Testimonial for Techron

[ianc]

Hey all,

So, I bought my Carrera last year. It had good compression and had passed smog easily. It began to miss after a bit right when starting up, but would clear after driving. I pulled plugs and found a problem with #2 fouling. Thinking fuel, I tested injectors (all good), changed cap, rotor and wires, but no joy. I began thinking oil.

Could only be from a stuck or broken oil ring, or a bad guide. The fellow I bought the car from did not drive it often, or hard I don't believe. Could be a guide though; no top end after 130K. Hoping that it was just a stuck ring, I decided to run some Techron through.

#1 in the 1st pic is 1352 miles after changing the plugs immediately after buying the car, so, a new plug with 1352 on it. Same plug is the middle in second pic. Coated with a thick oily coating that would prevent ignition when cold.

#2 is after putting a full bottle of Techron fuel system cleaner in a fresh fillup, then driving 701 miles (not all on one tank). The deposits on the periphery of the plug are blobbier; chunkier. This was much more apparent after the plug had been freshly removed (been a month or two now). Almost like ****e was being blown into the cylinder.

#3 is after putting a second full bottle on another fresh fillup, then driving 1165 miles. Looks much better and I don't have much to attribute it to except the Techron and more driving...



Here's a link to my original post asking about my plugs: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=258942&highlight=plugs

And here's the pic I posted there, asking for comments:



Draw your own conclusions about using it,

ianc

[jevvy]

Quick question Ian, were the plugs in the top pic all fitted to the same cylinder but during different periods?

[ianc]

Quick question Ian, were the plugs in the top pic all fitted to the same cylinder but during different periods?

Yes,

ianc

[adomakin]

excuse my ignorance but what is techron? some sort of injector cleaner?

[Paulporsche]

Yes, fuel system and injector cleaner, and recommended by Porsche for air cooled cars. Google Chevron or Techron.

[jrl]

Since I bought my car ~3000 miles ago I've run two 20oz bottles of Techron. How often is too often to use it? I only fill up with Chevron Supreme.

[ianc]

I would just follow the recommendations on the bottle. Don't remember what they are right now though...

ianc

[KFC911]

IMO, two bottles over 3K miles is overkill. Follow the directions on the bottle just before you're ready for an oil change, then change your oil. When I was purchasing a bottle from a local import shop (the owner is a p-car guru), he asked me what brand of gas I used. When I told him 'always' BP (Amoco) 93 octane, he told me I didn't need the stuff, but I went ahead and did the treatment anyways. A treatment every year or so can't hurt, and some folks swear by it....maybe they don't get the 'good clean gas'

[B D]

Tip: Best to use it before an oil change since the deposits it cleans end up in the oil.

Lucas also makes a nice product that does the same thing and it's cheaper if you can find it.

[acapella8]

Costco will often sell Techron in bundles down to like $5 each for the bigger cans -- great savings.

[jrl]

Appreciate the advice. Once a year before an oil change sounds like a good plan.

[emcdan]

I've often experimented with other fuels, but I keep coming back to Chevron. Of course, they add Techron to their fuels. Any knocking or poor starting seemed to be remedied with their gas. I have no problem paying for an extra dime a gallon for something that works for me.

(disclaimer) I have no affiliation nor stock with Chevron products

[S2GART]

They recommend it be used every 3K miles. I once used STP Fuel sys. cleaner and it said to not use any SOONER than 4K. From what I have read, using these cleaners too often can ruin your fuel injectors. Now, with that said, they are talking about the fuel injectors used on electronic FI cars. For those of us with CIS, the injector is more or less a metal spray nozzle. On EFI cars, fuel injectors are essentially plastic check valves that open and close. It is this plastic that can get ruined by excessive use of these caustics cleaners.
I do agree with the suggestion of using it a tanks worth prior to an oil change.

[Sunroof]

Okay, I love barking about Techron......
Years ago Porsche put out a bulletin recommending Chevron Techron added to the fuel at a minimum 500 miles before a scheduled oil change. Techron has a high ignition temperature and does not combust, but cleans the injectors and cylinder walls and weeps down into the oil pan where it can be smelled on your dipstick. It will dilute the oil so Porsche must be thinking impact on seals.

This is great.....I owned a 1985.5 944 for 12 years and have packed 345,000 miles on the engine and transmission during that time. I had no engine work aside from a head gasket change and no transmission work! I would attribute this to good maintenance and driving, but the key player was Chevron Techron added every 3,000 to the gas and twice a year added in back to back doses in a less than 1/2 full gas tank. The tranny life was attributable to SWEPCO.

I continue to use Techron as part of my routine on my 73.5T, but also use Marvel Mystery Oil as well. Call it snake oil, call it miracle chemistry, its the best injector and cylinder cleaner for the money. Simply add a bottle to 1/2 tank of gas and just drive. No need to take the car over 100 mph down the interstate in 4th gear for the day, just drive! If your injectors are crapped up repeat the same keeping the gas tank level at 1/2 or less. Change the oil as Porsche recommended.

Its not expensive, no one ever complained about it and it does work to give your engine longer life. Thats my 2 cents on Techron.

Bob

[johncarlos2003]

I know there are so many opinions on wheter one should change oil within a few hundred miles or immediately after running a bottle or Techron. I was tired of reading all the back and forth so I finally got through to Chevron and they said it is not necessary. I called 5 specialist (all "semi-famous" types and two who are often on this forum) and they all concurred independently that it really doesn't matter if you change oil or not following treatment- just use it as directed (1 oz per gallon) and on a low low tank when pouring in. That's it.

So, while I totally respect independent experience it seems that some of these guys above (including Chevron) have their own ideas that I'd thought Id share here- Im simply sharing information gathered and take no responsibility for any of it as Im learning everyday from this great board of ours!

Anyway . . . drive that thing hard over the weekend! cheers-

*I do second Sunroof (above re Mystery Oil- great stuff too and cheaper than Techron)

[Jim Garfield]

You might be right about not having to change oil, but my experience is that the oil gets noticeably darker and has a different smell after I use Techron. So I will continue to use it just before I change my oil.

[johncarlos2003]

yeah, who knows- i have heard from a few guys that their oil darkens so yeah, id change it too- i mean, it seems there is no final word really so, as you said, might as well err on the safe(r) side- either way, this Techron is good stuff- Porsche factory also officially recs LubroMolly as well- great product too and i think a bit cheaper than Techron-

[Paulporsche]

There used to be an old mechanic's trick of pouring a cleaner like Techron down the spark plug holes. This would clean up the oily residue that would collect in the combustion chamber beacuse of worn rings. I don't know if this would work on our horizontal engines.

[johncarlos2003]

id like to know more about this--- anyone?