch through my intake runners at the port injection blanks, and use CRC intake valve cleaner, or the like, frequently. Also to be used for inspection, and I'll see about the effects of PCV routing.