carb & injector cleaner

[edgus347]

Hi. I started riding motorcycles in the mid 60"s and I've always added a little carb cleaner to the gas. I heard that you can even add about an ounce of ATF to the gas to help keep the fuel system clean. Not too long ago a friend of mine said that I shouldn't add any gas additive to my gas in the bike because this will eat up any O-rings in the fuel system. I'm kina stuck what's up with this. I hope that this isn't too stupid of a question.

[maintainer]

Not true, that's just an old wives tale.
Chevron and Shell gasolines come with blended in additives for injector cleaning. Techron
Techron is also sold as a stand alone product and is an excellent fuel system cleaner.
Sea foam is excellent
Star Tron is a great dual purpose product: Cleaner and stabilizer in one

I have never used it but some swear by Marvel Mystery Oil

Old timer's promise ATF does a good job, I have never tried it.

[mikelens]

The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked. Everyone will have a different opinion on additives. Seafoam & Chevron Techron are 2 of the most popular. I've used Lucas fuel treatment in the past. One that has been around for many moons is Marvel Mystery Oil; added to the fuel on a regular basis. I recently saw a thread else where about using 2 cycle outboard oil as an additive. This one I can't comment on. All the others were designed for their intended uses; so I can't see how they would harm seals or o-rings. I just picked up a '95 SE & gave it the Seafoam treatment for the first couple of tankfuls. I will be going with the Marvel Mystery Oil on a regular basis with fill ups. It's available by the gallon at Walmart; transferred to a small bottle to carry along to use at fill ups. I can't say that I have heard of using ATF as a fuel additive. A google searched turned up multiple threads but mainly as a diesel additive. I'm sure others will be along to offer other insights.

[edgus347]

Thanks. I used the mystery oil also, and have had no problems. Like I say I've used a lot of stuff throughout the years and to me it didn't do any harm.

[HawkeyeGL1200]

I put a little ATF or Two-Cycle engine oil in my gas almost every time I fill up. I do it because I believe ethanol burns "dryer" than straight gasoline, and I'm trying not to be too hard on my old motorcycle(s) engine(s)... I see no reason not to do it. It actually seems to make my GL1100 run a little quieter, and slightly improves my fuel mileage.. I see no down side, unless you get carried away. I add about an ounce per gallon of gas... and I skip a few fill ups to make sure the oil isn't getting too concentrated.

I've used a few fuel additives, with the Chevron product being the only one that I felt did anything toward cleaning my carbs or making the bike run better.

[Rob H]

Been traveling for the last month and have put a couple of Tins of Seafoam through the system and it appears to have made a difference to the engine. It appears to idle smoother and the fuel consumption seems to be better than at the beginning.

I believe it works!

[raven41951]

Food for Thought. I am a Uhaul dealer (as well as a gas/convenience store owner). A few years ago, A customer topped off a gasoline engine Uhaul truck with diesel (about 4 gallons in a 36 gallon tank - the ring had broken from the filler tube allowing the diesel nozzle to fit). The truck made it 20 feet and stopped. After the fuel system was drained and the lines flushed, they decided to see if it would run without replacing the injectors. It finally started and smoked more than a mosquito truck. It started rough (and smoked) for more than a month but ran fine once running. After that it ran better and quieter than ever and was well over 100,000 miles. I rented that truck for seven more months and never had an engine or starting problem. I have heard of adding small amount of gas to diesel to prevent cold weather gelling but never tried it. I wonder if adding a small amount of diesel to a gas engine would be similar to the results we have seen with marvel, sea foam, star-tron and the like?

[HawkeyeGL1200]

Your comments remind me of a friend who filled his Chevy Blazer with Diesel fuel (gas engine) when a gas station delivery filled the fuel tank with diesel fuel by mistake. His truck was trashed and he wasn't happy...

I do not know what would happen if you added a little diesel to your gasoline. I suspect there's a quantity that would not hurt, and that adding more than that would cause the engine to die... at least until the fuel system were cleaned out as in your example. I've heard of putting some kerosene in the oil to clean the crankcase, but never purposely adding diesel or kerosene to the fuel system.. Maybe someone has the correct mixture that they'll share...

