BMW Fuel Injector and Induction Cleaning service

[dbacon]

Just had this done to my E92 with around 25k miles. BMW recommends the service every 2yrs or 20k miles. BMW charged me $250. At first I was skeptical as to the benefits...I've always put in 91 octane from the well known brands of gasoline and followed oil changes and service per the owner's manual. Was wondering if I would notice any benefits. Since I've never used Redline fuel injection cleaner between the oil changes and this thing is essentially a race car...I pulled the trigger.

We'll when I got my car back...it seemed that the responsiveness was improved and it ran smoother overall...similar to when it was new.

Anyone else have the Fuel Injector and Induction Cleaning service done? Impression on results?

Thanks,

db

[drvai]

Originally Posted by dbacon

Just had this done to my E92 with around 25k miles. BMW recommends the service every 2yrs or 20k miles. BMW charged me $250. At first I was skeptical as to the benefits...I've always put in 91 octane from the well known brands of gasoline and followed oil changes and service per the owner's manual. Was wondering if I would notice any benefits. Since I've never used Redline fuel injection cleaner between the oil changes and this thing is essentially a race car...I pulled the trigger.

We'll when I got my car back...it seemed that the responsiveness was improved and it ran smoother overall...similar to when it was new.

Anyone else have the Fuel Injector and Induction Cleaning service done? Impression on results?

Thanks,

db

Id it's not on the service manual, then don't do it.

A subjective sensation of improved responsiveness is really not very reliable.

[dbacon]

Thanks for your opinion. Looking to hear back mostly from those who have actually had the service and can speak from their experience.

The BMW handout on the service actually states it can restore original performance and fuel efficiency. Do I believe everything I read...no. More of a skeptic on this type of stuff. But, some people swear by Redline and BK44. That's why I'm looking for first hand impressions from those who have had the service done.

[dbacon]

Solid...thanks!

[gthberg]

I pulled the injectors on my '88 M6 and had them cleaned and rebuilt by WitchHunter Performance. On that one, I definitely noticed a difference, as I was getting some hesitation on hard accelleration. They charged $19/injector. On a car with 25k, I'd be skeptical of the benefit, or need, to spend $250 on this service. I'd agree with TrackRat that an additive every so often will do as much or more as this service. Even with 115k on the M6, the pre-cleaning flow analysis said they were very clean...and I've been using LubroMoly Fuel Injector additive every few months. Just my $0.02

[dbacon]

See attached brochure on the service.

use BMW fuel additives or Techron. no need to do a $250 injection cleaner

[Radiation Joe]

I think we are talking about two different things here.

1. Fuel Injector Cleaning
2. Induction Cleaning

There is no reason to pay for number 1. Rotate different brands of fuel and once or twice a year run one of the better cleaners through the tank. I recommend Red Line, Techron and Sea Foam.

Number two is the actual cleaning of your intake. This makes a noticable difference in power and economy. Fuel system cleaners have no effect on this since they only clean the injectors and the area around the valve where the fuel spray hits. I used to remove the intake from my Taurus SHO once every year or two and clean it out with carb cleaner. The car always ran significantly better after each cleaning.

The intake is gummed up by exhaust gas recirculation and PCV flow. Cleaning the manifold occasionally removes these deposits and causes the car to run much better.

[Wosby]

Watch this video then decide if "proper" fuel injection cleaning isn't beneficial.
BEFORE; you'll notice each injector sprays a different quantity of fuel.
AFTER; not only are the spray amounts more equal, but they're spraying more fuel during the same 30 second time. This = increase performance and economy.

Most dealers clean fuel injectors the same way you do. They put an additive in your fuel. Have your injectors tested and cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaning device. Cleaning solution is ultrasonically pulsed back (opposite direction than the injector normally sprays) up through the injector, dissolving and removing any carbon build-up on both the inside and outside of the injector.

Just my 2 cents.

[JCtx]

You don't need to use any of that if your car is properly tuned, and you always use a top-tier fuel with the additive already in it, like Chevron and others .

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by TrackRat

^^^^^ What he said !

The "service" is a gimmick to generate revenue.

I would agree with that for a newer car that has always used top tier premium fuel. Can't hurt to add a bottle of Techron every 3k as recommended, though.

[GMWNashville]

the issue with all the information you guys have posted is just because its a "top tier" fuel doesn't really mean the fuel your getting is good or bad...poor quality of fuel can come from anywhere-and you may not even really notice it. The simple fact of this is every engine creates carbon..poor fuel means more carbon typically and more buildup-ive seen the affects of these EFI services and they work-i at one point had bore scope photos of an engine before and after an EFI service and results surprised even me and im a huge skeptic of things like this...also-to comment on those who said you can dump in a bottle of techron in the tank-while this will help its the long time spent having the vehicle run solely on the cleaning solution that allows the carbon to be dissolved and burned-its far more potent than the in tank stuff.

[Mavrick151]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

I would agree with that for a newer car that has always used top tier premium fuel. Can't hurt to add a bottle of Techron every 3k as recommended, though.

+1

[aus]

Anyone try some Seafoam in the tank?