Fuel injector cleaner

[mike.fox]

Have a 1973 350SL been standing a few years and running rich - can I use an injector cleaning product without risking damage?

 

[wireman]

Probably do no harm, might do world of good, won't break it.

It is possible that due to standing the fuel injection system may have some need of attention, like cleaning. There may be a fault on the cold start parts, it might have gunged up parts.

 

[WG M-B]

It's best to get a good old schooler to put her on an analyser and look at what's going on.
A good old blast with some injector cleaner will do no harm in the mean time

 

[Doug1234]

Possibly may be nothing wrong with it !!!.
Most cars of that vintage run on the rich side,and following them in todays modern cars the smell of fuel is quite noticable.

 

[RichardCC]

Have a look at my posting on Sea Foam and follow the very usefull link to the U tube video clips, you may find them of interest.

Also I have read, but cannot verify it, that filling your fuel filter with ATF works a treat.

Some very knowledgable kind person on here may give some good advice on this method

Richard

 

[wireman]

ATF? Err, neat hydraulic oil in a fuel system? I think I'd give that a miss.

You have what should be a nice car, don't under any circumstances mess it up with abnormal(absurd?) maintenance practices. Any parts you damage will be rare and expensive.

Your fuel system deserves better than a quick fix, get it looked at by somebody with knowledge of the model.

 

[RichardCC]

Thanks for that - not sure where I saw it, but if I come across it again I'll do a bit more research on it, but I definately agree if one is going to use anything as an addative to help keep ones engine clean from the inside good research is essential

 

[wireman]

Adding a large proportion of oil to the fuel will on a modern car destroy its catalytic converter and oil up its spark plugs making it reluctant to start or run nicely, I don't think you have the cat but you do have plugs.

I've heard of all sorts of proposed uses for ATF, it is very good in gearboxes and power steering but then with it being designed for this purpose it would be.
One suggestion was that it is better than engine oil and will leave ones engine really clean inside if you use it instead of that engine oil stuff...

 

[brandwooddixon]

If the car has been standing a long time then some of the fuel system will be gummed up. I'd bet tempted to give it a strong dose of fuel additive and a good blast up and down the motorway to blow the cobwebs away before putting it on an analyzer.

 

[Ynot43]

Why don't you try some BG244 diesel treatment, my mate swears by it. It not only cleans your injectors it also clears all the crud from the top of your pistons. Google it and have a read. Hope this helps

 

[Frontstep]

Isn't this a petrol some of these suggestions appear to be diesel treatments.