Fuel System Cleaner- How much is too much??
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
Fuel System Cleaner- How much is too much??
I dropped by my local parts store to pick up some Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner. They had the "12 Gallon" bottles on special at buy one get one free so I went with that. Anyhow, would putting two bottles (24 gallons worth of treatment) into an 18 gallon tank pose any problems? Seems like it would be a good thing but I don't want to deteriorate any seals, hoses or sensors?
What do you guys think?
What do you guys think?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
Likes: 57
From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
I followed the directions. Drive the tank as dry as you can...at least Reserve light on....add Techron and up to 12 gallons of fuel. (I added 11, to allow for what I estimated was about one gallon left in the tank). Then drive it to just about empty again so the next refill doesn't dilute what you already had working. Then resume normal refueling for the next 3000 miles. Recently, another poster indicated that Techron should not be added more than twice with the same oil onboard.
Last edited by Sportstick; Apr 8, 2010 at 10:34 AM.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
You can safely double treat Techron but it won't make much difference to it's operation which depends on heat soak of the engine. Too much Techron can become aggresive to yellow metals.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
Will the cleaner be more effective if you fill up and run it all out at once (road trip) of if you let it sit for a couple of weeks doing "it's thing" while you make lots of cold starts and a few 20-30 mile runs?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
Anybody?? I have a couple road trips coming up in a couple weeks and just wanted to know if it makes any difference.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
Likes: 57
From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
Not sure....I used it around town and noticed no real change, which makes me think I was OK with 10,000 miles of Costco gas...engine has always started quickly, idled smoothly, accelerated perfectly....and still does.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: S.F. Bay Area
2008 C300 Sport, 2010 RX350 AWD
autozone is having another buy one get one free sale for the chevron fuel system cleaner until monday...
i usually use it in between services or about every 5k - 6k miles...
imo, this is much better deal than the 6 pk of fuel injector cleaner costco has for $10..
i usually use it in between services or about every 5k - 6k miles...
imo, this is much better deal than the 6 pk of fuel injector cleaner costco has for $10..
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 56
From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Snake Oil
Nobody has mentioned any benificial effects.
To my mind it is snake oil & a complete waste of money.
I have never used any of these products in 46 years of motoring & have never experienced any fuel induced problems.
Save your money , take your wife/ friend out to lunch & relax.
To my mind it is snake oil & a complete waste of money.
I have never used any of these products in 46 years of motoring & have never experienced any fuel induced problems.
Save your money , take your wife/ friend out to lunch & relax.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
Likes: 57
From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
Nobody has mentioned any benificial effects.
To my mind it is snake oil & a complete waste of money.
I have never used any of these products in 46 years of motoring & have never experienced any fuel induced problems.
Save your money , take your wife/ friend out to lunch & relax.
To my mind it is snake oil & a complete waste of money.
I have never used any of these products in 46 years of motoring & have never experienced any fuel induced problems.
Save your money , take your wife/ friend out to lunch & relax.
OK....here's a success story, although I agree it had no effect on our lower mileage C and E. My daughter's Accord has 30,000 miles on it and she left it with me while out of town. I noticed hesitating and surging on WOT. So, I drove the tank to empty, added the Techron and 11 gallons, and drove the heck out of that. Surging and hesitation gone. She had used Costco gas and so did I. Perhaps it is only maintenance for lower mileage cars and an improvement only as mileage accumulates.....anyway, to take MY wife out to lunch is a lot more than a bottle of Techron!!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
After my original posts, I ended up putting 1.5 bottles in my tank and put the other half bottle in my motorcycle. Couldn't tell a difference in the car but I am %100 sure that my bike is running better. I have about 15K on the bike and it has twin carbs...the engine degradation took a few years to happen but the improvement only took about 50 miles.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,113
Likes: 57
From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
lol...I feel your pain!!
After my original posts, I ended up putting 1.5 bottles in my tank and put the other half bottle in my motorcycle. Couldn't tell a difference in the car but I am %100 sure that my bike is running better. I have about 15K on the bike and it has twin carbs...the engine degradation took a few years to happen but the improvement only took about 50 miles.
After my original posts, I ended up putting 1.5 bottles in my tank and put the other half bottle in my motorcycle. Couldn't tell a difference in the car but I am %100 sure that my bike is running better. I have about 15K on the bike and it has twin carbs...the engine degradation took a few years to happen but the improvement only took about 50 miles.
Keep in mind that we were reminded (I believe it was from RLE) that we should not do more than 2 treatments between oil changes.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
I usually keep it on the conservative side and only treat every 5K...figure any big chunky deposits should be kept to a minimum without burning up my hoses, gaskets, etc.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
I followed the directions. Drive the tank as dry as you can...at least Reserve light on....add Techron and up to 12 gallons of fuel. (I added 11, to allow for what I estimated was about one gallon left in the tank). Then drive it to just about empty again so the next refill doesn't dilute what you already had working. Then resume normal refueling for the next 3000 miles. Recently, another poster indicated that Techron should not be added more than twice with the same oil onboard.
According to a Bosch field tech rep, no more than once (that's one bottle) per oil change because of oil contamination.
I don't see any point in running it down so far. Just dump in a bottle when you normally refuel, fill it and run it out before refueling. The ratio will be the same and it's going to be mixed anyway, not like water floating in blobs.
