3-Count 20-oz Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner

wittles76

Apr 25, 2021 1:16 PM

22 Comments

Joined Nov 2016

wittles76Apr 25, 2021 1:16 PM

22 Comments

O'Reilly's has BOGO free 12oz versions for $9 (little less slick) thru 4/27 if you're wanting to mix/match for an older car, which is my case. Whether it's actually any better / different, who knows, but I need to pamper my old girl now and then. Of course..I hadn't changed oil in prob 9 months.

4

jurassitol1

Apr 25, 2021 1:23 PM

163 Comments

Joined Dec 2014

jurassitol1Apr 25, 2021 1:23 PM

163 Comments

Quote from hardy616

:

Never felt any difference after using it. Maybe because I always use Shell or Chevron gas.

Is exxon considered top tier?

2

fillintheblank

Apr 25, 2021 1:32 PM

52 Comments

Joined Nov 2015

fillintheblankApr 25, 2021 1:32 PM

52 Comments

Quote from venix

:

Pretty much snake oil. This is not the 1970s. Fuels do not need this stuff anymore, but as long as people buy it, companies will market and sell it. This may have had some positive effects on cars sitting around with junk fuel for months or years, but replacing the old fuel with fresh fuel is far more effective. If your fuel lines and valves are gummed up from lack of use, there might be some positive results, although results are dismal and generally antidotal. If you drive your car regularly and use mainstream fresh fuel, this has no value at all. And yes, for BMWs and other vanity cars, there is nothing special about your car which requires this product.

It's not snake oil. It just cleans up the area around your injectors and pistons a bit. My SUV calls for it after every oil change. If I don't put it in, I'll pop a code for something in the air/fuel delivery system. With that in mind, if you have a well designed engine, you don't need this stuff too often.

3

Mikeyyyrocks

Apr 25, 2021 1:45 PM

7 Comments

Joined Apr 2017

MikeyyyrocksApr 25, 2021 1:45 PM

7 Comments

Quote from wherestheanykey

:

You might have been told this by the same brilliant minds who swore by adding acetone during both the introduction of ethanol and again during the 2008 gas hike.

It's fairly common knowledge that there's no such thing as "better quality gas", as all of these tankers are filled at the same distribution stations and already have some detergents in them in order to keep the tankers clean. Chevron doesn't have a refinery in every region, so if you don't live fairly close to one, you may not be getting Chevron gas at all. The gas stations don't have a special reservoir to add Techron as needed, so where is this special additive getting mixed in? Nowhere, it's all marketing.

Consider that no car manufacturer has ever endorsed any additive in existence. If any of it actually made a difference, they'd have a designated fill spot for it.

The likely reason for your jittering is the use of all that extra detergent has freed up some sludge and maybe deteriorated some lines along with it. All that over cleaning is creating blockages and probably fouled your injectors, PCV, and oil.

I hope some of this helps, but considering you fell for the walnut blasting, you might be drinking the snake oil at this point.

You are right about all gas coming from the same refineries. But there are additives added depending on which brand of gas you are getting. They are added directly to the tanker trucks.

But that isn't really what's important about gasoline. What matters is the age of the storage tanks AT the station. If the gas is sitting around for a while it'll start to deteriorate the tank and pick up the dirt and grime in there. So try not to fill up at a station that you see being rarely refilled.

I usually fill up at Costco or sams because their tanks are emptied on a weekly basis.

3

supertek75

Apr 25, 2021 1:52 PM

312 Comments

Joined Apr 2014

supertek75Apr 25, 2021 1:52 PM

312 Comments

Quote from venix

:

Pretty much snake oil. This is not the 1970s. Fuels do not need this stuff anymore, but as long as people buy it, companies will market and sell it. This may have had some positive effects on cars sitting around with junk fuel for months or years, but replacing the old fuel with fresh fuel is far more effective. If your fuel lines and valves are gummed up from lack of use, there might be some positive results, although results are dismal and generally antidotal. If you drive your car regularly and use mainstream fresh fuel, this has no value at all. And yes, for BMWs and other vanity cars, there is nothing special about your car which requires this product.

Not really snake oil with at least one study proving otherwise:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/testin...astm-5500/

It's not the same product on this thread, but it is a similar fuel additive product aimed at cleaning the fuel system.

