With automotive servicing costs rising, some car owners try to perform their own car maintenance. However, some servicing is best left for the professionals. For example, fuel injectors are a component that can greatly affect the performance of your vehicle when dirty. Moreover, if you search the internet, you’ll find many blogs and videos showing you how to clean fuel injection systems. When you want the best results, get a professional cleaning from Havoline® Xpress Lube of Kernersville.
Signs You May Have A Clogged Fuel Injector System
Typically, car engine systems rely on several parts. Thus, when experiencing symptoms, you should always bring your car to your mechanic for inspection. Sometimes, you can misdiagnose the problem. Here at Havoline® Xpress Lube of Kernersville, we use the latest diagnostic equipment to find the issue. Bring your vehicle to us if you experience any one of these signs:
1. Rough idling
Even when your car isn’t moving, the engine should run at a consistent speed. However, a clogged fuel injector won’t spray the correct amount of gasoline creating unbalanced combustion. Your engine will have difficulty maintaining its steady rate of rotation. You may even experience a shaking or bouncing sensation.
2. Bouncing RPM Needle
Usually, when your engine fluctuates in revolutions, you’ll see the needle on your tachometer dancing up and down. Your tachometer is the dashboard gauge measuring your engine’s RPMs (revolutions per minute).
3. Car Won’t Start
A clogged fuel injector is unable to deliver gasoline to the engine’s cylinder. Thus, your car may not even start.
4. Poor Fuel Economy
As a fuel injector system becomes clogged, your car’s computer system will compensate by adding more fuel to achieve power. Thus, your car will lose gas efficiency.
5. Misfiring
Engines are precise machines. To produce power, combustion must occur at precise intervals to move the pistons up and down. When carbon deposits restrict the spray of gasoline, an unbalanced delivery of fuel results in misfiring.
6. Check Engine Light Illuminates
With sensors and computers monitoring combustion, any misfire or fuel fluctuations will cause your dashboard light to illuminate. Anytime your check engine light comes on, you should have your mechanic look at your vehicle as soon as possible.
Carbon Buildup Is Unavoidable
Years ago, automakers designed car engines with carburetors to mix air and fuel. However, carburetors aren’t all that efficient and produce harmful emissions. Thus, today’s modern cars come equipped with fuel injector systems.
While using this new component is more efficient and cleaner, fuel injectors are not without problems. For maximum efficiency, fuel injectors must spray the correct amount of fuel in a particular pattern with the correct timing. As dirt accumulates, the fuel droplets will be the wrong size or improperly distributed in the cylinder.
Unfortunately, a buildup of carbon on your car’s fuel injectors is usually inevitable. In a combustion engine, gasoline and air mix in a particular ratio to produce energy to move a car. However, in all instances, every car engine has some degree of inefficiency leaving some unspent fuel. Heat from the engine combined with this residual fuel results in carbon deposits.
When this happens, you may experience problems with your vehicle leading you to research how to clean fuel injection systems. However, only a professional can properly clean your system without causing any damage.
How To Clean Fuel Injection Systems FAQs
Do you have some questions about how to clean fuel injection systems? Below we answer some of our most commonly asked questions. Of course, if you have others, call us at 336-993-7697.
Is A Professional Cleaning Expensive?
Generally, the cost of a professional cleaning depends on the make and model of your vehicle. Typically, your mechanic will need to take some parts out of the engine for cleaning. The difficulty of reaching these components will raise your cost. Overall, a professional cleaning is relatively inexpensive.
However, sometimes, you may need other services in addition to the cleaning. For example, you may need to replace your fuel filter.
How Often Should I Clean My Fuel Injection System?
Some mechanics recommend clearing the fuel injectors system every 3 years. Others suggest every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. If you’re experiencing an issue, bring it to Xpress Lube. Our mechanics will examine your system to determine if you need a cleaning or some other servicing.
What About Using Liquid Fuel Additive Cleaners?
Walk through any auto parts store and you’ll see many different kinds of fuel additive cleaners. These products claim to clean your fuel injectors by simply pouring the product into your gas tank.
However, these harsh chemicals have the potential to damage the catalytic converter, sensors, and even the injectors. Moreover, baked on carbon deposits require high concentrations of cleaner. Pouring in a cleaner into a tank of gasoline dilutes the chemicals rendering them less effective.
Can Xpress Lube Help Me With Other Car Maintenance?
For over 25 years, we’ve been servicing the local community. As a full-service repair and maintenance facility, we can take care of any foreign or domestic truck or car. We’ll diagnose your problem using the latest technology and then get you back on the road quickly.
In addition, we offer car cleaning services with our Turbo Car Wash and hand detailing service. Maintaining the cleanliness of the interior and exterior of your car helps protect your investment.
Never wait to address any problems you’re having with your car. Make an appointment today with Havoline® Xpress Lube of Kernersville by calling 336-993-7697.
