A Techron alternative?

reed930 · 08-02-2004, 04:21 PM

When I went to my mechanic to buy a bottle of Techron, he said he was out and gave me a bottle of Wurth Fuel Injector & Valve Cleaner instead. I certainly know the Wurth name but have no experience with this Wurth product. I'm assuming it works like Techron but would be interested in hearing about others' experiences with this. A search of Pelican and Google didn't turn up much of anything.

Ned nyna 11 · 08-02-2004, 04:57 PM

Why not try the stuff and post the results?

Zeke · 08-02-2004, 05:04 PM

I think individual results are subjective at best. While I do not dispute the benefits of occasional Techron use, who knows exactly what it has done to an individual engine. I have used several bottles of Techron in various cars due to this BBS's favored touting of it's elixir properties and have not noticed anything outstanding. There are, of course, many contributing factors to each person's experience, which is precisely my point.

Eric Coffey · 08-02-2004, 05:20 PM

Lubro-Moly (aka Liqui-Moly) makes some good alternatives as well. Their valve cleaner (Ventil Sauber) and injector cleaner (Jectron) are probably among the most used/recommended in their product line. Oh, and it's always a good idea to use it/them on the last tank of fuel preceeding an oil change.

Early_S_Man · 08-02-2004, 05:49 PM

I have used it, but tend to think Techron is way overpriced and not any better than a couple of other products I have used for a long, long time ... Swepco 503 and Berryman's B-12 Chemtool!!!

I only use any type of fuel additive on an occassional basis, but recently got an immediate mileage increase of 3 mpg on the wife's '94 Nissan in a 600-mile trip in May, and similar results on my '92 Didge truck just three weeks ago ... both times with B-12!

Techron has a 'catchy' name, and plenty of expensive marketing to go along with that name! Swepco and Berryman's spend ZERO on marketing ... depending strictly on word of mouth endorsements, I presume!

Randy Webb · 08-02-2004, 06:20 PM

You are not gong to answer this question. If you hire a bunch of chemists and ME's and run a test on a large number of cars, then you will have an answer. Oh yeh, hire a statistician too. YOu will need a 6 to 7 figure budget for your research grant.

For some alternatves to Techron, see the Rennlist forum.

vash · vash's Garage

doesnt every chevron gas station sell techron? i have no idea if it works, but it makes me feel better about my fuel system, and even the plecebo effect is worth something. i do know that you can use too much. i once guesstimated the amount on a sportbike, and the bike ran like crap. i OD'd it.

cliff

Oldporsche · 08-02-2004, 08:11 PM

I have always maintained that oil additives weren't worth very much. I have used generic oil fortifiers when I needed to raise the visconsity of the oil to prevent failure to a lack of oil pressure.

Gas additives are a different story. I have seen a ford branded product used for injector cleaner. If the factory can sell a product like this through their dealerships maintenance department, then I almost have to think that there's something to it.

I also think there are other gas additive products that will work as well as the stuff sold as "techron."

As has been stated before, (Zeke's comment) results will vary and are subjective to the purchaser.

David Duffield

pwd72s · 08-02-2004, 08:14 PM

Yeah...let's just pour a bottle of somethin' or other in...every once in a while. If nothing else, it helps us feel like we're taking care of our cars. I'm explaining my philosophy here...not knocking anybody. I've used "stuff", including Techron. Never had any evidence it helped. But then, never had any evidence it hurt, either...

RoninLB · 08-03-2004, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vash
doesnt every chevron gas station sell techron? i have no idea if it works,

I have a 1k mi-2k mi/ year jeep clunker that I may change the oil in every 5yrs. Routinely the fuel sits in for weeks, sometimes months at a time. A couple of years ago I had a miss. It has a carb so the diagnosis was simple. It's a carb problem. Dam.
I figured to give it a hard Hy drive and hope for the best 'cause I can waste my time in other places than rebuilding a carb. So it was a ng. The next thought that may save me is try some Techron 'cause it's in my garage, WTF can't lose anything but a few bucks. Bingo in 3 days before 1/2 a tank was burned.

I don't have any experience with other brands. Techron's name is routine in the 911 world so that's what I bought.. If I was serious about fuel additives I'd follow Warren's lead.

Groesbeck Hurricane · 08-03-2004, 08:27 AM

Turning to the Redneck Channel:

I never found anything better than corn squeezin' to keep my carburetor running well. Of course, if you over-use it it will begin to melt stuff. Never had the guts to try it in fuel injection systems and my father always said it would be a bad, bad scenario.

We now return you to your regular programming.

Porsche_monkey · 08-03-2004, 08:47 AM

Ever smell the additives? I am sure many of them are straight diesel fuel.

A bit of diesel my fuel injected Caddy once every six months used smooth out a rough idle for me. I'm too chicken to try it in my P-car.

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUp.htm

not used it yet, but some guys on a toyota truck board REALLY sing its praises..

pwd72s · 08-03-2004, 10:33 AM

One additive I use faithfully when the winter begins here? STA-BIL!

KCPSG · KCPSG's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by k911sc
http://www.seafoamsales.com/motorTuneUp.htm

not used it yet, but some guys on a toyota truck board REALLY sing its praises..

I've used the seafoam in my Diesel dodge and have decent results, My truck seems to be a little more responsive in the throttle and it has given me a little better gas milage too.

And I always use the STA-BIL in my boat @ the end of the season and in my jeep when it sits for long periods of time, so the fuel doesn't break down to varnish.

braddb_82SC · 08-03-2004, 01:28 PM

A good p-car wrench I have gone to a few times over the years, Tom at T&D Performance in Campbell CA, claims that one bottle of Lubro-Moly Jectron + one bottle of Ventil Sauber poured into the fuel tank when it is 1/4 full (so the additives remain concentrated) has worked wonders on many engines.
I used to be able to drive to nearby Sunnyvale CA and buy these products off the shelf from Automotion. Now that Automotion no longer exists I've had to mail order through it's successor, Perf Products.
Pelican carries Lubro-Moly oil treatments but I can't find any fuel treatments in the online catalog. Perhaps they are able acquire other LM products.

-Brad

Randy Webb · 08-03-2004, 06:33 PM

Back in the old days, we used to just pour a bunch of kerosene into the carb intake. Of course, that was down in Louseyana. I have no idea what the civilized word used.

RoninLB · 08-03-2004, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Webb
Back in the old days, we used to just pour a bunch of kerosene into the carb intake.

I really love kerosene. I Had a ready supply. I used it to paint the eng comp , parts, etc of outdoor marine cars as entertainment for 30yrs. . that means a long long time of it being real close.
Anyway, my little heart went "pitter patter" when I needed it and it wasn't close. 1Gal cans is what I keep close now.
fwiw, I have already given p a bath at eng drop. it's great.. I love it.

Randy Webb · 08-03-2004, 09:12 PM

Ron, that pitter-patter might be from chronic exposure to kerosene - it's more benign than a lot of solvents, but I wouldn't be keeping it too close.

Besides, on Lahngisland.... won't the neighbors report you?

RoninLB · 08-04-2004, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Webb

- it's more benign than a lot of solvents

Besides, on Lahngisland.... won't the neighbors report you?

benign solvents is lower power in my world.

and the neighbors.. I have the best act in LB. it's hard to believe. I've had guys tell me they want to be me.... go figure