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

If gas prices near your home are like gas prices near my home, you couldn’t help but notice that the price shot upward sometime around Spring Break. Unfortunately, these prices might keep climbing all summer long. But don’t worry. There’s a way you can squeeze every penny out of each gallon of gas. So just maybe those gas prices might not seem as high as this summer’s temperatures.

Grubby deposits in your engine can lead to symptoms like hesitation, diminished vehicle acceleration, increased emissions and reduced fuel economy. These deposits can appear because of improper maintenance, driving in stop-and-go traffic, or driving in extremely hot weather conditions, like the summer heat. A multi-part fuel system cleaning will help get rid of these deposits, helping you get a few extra miles out of each tank of fuel in the process.

A fuel system cleaning generally consists of three stages. The first stage cleans and removes carbon deposits in the upper part of the engine. The second stage is usually added directly to the fuel tank. This helps clean the rest of your fuel system, like the fuel lines and fuel pump. It also cleans the insides of your fuel injectors. In combination, these two stages create a third stage, which cleans the fuel injector tips.

There is usually one fuel injector for each cylinder in your vehicle’s engine, and it is very important that these are kept clean. A fuel injector that is even partially clogged can waste fuel and money.

To help you better understand fuel injectors, think of them like a showerhead. When the showerhead is clean, water flows freely giving you a very pleasant shower. However, if there are calcium or lime deposits on your showerhead, some of the holes may become clogged, and you won’t get the full spray of the showerhead. Carbon deposits do the same thing to fuel injectors. Instead of spraying in a perfect cone shape, carbon deposits deflect the spray patterns. This means that your vehicle is not operating at its maximum efficiency, and you’re not getting the full benefit from your fuel system or gasoline.

By having a total fuel system cleaning service performed on your car, you can be confident that your vehicle is not wasting any gas — and it also can reduce the risk of costly repairs in the future.

“If you have one fuel injector go bad from deposits or buildup, you can easily be looking at a $300 or $400 repair situation for just one injector,” said Steve Farr, vice president of Smart Blend Synthetics, Life Automotive Products, Inc.

A fuel system cleaning every 15,000 miles will help keep your fuel system in top condition. This little bit of preventive maintenance will not only help fend off costly repairs in the future, but it also can help you start saving money at the pump today.