Fuel Additives

[BillyBoy]

I have an E320 CDI (2001). Recently, at times it runs slightly rough at idle. It did do this just after I bought it 2 years ago, and I took it back to the dealership who replaced two injectors under warrenty. Trouble now is it's out of warrenty, and I dread to think what the cost of one or more new injectors will be fitted.

Is there any benefit in adding an injector cleaner to the fuel. I have heard mixed reports about the effectiveness of these, and even reports they can damage the engine. The dealer would presumably tell me not to use them, but instead "just pop it in sir, and we'll fix it".

What are people's thought. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good addative?

TIA,

Bill

 

[turnipsock]

I haven't tried the injector cleaner yet, but I would think it was worth a go. You have to educe the contents of your tank to make it effective though.

There are a number of better quality pump fuels that have additives that would be helpful.

There is a thread all about fuels in here somewhere.

 

[Wezzel]

I've had my 1999 C220 cdi for 5 months and have covered 9,000 miles in it. After the first couple of thousand miles of driving I noticed that I was getting some 'diesel knock'. Also it wasn't picking up particularly smoothly when accelerating gently from a standstill.

I put 2 or 3 tankfulls of injector cleaner and this made a world of difference. I now put a small amount in the tank every fill up as a preventative measure. I know there are mixed views on this stuff but I wouldn't be without it now. Perhaps the problem is down to the quality of fuel available nowadays as the injector also acts as a cetane booster.

Obviously you can pay more for premium fuels like BP Ultimate but something like Redex works out at a similar price at less than £2 per tankfull.