cleaner = snake oil??

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Otto Mobile, May 25, 2004.

  1. Otto Mobile

    Otto Mobile Guest

    my '89 240 will be due for emissions inspection next month. It has about
    208,000miles on it, and in the 3 years I've owned it, has had no problem
    passing the emissions. I changed the cat converter about 2 years ago, the O2
    sensor a year or so ago, and the plugs, distributor cap and rotor about a
    month ago. The air filter probably has 4000 miles on it, so I might put a
    new one on just for the inspection. It runs ok, but I've been thinking about
    putting in a bottle of one of the fuel system additives that are
    "guaranteed" to help pass emissions tests. My thought is that even if it was
    going to pass anyway, it might not hurt to clean it out.... so my questions
    are:
    1. are they generally safe to use?
    2. does the $6 bottle do more than the $1 "injector cleaner"?

    I'm guessing that they are mostly "snake oil", but if they do no harm and
    MIGHT do some good, perhaps it's worth throwing a bottle in the system
    occasionally..... Any thoughts????
     
    Otto Mobile, May 25, 2004
    #1
  2. It might do some good for the people who make money on the cleaner.
     
    Marvin Margoshes, May 25, 2004
    #2
  3. Otto Mobile

    Proconsul Guest

    | my '89 240 will be due for emissions inspection next month. It has about
    | 208,000miles on it, and in the 3 years I've owned it, has had no problem
    | passing the emissions. I changed the cat converter about 2 years ago, the
    O2
    | sensor a year or so ago, and the plugs, distributor cap and rotor about a
    | month ago. The air filter probably has 4000 miles on it, so I might put a
    | new one on just for the inspection. It runs ok, but I've been thinking
    about
    | putting in a bottle of one of the fuel system additives that are
    | "guaranteed" to help pass emissions tests. My thought is that even if it
    was
    | going to pass anyway, it might not hurt to clean it out.... so my
    questions
    | are:
    | 1. are they generally safe to use?
    | 2. does the $6 bottle do more than the $1 "injector cleaner"?
    |
    | I'm guessing that they are mostly "snake oil", but if they do no harm and
    | MIGHT do some good, perhaps it's worth throwing a bottle in the system
    | occasionally..... Any thoughts????

    The only such product I know of that WORKS is Chevron's Techron......but it
    costs more than $6 a bottle.....usually more like $12, but some places do
    discount it. The bottom line is that it really works and is worth the
    cost....

    PC



    |
    |
    |
     
    Proconsul, May 25, 2004
    #3
  4. Otto Mobile

    James Sweet Guest

    Most of it is snake oil, if your car is running well and getting normal fuel
    economy then chances are it'll pass emissions.
     
    James Sweet, May 26, 2004
    #4
  5. Hi I think ok clean it out but make sure the system is free of the cleaner
    in case it shows up on the test and you fail
    I use it every so often as even the best fuel we have here which is 98
    octane seems to need a little help over time ....
     
    John Robertson, May 26, 2004
    #5
  6. Otto Mobile

    Rusty Guest

    Rusty, May 26, 2004
    #6
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