cleaner = snake oil??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Otto Mobile
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Otto Mobile

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 said:
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????
Click to expand...

It might do some good for the people who make money on the cleaner.
 
| 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



|
|
|
 
Otto Mobile said:
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????
Click to expand...

Most of it is snake oil, if your car is running well and getting normal fuel
economy then chances are it'll pass emissions.
 
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 ....
 
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