Best Fuel Injector Cleaner

At Mike’s Carburetor Parts we have talked about injector cleaners before. However, despite the fact that in our previous fuel injector cleaners article. we delved into the theory behind this type of maintenance we did not go beyond that, the theory. That article left an important question on the air. What are the best fuel injector cleaners?

The purpose of this post is to answer that question by reviewing, what in our expert opinion, are the best fuel injector cleaners currently available on the market.

OTC INJECT-R KLEEN Fluid

OTC is well known for its wide variety of tools designed specifically for the automotive industry. However, what many people ignore is that this leading brand also has an injector cleaner.

While it is true that the OTC INJECT-R KLEEN formulation will not be able to deal with hard-to-remove carbon deposits, it is also true that its “gentle” formula allows it to be used in routine preventive maintenances without fear of damaging the engine’s internal components.

What we like

• Available in single 15 ounces can (OTC 7000A-1) as well as packages of twelve 15-ounce cans (OTC 7000A)
• Easy on the engine internal components
• No mixing required, just use it right from the can
• Very affordable
• It uses xylene instead of polyether amine (PEA) as its solvent agent

What we dislike

• It requires using a canister-type cleaning device like the OTC 7448A
• Its cleaning power is low when compared to other products

Botton Line

An excellent choice for car owners looking for an inexpensive fuel injector cleaner, although given its low solvent power, we do not recommend this product if you suspect that your vehicle needs a stronger treatment.

LUCAS OIL Deep Clean Fuel System Cleaner

Lucas Oil is a renowned brand in the fuel additives ecosystem. No wonder. Lucas has a wide variety of products ranging from oil treatments to fuel injector cleaners to octane booster-like additives.

One of these products is the Deep Clean Fuel System Cleaner. It uses a mild to medium polyether amine formula (10% to 30% according to its safety data sheet) which is the agent responsible for removing carbon deposits, gum, and varnishes from the fuel system.

As with any other fuel injector cleaner, it is crucial to follow the manufacturer’s indications, in this case, a 5.25-ounce bottle to treat up to 15 gallons of fuel. According to Lucas, it is recommended to use Deep Clean Fuel Injector Cleaner every 3,000 to 4,000 miles.

What we like

• Available in 5.25-ounce bottles (case of 24, Part #10669), 16-ounce bottles (case of 12, Part #10512), and 55-gallon drum (Part #10575)
• Intermediate formula capable of dissolving most types of dirt, including carbon deposits on intake valves and fuel injectors
• Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor safe
• Easy to use, just pour a 5.25 ounces bottle in a 15-gallon fuel tank and drive your car as usual
• Very affordable

What we dislike

• It uses up to 30% of polyether amine (PEA) which might be harmful to the engine internal components if not used properly
• Even when it uses PEA, it might not be able to completely remove carbon deposits

Botton Line

Lucas Deep Clean Fuel System Cleaner is a valid choice for car enthusiasts that require a stronger formulation than Inject-R Kleen fluid. Moreover, since it does not require any canister-type device, Deep Clean is also more convenient than OTC’s. Summing up, a straightforward solution, good for preventive maintenance and keeping your vehicle free from carbon deposits.

STP Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner

Another giant in the fuel additives industry is STP. Similar to Lucas, it has a comprehensive line of products aimed at different applications.

In the case of STP’s Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner, the goal of the product is to “unclog dirty fuel injectors to restore performance”. To achieve such a goal, STP used jet fuel as the key carrier of active solvents.

The recommended preparation for STP Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner is pouring a 5.25 once bottle to treat up to 21 gallons of gasoline, being its suggested service interval every oil change or 4,000 miles (whichever occurs first).

What we like

• Available in 5.25-ounce bottles or 12-ounce bottles
• Mild solvent capable of keeping your fuel injectors clean and/or remove light carbon deposits from the fuel system
• Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor safe
• Easy to use, just pour a 5.25 ounces bottle in a 21-gallon fuel tank and drive your car as usual
• Does not use PEA in its formulation

What we dislike

• Along with jet fuel, STP is using 80% to 100% of Hydrosulfurized Kerosene as the carrier fluid. That might affect newer GDI (gasoline direct injection) systems
• Its formulation might not be strong enough to “unclogging” fuel injectors as advertised

Botton Line

No doubt STP’s Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner is a good DIY alternative for people looking for a simple method to keep its engine free from carbon deposits and other harmful elements. However, despite STP bold claims, we suggest using a stronger formula if your vehicle already exhibits the symptoms associated with dirty fuel injectors.

