Re: Oxygenated fuels? -Reply

[John Greenstreet <jgreenst@motown.ge.com>]

> From quattro-owner@swiss.ans.net Wed Nov  9 14:02:02 1994
> Date: Wed, 09 Nov 1994 10:57:39 -0700
> From: Shannon Shirk <SSHIRK@wordperfect.com>
> Subject:  Oxygenated fuels? -Reply
> Reply-To: quattro@swiss.ans.net
> 
> I know what you mean. Texaco uses only MTBE in their gas, are there
> any in your area?
> 
> I also have a problem with plugged injectors when using this lovely fuel
> mandated from Nov 1 through March 1. I have found that putting a pint of
> fuel injector cleaner in with every other tank during the winter helps
> tremendously!!
> 

What is the symptom you observe which leads you to believe your fuel
injectors were getting plugged?

The only symptoms I've ever seen resulting from a restricted or plugged
injectors are burned valves or an engine that barely runs.  The reason
I ask is that I have never observed nor heard of any instance where
fuel injector "cleaner" actually helped to clean injectors, and in fact
will usually dislodge upstream debris which will eventually clog the
injector.  This is exactly what happened to me on my '78 Fox,
necessitating a $600 valve job and replacement of the $12 injector.

Needless to say, I've never used this "cleaner" since, and have never
had a problem.

This so-called "cleaner" didn't work on my mother's '77 VW Cabrio
either; replacing a $45 injector did the trick.  Of course, it had no
problem BEFORE my well-meaning father put some cleaner in it!  As a
test of this snake-oil--since there was nothing to lose at this
point--I poured the "cleaner" full-strength into the supply hose for
the dribbling injector, replaced it and drove the car around.  Of
course, there was no improvement.  

I've never seen an injector that was visibly dirty or covered with
"varnish".  Who makes up this stuff anyway?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't these cleaners contain primarily
alcohol, just the thing most people are trying to avoid?  No wonder
their use is verboten by most manufacturers. (RTFM)

OK, I'm done now!

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John Greenstreet, Senior Engineer           (jgreenst@motown.ge.com)
Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems    Moorestown NJ 08057
WPI Class of '75, Temple Class of '94

My new car history:
  1975    1978    1982       1986        1989      1992      1995
   VW ->  Audi -> Audi  -> Mercedes -> Mercedes -> Audi -> Mercedes
Scirocco Fox GTI  4000S    190E 2.3    190E 2.6    100CS     S320

POSSLQ's* new car history:
         1978       1981       1985      1988        1990     1993
       Triumph ->  Toyota ->  Toyota  ->  VW    ->   Audi  -> Audi
       Spitfire    Tercel     Corolla   Jetta GL      80      90S

*POSSLQ = Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters
Note: All Audis and Mercedes above were sold to friends or family.
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