4

Cujobob

Apr 25, 2021 2:20 PM

1.6K Comments

Joined May 2012

CujobobApr 25, 2021 2:20 PM

1.6K Comments

Quote from happygooddeal

:

Lately been using Costco gas station. is Costco gas good quality comparing Chevron/Shell ?

I'm not sure if every Costco is the same, but they use 'top tier' gas which requires a high level of additives at the Costco stations in my area. This would put it on par with places like Chevron. Be aware that gasoline quality can still be high without receiving the 'top tier' label, there's a cost to be labeled as such, I believe.

Even still, the Techron cleaners that contain the expensive additive are a good option to use at least once a year just to prevent any buildup. There are different types of fuel injector additives, the one you want must contain PEA, if memory serves. It's in the more expensive Techron and in Gumout (with Regane). The ones that say to use every 1,000 miles don't have it. Last I looked into it, these were basically the only two options that contained it.

2

Slickone_

Apr 25, 2021 2:21 PM

4.5K Comments

Joined Dec 2012

Slickone_Apr 25, 2021 2:21 PM

4.5K Comments

This is the regular price. And other products like Gumout may have more of the active ingredient (PEA), at a cheaper price.

https://www.cars.com/articles/10-...663241443/
There's no such thing as "better gas." Companies like Chevron try to tell you their gasoline is superior because it has Techron in it. However, all gas has detergents that prevent clogging in the fuel injector, and no brand of gas is better quality than any other for your vehicle. Our advice? Hold off and don't buy more expensive fuel just to get a brand name; otherwise, you're paying more than enough money for the same quality fuel.

If you do want Top Tier, there are many brands
https://www.toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/

Last edited by Slickone_ April 28, 2021 at 09:41 AM.

1

sl6tech

Apr 25, 2021 2:40 PM

177 Comments

Joined Oct 2005

sl6techApr 25, 2021 2:40 PM

177 Comments

Seems like you may need multiple treatments for carbon build up on older cars but it appears to clean some build up.

https://youtu.be/h8i9qftqKNY

1

Sp1it43

Apr 25, 2021 2:46 PM

116 Comments

Joined Apr 2018

Sp1it43Apr 25, 2021 2:46 PM

116 Comments

Quote from Jimi542

:

Not really needed if you use top tier fuel such as BP, Shell and Chevron.

Only Shell premium has their nitrogen additive. So regular Shell won't get you any benefits.

6

2

Saving4Broke

Apr 25, 2021 3:08 PM

390 Comments

Joined Nov 2013

Saving4BrokeApr 25, 2021 3:08 PM

390 Comments

Quote from wherestheanykey

:

You might have been told this by the same brilliant minds who swore by adding acetone during both the introduction of ethanol and again during the 2008 gas hike.

It's fairly common knowledge that there's no such thing as "better quality gas", as all of these tankers are filled at the same distribution stations and already have some detergents in them in order to keep the tankers clean. Chevron doesn't have a refinery in every region, so if you don't live fairly close to one, you may not be getting Chevron gas at all. The gas stations don't have a special reservoir to add Techron as needed, so where is this special additive getting mixed in? Nowhere, it's all marketing.

Consider that no car manufacturer has ever endorsed any additive in existence. If any of it actually made a difference, they'd have a designated fill spot for it.

The likely reason for your jittering is the use of all that extra detergent has freed up some sludge and maybe deteriorated some lines along with it. All that over cleaning is creating blockages and probably fouled your injectors, PCV, and oil.

I hope some of this helps, but considering you fell for the walnut blasting, you might be drinking the snake oil at this point.

That's some blatant misinformation right there. Fuel works much in the way oil does, there is a base oil/fuel that these companies purchase from the refineries (which does mostly all come from the same plants), but then the individual companies further refine with their process, add their additives and top treat it before sending to their fuel stations.

Further, there is an ASTM test known as the IVD and one purpose it has is to run what's known as a dirty up clean up test. It runs a test with base fuel and no additive, then inspects the engine for deposits and other harmful effects. Next it runs whatever fuel to be evaluated through it and inspects again when it completes. However much improvement is measured is the metric for quality level of that gasoline.

