by Tammy Williams
VehicleMD Staff Writer
Originally published in Spring 2010 Issue

We are all familiar with pouring gas into our vehicles to make them run. Pull up at the gas pump. Select your grade. Watch the dollars rack up as gas is pumped in. Drive away.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a magic elixir you could pour into your car just as easily, something that could make it run better or last longer? A “liquid time” that could slow your car’s aging process.

Believe it or not, there is something you can add to your vehicle that could be nearly as good as liquid time—a pour-in fuel system cleaner. A pour-in fuel system cleaner is a chemical treatment added directly to the fuel tank that spruces up dirty fuel systems, restoring them to a like-new state. It also helps improve fuel economy and can help to extend the life of your vehicle.

There are a few telltale signs to determine if your engine might need a sip of “liquid time”:
• Does your engine feel like it is shaking?
• Do you hear a knocking sound while you’re driving?
• Does your vehicle just not seem like it is performing as well as it used to?

If any of these describe your vehicle, there is a good chance deposits might have formed in your engine. Deposits are often little bits of carbon left over from the fuel your engine burns. These deposits can damage your engine and shorten its life. But good news—using a pour-in fuel system cleaner can remove these filthy deposits and add some time to your vehicle’s lifetime clock.

“Using a pour-in fuel system cleaner on a regular basis will extend the life of your engine by extending the life of your fuel injectors and the life of your fuel tank,” said Mark Negast, technical director at Lucas Oil. “If your fuel tank is not made of fiberglass but is instead made of metal, moisture in your fuel tank could cause corrosion. However, a pour-in fuel system cleaner can help combat corrosion. It will definitely extend the life of your engine if you use it on a regular basis.”

A pour-in fuel system cleaner takes only seconds to install, adding virtually no time to your oil change. Pour-in fuel system cleaners are recommended every 3,000 to 4,000 miles—in other words, at every oil change. These treatments are worth the extra cost because they are going to help your engine run better and extend its life.

Imagine, for only a few seconds of time and a few dollars of expense, you might be able to add years to the life of your vehicle. After all, a pour-in fuel system cleaner is nearly as good as that “liquid time” you are wishing for.