STP Complete Fuel System Cleaner

You can think of STP Complete Fuel System Cleaner as a step up from the aforementioned Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner. In fact, according to STP, its exclusive all-new formula has up to 2x the amount of cleaning agents.

In practice, what they did was to add polyether amine (PEA) and polyisobutylene amine (PIBA) as active cleaning agents. Once combined, these components are able to remove clogs and other deposits from fuel injectors easier than other formulations.

Regarding the recommended treatment and usage frequency, STP Complete Fuel System Cleaner uses the same directions as STP Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner, one 5.25 bottle per 21-gallon tank every 4,000 miles.

What we like

• Available in 5.25-ounce bottles or 12-ounce bottles
• Strong solvent capable of keeping your fuel injectors clean and/or remove moderate carbon deposits from the fuel system
• Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor safe
• Easy to use, just pour a 5.25 ounces bottle in a 21-gallon fuel tank and drive your car as usual
• Up to 2X more effective than STP’s own Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner

What we dislike

• It uses over 80% of kerosene as the carrier agent.
• Its formulation contains PEA and PIBA, which is always a red flag to take into account

Botton Line

While it is true that STP improved (a lot) its formula, we are not completely happy with the way they decided to do so. Using polyether amine, even in small quantities, poses a potential risk to many engine components. Nevertheless, if you are looking for an effective “pour and go” solution, then STP’s Complete Fuel System Cleaner is a better alternative than its Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner.

Berryman B-12 Chemtool Carburetor, Fuel System and Injector Cleaner

Berryman is a company with a long history as a trusted supplier of automotive products. In 1958 it revolutionized the market with the B-12 Chemtool, a gasoline additive with cleaning properties based on Berryman’s proprietary formula called HEST (High Energy Solvent Technology).

Since then, Berryman has created a complete line of products dedicated to fuel system maintenance, including Berryman B-12 Chemtool Carburetor, Fuel System, and Injector Cleaner.

Similar to STP and Lucas, using this product is rather simple. All you need to do is pouring a 15-ounce can every third fuel tank refill to ensure that your fuel system is free from unwanted deposits.

What we like

• Available in 15 fl. oz. single-can (Part #0116), one gallon can (Part #0101), 5-gallon can (Part #0105), and 15-gallon drum (Part #0115)
• Moderate solvent capable of keeping the fuel system clean
• Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor safe
• Can be used regularly as part of your vehicle routine maintenance
• It uses toluene, acetone, methanol, and other components instead of polyether amine (PEA) as its solvent agent

What we dislike

• It can pose a risk to the engine if not used properly as indicated by the manufactured
• Not suited for vehicles with hard-to-remove carbon deposits

Botton Line

Hands down, Berryman B-12 Chemtool Carburetor, Fuel System, and Injector Cleaner is a solid choice. It provides an appropriate solvent power to keep your entire fuel system in top shape. However, if you have never used a fuel injector cleaner before (or you suspect you fuel injectors are already clogged) then it is best to use Berryman B-12 Chemtool Total Fuel System Clean-Up first.

Berryman B-12 Chemtool Total Fuel System Clean-Up

Unlike Berryman Fuel Injector Cleaner, the Total Fuel System Clean-Up is not formulated to be used on a regular basis, but rather as corrective maintenance. In other words, this product has enough power to clean the entire fuel system (fuel injectors, intake valves, combustion chamber) and remove varnishes, carbon deposits, and any other harmful deposits in its path. Given its enormous strength, it is only recommended to use this product when your vehicle really requires a complete fuel system service.

What we like

• Available in 15 fl. oz. single-can (Part #2616)
• Strong solvent capable of removing all kinds of dirt, including carbon deposits on intake valves and fuel injectors
• Catalytic converter and oxygen sensor safe
• Easy to use, just pour a 15 ounces bottle in a 20-gallon fuel tank and drive your car as usual
• Uses a stronger HEST formulation than Berrryman’s Fuel Injector Cleaner

What we dislike

• It can pose a SERIOUS risk to the engine if not used as instructed in the bottle
• Not recommended for vehicles with more than 100,000 miles that have never used a fuel injector cleaner with a strong formulation

Botton Line

Berryman’s B-12 Chemtool Total Fuel System Clean-Up offers a simple yet convenient way to perform a complete fuel system cleaning to your vehicle. Bear in mind though, its strong HEST formula might pose a risk to your engine if not used as indicated by the manufacturer.