After the long saga about the 9A1 engine failure, I was watching the YouTube videos on the subject.

My take was that of the things under the owner's control, the two relevant ones are:

• Don't warm up the car (much)
• Replace the fuel injectors, but there is really no way to know if you need to

I was thinking that maybe a good idea would be to run some fuel system cleaner as a prophylactic. Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

2009 C2S 135K miles

I put a bottle of Techron in the last tank before every oil change (every 5K miles). Does it do anything? I dunno.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

Don't warm up the car (much)

The forum consensus is (AFAIK):

• Best to warm up the car under load (driving gently)
• Do not idle for long periods (oil is diluted on cylinder walls by un-combusted fuel)
• Never do a hard acceleration after a long idle. (for reason above)
• A range of 175-200 for the engine oil as a result of running the car for at least 20 minutes at those temps before any hard driving (you want the entire engine block at operating temperature).

Any one feel free to correct or add to this. No offense taken.

 

but which oil to use though?

 

Duck fat - have you ever tried cleaning up duck fat? It's as slippery as all hell.

I wouldn't waste on a Porsche though... it's way too good when you use it to make hash brown potatoes.

Use Yukon Gold, a little sea salt and black pepper then put an over easy duck egg on top of the crispy potatoes.*

(*yes still on Keto but remembering the good times when life had meaning)

 

How hard is it to replace the fuel injectors? Does not seem to be easy like in some other vehicles.

 

Today’s fuel doesn’t have the lubricity it once had. I’ve been using Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant for years to compensate. I had mentioned it before and Jake Raby commented positively on it but did not elaborate.

I just add about two or three ounces with nearly every fill up. I’ve been using it with my 230,000 mile BMW E46 forever. It still runs fantastic and uses virtually no oil between oil changes. It’s the only thing I use as a fuel additive.

 

I've always heard that fuel cleaners like Techron should only be used immediately before an oil change. Something to do with dilution of the oil. Granted that is based on Internet forum conjecture. So good luck with that advice.

 

It's easy enough to test. Take an oil sample, then run the Techron, and take a second sample. If there's any differences between the two, then the theory is validated.

I probably first heard this idea back in the mid 90s when I had my 928. I doubt it was based on any evidence or scientific method.

Differing opinions abound, with a few people seeming to abide out of habit - https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...Number=2082346

 

Taking oil samples on modern cars (like Porsche) is not easy because there's no dipstick tube. Only way to do it is via the drain plug. It can be done but it's dicey. Most will get their sample at oil change time, not in between.

 

One can easily get an adequately sized sample from the filter between oil changes without too much hassle. Besides it's for science.

 

Sea Foam is the only thing I use with positive effects. Lucas is well marketed, but I have not seen the first hand results from it, like Sea Foam.
Again, the issues we see impacting fuel injectors with these engines, and effecting bore scoring, isn't from dirty injectors- its from worn injectors. You can't undo what years of service have done, which is why injector replacement makes sense.

 

I'll throw in my .02.

Not sure how effective a cleaner would be but I do believe top tier gasoline is not lacking in detergents.

That being said, 12 oz of techron is $5, or $53 a gallon.

I would rather buy a drum of 100 octane and add a gallon to every tank at $7/gal to deter LSPI but my driving style does not warrant it.

 

I buy Chevron/Shell/Union76 gas and also use 4oz/tank of StaBil 360 Ethanol Treatment.

 

Jake, I am sure you’ve answered this question in other threads, but what is your recommendation for a replacement interval on injectors on the 9A1?