Sometimes, the trade-off for frequent use if those products is deposits in the upper engine. In the US of late, many auto parts and supply outlets have been taking advantage of younger drivers by pushing fuel cleaners as a beneficial product to "protect" their engines, or their "investments"--whenever you hear such high-brow language used by car people, beware.
While the "poor-sap" employees who are compelled to aggressively "offer" fuel "cleaners" at checkout stands cannot be blamed, the auto parts companies should be taken to task over what is, essentially, misleading advertising and use of scare tactics. In the early days of fuel-injection in road cars (only carburetors were used prior to the the '80s) the engine failures in new cars became rampant (almost a certainty), with manufacturers refusing to honor warranties, until the Federal government stepped in, and not only enforced warranties but also mandated fuel modification (affecting all outlets) that prevented such clogging and engine failures. As a result of universal adding of fuel cleaning additives by all gasoline manufacturers, the problem went from serious and ubiquitous to non-existent, by the 1990s throughout the US. As a result, the adding of additives by consumers was largely abandoned and fuel additives diminished and/or were relegated to bottom shelves in auto supply outlets. This state of affairs (injector clogging a non-issue) remained the status quo throughout the '90s and 'naught-ones until (it apparently has been calculated), enough time has passed for memory of the former "fuel additive" episode to fade into history. So now we see once again the aggressive marketing of the little bottles of miracle potion for the "protection" of young, impressionable drivers' precious car engines. Good for mfrs and sellers - they get exorbitant markups and profits from their miracle potions; not as good for well meaning consumers - they get relieved of money for essentially no discernible benefit . . . And some upper engine deposits in bargain.
The moral of this tale? It is very easy, with no evidence and nothing to back it up, to tell someone they have fuel injector problems - how can you argue with that? And it is nearly as easy for unwary consumers to convince themselves that magic elixirs are making their engines healthy and happy. However, the facts tell a different story. So, unless your engine has accumulated very long use (say 10-15 years and/or over 100k miles, when a technician suspects clogged injectors, might mean he could not diagnose a problem, or wants to sell an engine vac job. If you "feel" you must "invest" in fuel detergents limit it to every year or so. Otherwise, save your money.
While the "poor-sap" employees who are compelled to aggressively "offer" fuel "cleaners" at checkout stands cannot be blamed, the auto parts companies should be taken to task over what is, essentially, misleading advertising and use of scare tactics. In the early days of fuel-injection in road cars (only carburetors were used prior to the the '80s) the engine failures in new cars became rampant (almost a certainty), with manufacturers refusing to honor warranties, until the Federal government stepped in, and not only enforced warranties but also mandated fuel modification (affecting all outlets) that prevented such clogging and engine failures. As a result of universal adding of fuel cleaning additives by all gasoline manufacturers, the problem went from serious and ubiquitous to non-existent, by the 1990s throughout the US. As a result, the adding of additives by consumers was largely abandoned and fuel additives diminished and/or were relegated to bottom shelves in auto supply outlets. This state of affairs (injector clogging a non-issue) remained the status quo throughout the '90s and 'naught-ones until (it apparently has been calculated), enough time has passed for memory of the former "fuel additive" episode to fade into history. So now we see once again the aggressive marketing of the little bottles of miracle potion for the "protection" of young, impressionable drivers' precious car engines. Good for mfrs and sellers - they get exorbitant markups and profits from their miracle potions; not as good for well meaning consumers - they get relieved of money for essentially no discernible benefit . . . And some upper engine deposits in bargain.
The moral of this tale? It is very easy, with no evidence and nothing to back it up, to tell someone they have fuel injector problems - how can you argue with that? And it is nearly as easy for unwary consumers to convince themselves that magic elixirs are making their engines healthy and happy. However, the facts tell a different story. So, unless your engine has accumulated very long use (say 10-15 years and/or over 100k miles, when a technician suspects clogged injectors, might mean he could not diagnose a problem, or wants to sell an engine vac job. If you "feel" you must "invest" in fuel detergents limit it to every year or so. Otherwise, save your money.
