mik3vl

Hey all,

There was a deal on Chevron's Techron duel injector cleaner at a local auto shop of mine so I picked up a couple 18oz bottles for the cars in my house.

I added them in on an almost empty gas tank and then filled up to full. I didn't notice any black smoke that some people report after putting in fuel injector cleaner so I figured that my cars might have already been fairly clean. I proceeded to drive like normal.

The next fill up, I noticed a 2mpg decrease from what I usually get, I figured it was because the fuel injector cleaner isn't really fuel so I let that slide. But now I am well into my 7-8th fill and rather than getting better mpg, I am now getting 2-3mpg worse (20-21mpg) than I used to at around (was hoping to get 25-26mpg overall like some other people have posted). On a 15 gallon fill up, I'm losing 30-45miles...

This is what I've noticed on my 2006 TL but the other household car is experiencing a similar problem of 2-3 less mpg. I don't drive particularly hard and most of those miles are highway miles. I check my mileage on the computer trip monitor and by my own calculations.

Anyone have any advice for me?

I am currently assuming that the Techron fuel injector cleaner actually harmed the cars and I am considering taking this problem to the dealer for their advice, but I figured forum members might have some experience here.

btw, before adding the fuel injector cleaner, I had an oil change for the TL and for the other car.


Thanks,

sddale

I doubt that the Techron messed up your cars. Do any of the cars run rough? Have you been going to a different gas station? Has the overall temp in your area dropped causing the cars to take longer to warm up?

SouthernBoy

Don't use fuel injector cleaner, use fuel system cleaner.

mik3vl

well both cars had an immediate 2-3mpg loss right after the techron was added. Everything else including the types of gas station and the way it is driven, and how it has been handling has generally stayed the same. It is Winter time here, so it is a little colder, but the cars are garaged.

@ southern boy - actually it was labeled as a fuel system cleaner. but either way, it has already been used

anyone have any tips for why this might be happening and what i can do to fix this problem? (if you guys could list your overall mpg and if those are mostly city/highway miles, that would help me a lot, i know there is a thread on that, but figured i'd get some fresh input)

RIPHRaPH

What made you decide on the Techron name? I was recently in PepBoys and could not believe the isle of fuel cleansers on the market.
I went with this forums consensus pick Redline S-1.
still on the first tankful, so the jury is out. Was at 23mph before use.

Trunk Monkey

iTrader: (1)

Maybe that Redline will make you go faster than 23mph

RIPHRaPH

Oops. 23mpg. Long day.

HighRevving

I have used the same product on an SUV and i experienced a temporary drop in MPG for few tankfuls. Overall, no noticeable increase in mpg but vehicle ran smoother. I used twice on 2 consecutive fill ups. I was satisfied with the product. This could be totally off but is there a change that junk was pushed out and contaminated the O2 sensor causing false O2 readings hence bad mpg?! The reason i say this is I changed the O2 sensor on the same vehicle and had better mpg..

duffduffxx

I think it just has to do with Winter. I always get worse MPG's in winter, especially over the last 7-8 fill ups.

mik3vl

i'm thinking it just might be winter too, but regardless, from what i read about other people's mpg, 20-21 with a good amount of highway is on the lower side.

i'm considering what highrevving wrote about the o2 sensor or in general, some computer problem that isn't properly calibrated for how the car currently is.

anyone have any other ideas?

so far, i'm set on visiting the dealer.

duffduffxx

Try resetting the ECU- maybe the techron threw off the O2 sensor. Are you driving a stick or an auto?

peters_sweet_CL

Thats wierd...i never had that problem before...i complained on here a while back about how the TL gets 21mpg or less (usually 19, 20) even with a decent amount of highway driving...but Ive used Techron in the CL and it starts up in freezing weather, drives perfectly fine and consistently gets 22mpg with 109k miles...it shouldnt harm it but i have heard of problems with the STP fuel system cleaner

csmeance

I haven't dealt with techron fuel cleaner, but maybe it may have "coated" a sensor or something causing the MPG loss. Usually they wear out after 1000 miles or so, so it should go back up. If it doesn't, I'd try using something like Seafoam or Redline SI-1 fuel cleaner.

tienr

iTrader: (1)

where do you live? your mpg gets worst as the weather gets colder.