fuel additives

[Covenant]

My Lexus IS220d has not been running well lately and I had to call Green Flag out due to a build up of carbon in the exhaust valve gubbins. Today I had the car MOT'ed and the mechanic recommended a fuel treatment called BG 44K Power Enhancer.
Well cover me with jam and call me Susan, it works. Car feels better than ever-smoother and faster, no hesitation away from the lights. Good stuff and only £20.

[Puffin]

Isn't that what REDEX does?

[Covenant]

I dont think Redex gets rid of carbon as effectively. Here is a rather boring vid :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHM4rM6zmU8

[vandergraafuk]

I think this done by raising the octane or cetane rating of the fuel. Sadly short lived. The only real cure is for a decoke. Used to be a mechanic for Merc's many years ago and you would get the big five litre V8 coming in running lumpy as hell. Normally owned by people who just poodled around. Sometimes a massive blast down the motorway used to clear them. But normally a decoke, nine time out of ten cured them.

[Covenant]

A decoke is expensive I presume? Yes I poodle everywhere.

[Reid Malenfant]

A decoke is expensive I presume? Yes I poodle everywhere.
Probably :lol: You'd need the cylinder head removing at the very least, might be a good idea to remove the pistons to to remove the carbon from the top of them as well...

So that's a complete engine strip down for you sir :eek:

My advice is to give it a good thrashing every now & again, through the gears etc :D Enjoy life....

[vandergraafuk]

Definitely head off. Tops of pistons can be cleaned easily. Would only recommend piston removal if compression is poor. Then your into the realms of is it cheaper getting a short block. Give it an almighty thrashing first. You will see a lot of black smoke in your rear view mirror. Of course I am not advocating breaking any speed limits. ��

[Reid Malenfant]

You will see a lot of black smoke in your rear view mirror. Of course I am not advocating breaking any speed limits. ��
Track day anyone :lol: Lexus deserves a good thrashing anyway, defo the IS220, though maybe I'm thinking of the petrol version... I'm sure the Diesel is no slouch either though :)

Redline all the way....

[Covenant]

No, the diesel Lexus has the acceleration of a milk float, absolutely piss poor. I thought I would get used to it but three years later I still miss the engine in my A4.

[Gmanuk101]

I used to have a Honda Civic 2.2 iCDTI and now have a golf 1.9 GT TDI. I've used a few fuel additives in my time, from the ones that do raise the cetane levels (£15 in helfrauds (halfords)) to one I bought from eBay..can't remember what it was. Oh and the old redex too.

I've found they tend to be a little snake oil like, although in the winter they can help. If you fill your tank with the likes of Shell or BP Premium stuff every now on then that helps keep things clean and tidy.

I've also used, with success some 2 stroke oil (not synthentic) (55 litre tank, insert 200ml) this emulsifies with the Diesel fuel and helps lubrication.

Now and then I am in favour of the good old Italian tunning though,, aka 70mph at the red RPM levels for about 30 seconds.

toodles.

G

[Covenant]

I've also used, with success some 2 stroke oil (not synthentic) (55 litre tank, insert 200ml) this emulsifies with the Diesel fuel and helps lubrication.



Is that safe to do in all diesel cars? The old chip pan oil didn't work very well in mine (only joking)

[Gmanuk101]

I've also used, with success some 2 stroke oil (not synthentic) (55 litre tank, insert 200ml) this emulsifies with the Diesel fuel and helps lubrication.



Is that safe to do in all diesel cars? The old chip pan oil didn't work very well in mine (only joking)

I can only vouch for the Golf 1.9mk4 GT TDI engine (I think it's the same as the Bora diesel) and the Honda Civic 2.2 iCDTI SE.

Before I did this I read lots of threads regarding this. To me it depends on how old the engine is, my honda was a 2006 and my Golf is a 2003.

If you can get your local to change your fuel filter every 6 months that certainly helps.

This is the stuff I used on the Honda http://www.forteuk.co.uk/product.php?id=51/Advanced_Formula_Diesel_Treatment

[DaveK]

Can I be the first person to wish Happy Birthday to our latest member to change their name - see the OP ;) ) - Happy Birthday Susan!! :).
Is your new name in any way related to your new avatar? - I'm beginning to worry about you just thinking about it :lol: :lol: :lol: .
Dave.

[vandergraafuk]

I am not a great believer in fuel additives. Not to say that they don't do what they claim to do. It's just that for them to be of any benefit you need to level the playing field first and have you engine running at optimal before these additives can do any good. It may just masks the underlining problems. I agree with Gmanuk101 in having the fuel filter changed every six months, I would go even further and change the oil as well every six months. Changing of the fuel filter and oil filter is fairly easy DIY job. I would also shake out the air filter as well. Again very easy job to do yourself. I am a bit confused with mixing the two stroke oil. Diesel itself is a lubricant and lubricates the pump and injectors. Once again if you feel the need to do this to help with lubrication, it begs the question about masking underlying problems. The engine is designed to run on diesel and that alone.One thing I would avoid is supermarket fuel. Going back to my years as a mechanic I have replaced many a complete fuel systems on both diesel and petrol cars due to the customer using supermarket fuel. The reason being water in the fuel. They never used to clean the underground storage tanks as often as was really required. This may have changed over the years but it is one habit that has stuck with me. toodaloo

[freefallrob]

I've recently started using BP petrol, just standard unleaded, the difference is remarkable over Sainburys stuff! It's a bit more expensive but I can use a gear ratio less than I used to, and am getting more MPG and it's much nicer to drive.

All this on a dull 04 plate 1.5SE Nissan Almera rocket ship(not:lol:).

Rob.

[Effem]

I agree that supermarket fuel is best avoided.

I had the misfortune to run low on petrol a while back and filled up at a Tesco filling station. The car ran like a pig and wouldn't pull up hills in third gear without a struggle and foot to the floor on the accelerator whereas before it would sail up the same hills in fourth gear no problem. If the blasted stuff didn't cost so much I would have drained the tank because it was so bad :(

[DaveK]

Sounds like you topped up your petrol with diesel - I did many years ago when it was easier to do and the car ran exactly as you describe :lol: I kept stopping every half hour or so to keep topping up with petrol - nightmare day!! :steam:

[Effem]

Sounds like you topped up your petrol with diesel - I did many years ago when it was easier to do and the car ran exactly as you describe :lol: I kept stopping every half hour or so to keep topping up with petrol - nightmare day!! :steam:

I may be old, but I aint daft or senile enough yet to fill up with diesel with a petrol car :lol:

I did once fill a diesel car with petrol and it was an experience that had an ongoing life lesson well and truly learned :doh:

[icehockeyboy]

I've recently started using BP petrol, just standard unleaded, the difference is remarkable over Sainburys stuff! It's a bit more expensive but I can use a gear ratio less than I used to, and am getting more MPG and it's much nicer to drive.

All this on a dull 04 plate 1.5SE Nissan Almera rocket ship(not:lol:).

Rob.

How can you use a gear ratio less? Your gear ratio is not changeable unless you strip the transmission/gearbox, and fit different cogs ;)
Or do you mean a different gear?