And lastly, for whatever reason, these companies do put more of their additives in their "premium" fuel versus regular. It's good practice to run it in your vehicle every once in awhile for that reason but if your vehicle requires premium, you need to run it. Its chief reason anyway is to control the explosion better and with a high compression engine, it needs to be there to mitigate detonation or serious damage will occur.

I'm not speaking from internet research, I've worked in this industry for decades.

12

dealmashuguna

Apr 25, 2021 3:21 PM

3.8K Comments

Joined Mar 2013

dealmashugunaApr 25, 2021 3:21 PM

3.8K Comments

Quote from hardy616

:

Curious. Does anyone feel any difference after using it?

Yes if used properly

1

jd45123

Apr 25, 2021 4:48 PM

1.3K Comments

Joined May 2014

jd45123Apr 25, 2021 4:48 PM

1.3K Comments

Quote from jurassitol1

:

Is exxon considered top tier?

Top Tier is a licensing program Companies pay top tier to use the Top Tier logo. It is not that the gas is a different grade or better. The companies are supposed to meet a minimum amount of detergent. That might be more than the standard gas at another station. Most gas comes from a common storage facility in an area for all the brands. Some brands (maybe the Top Tiers) might then add extra detergent to the tank truck before they deliver it to their station (but maybe not). Again it is a licensing program, not a gasoline testing/grading program. Here is the list of brands in the program currently: https://www.toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/

1

2

demfer

Apr 25, 2021 5:00 PM

91 Comments

Joined Jan 2012

demferApr 25, 2021 5:00 PM

91 Comments

Save your money and use quality gasoline. Check toptiergas.com

4

PASabre

Apr 25, 2021 5:14 PM

149 Comments

Joined Feb 2010

PASabreApr 25, 2021 5:14 PM

149 Comments

Quote from smacky00

:

I use it as the seasons change because I was told the fuel at the pump changes from time to time.

I used to use Speedway gas because it was close to my house; the Shell was a bit further. But I recently started running in to some jitters/shaking on startup for the past few months and I continued to use Speedway gas.

Switched to Shell for the most recent fill up and also used Techron prior to filling up and it's mostly gone away. I'm taking it in to a mechanic but it's odd that it stopped after driving about 10 miles on Shell gas and the Techron.

I don't know how well it works because I also got my engine walnut blasted last November and it was pretty bad. The car is 12 years old and had a mix of Speedway and Shell gas, depending on if I filled up close to home or close to work.

At a few bucks a pop and 2-4 times a year, it doesn't hurt. I only started using Techron a few times a year since 2018 so maybe not too long of a sample size. Better quality gas probably goes a long way than Techron, I feel.

No fuel treatment additive will address the buildup issue that requires walnut blasting on direct injection engines. The reason you get more buildup on the intakes of direct injection engines is that there is no fuel mixed with the air to clean the ports (fuel is directly injected into the cylinder). If you are using this product for intake ports on a direct injection engine then you are throwing away money.

1

ash78

Apr 25, 2021 5:57 PM

11.2K Comments

Joined Sep 2014

ash78Apr 25, 2021 5:57 PM

11.2K Comments

Quote from hardy616

:

Curious. Does anyone feel any difference after using it?

Just a little burning in the esophagus, but it goes away.

Honestly, if you were to actually feel an immediate difference after using this, then you're probably going to have bigger problems because you dislodged something big from your injectors or intake valves Big Grin

Using this is more like a healthy diet — it's a long term investment. Most preventive maintenance is like that, anyway. You could change your oil once every 3 years and the problems might not manifest for 20 years (note: probably a lot sooner in a turbocharged car)

But fuel systems do benefit from staying clean. Direct injection systems need them to maintain a perfect high-pressure spray pattern, while port injection benefits even more from the detergent effects on the intake valves. But the best medicine is using top tier gas as much as possible. Not doing this might just mean losing a couple mpg over a decade, so if you're a purely practical person (like a lot of SDers), then no — this probably isn't worth it from a cost/benefit stance for short ownership periods.

/my inner shade tree mechanic cringes at that

Last edited by ash78 April 25, 2021 at 11:00 AM.

3

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3-Count 20-oz Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner

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