Chevron Techron - caution!

[dhowitt@iddis.com]

There's been some discussion of Chevron Techron which is advertised to clean 
injectors, valves, & cylinders.  I would be careful about using this as it may 
in fact clean "too well."  

A certain amount of deposit inside the cylinders is actually beneficial.  This 
is called "false seals" which actually provide an additional layer of seal in 
the combustion chamber.  Techron will wash this all away and you may end up 
with bigger problems like a leaking head gasket.  

Caveat: I'm a layman but this is based on expert advice that I have read.  I 
studied up on this topic because it happend to me.  

I put Techron in my '91 Sable 3.8 because of pinging.  It stopped the pinging 
but then I noticed white smoke = coolant leaking into the combustion chamber. 
 That's an $800 repair.  Fortunately it was under warranty and Ford covered it 
-- I didn't mention the Techron to the dealer service department; they just 
assumed it was entirely due to a failed Ford gasket.  

I wonder how much Ford pays out in warranty repairs because of overzealous 
treatment like that.  I wouldn't blame them if they prohibited use of the 
stuff and refused to honor such claims.

Doran Howitt  '89 100Q
IDD Information Services
Livingston, NJ 07039 USA
dhowitt@iddis.com
201 740 2605