As far as SeaFoam, I've heard so much about it that I've used it on many different vehicles, and I can't honestly say it appeared to make a difference. Acetone, on the other hand, used in moderation does make a difference ... that Chemtrol B-12 (Don't know if I got the name right) has a LOT of Acetone in it... and it does work if you use enough of it.

Food for Thought. I am a Uhaul dealer (as well as a gas/convenience store owner). A few years ago, A customer topped off a gasoline engine Uhaul truck with diesel (about 4 gallons in a 36 gallon tank - the ring had broken from the filler tube allowing the diesel nozzle to fit). The truck made it 20 feet and stopped. After the fuel system was drained and the lines flushed, they decided to see if it would run without replacing the injectors. It finally started and smoked more than a mosquito truck. It started rough (and smoked) for more than a month but ran fine once running. After that it ran better and quieter than ever and was well over 100,000 miles. I rented that truck for seven more months and never had an engine or starting problem. I have heard of adding small amount of gas to diesel to prevent cold weather gelling but never tried it. I wonder if adding a small amount of diesel to a gas engine would be similar to the results we have seen with marvel, sea foam, star-tron and the like?

[tom84std]

Like just about everyone here I've been using various additives for a long time like Gumout, Berrymans, Techron, Marvel ect.. I might be a little concerned about Ethanol's bad reputation but I've never heard of anything other than sunlight exposure or temperature extremes harming neoprene. Seems like any chemist who formulates any gasoline additive which would harm neoprene would know full well he's shooting himself in the foot. I don't know about you guys, but those labels are getting harder and harder to read. It's probably the best way for us to be sure though.

[oldishwinger]

Both injector cleaner, and ATF fluid works for me, not both at once of course, but 1/2 a bottle of injector cleaner to a full tank of gas take the bike for a nice long hard ride use most of the tank, and the refill with normal gas. I used this when my aspy had a bit of a back fire, and it stopped it.

With ATF fliud just a cap full to a full tank of gas, take for a nice long ride, and then refill with normal gas.

I've only used injector cleaner twice in about 6 years and the ATF about twice/ three times a year.

Bike runs sweet as a nut no carb issues.

[redial]

With ATF fliud just a cap full to a full tank of gas, take for a nice long ride, and then refill with normal gas.

Does it matter what size your head is? If the cap fits, then should I wear it?

[captaindan]

I have for the past few years used 2 stroke marine oil in my small gas engines, motorcycles, and vehicles. I ran across a thread on one of the motorcycle sites that had an extensive article attached to it. The key was that the marine oil had to have the TCW3 additive. (I think that's right without going to look at my jug) If I remember, the authors and testers of this article claimed it was the same as a Marvel Mystery Oil additive at a fraction of the cost. The suggested amount was 1 once per 5 gallons of gas. I will say that I saw an improvement on some of the equipment, and no difference in others. They tested with many thousands of miles with great results. They also discuss what we have in todays gasoline. I was raised that ATF was a good additive.....but one thing I took from the article was that the marine oil was actually designed to be added to gasoline....ATF wasn't. The other thing that stuck with me is for those that have rebuilt carbs.....are the two stroke carbs cleaner than the four strokers? Mine always seemed to be.

[oldishwinger]

With ATF fliud just a cap full to a full tank of gas, take for a nice long ride, and then refill with normal gas.

Does it matter what size your head is? If the cap fits, then should I wear it?

nice

[HawkeyeGL1200]

We must have read the same article, Captaindan, because that's pretty much how I remember it. I use more than the recommended ratio because of the ethanol in the gas. TC-W3 is exactly what I recall, too... "Low ash" producing oil, is what the article I read called it. I buy the "SuperTech" oil at WalMart, by the gallon, and it lasts a good while, even though I use an ounce per gallon instead of one ounce for 5 gallons... I've gone about 5 tank fill-ups without, to cleanse the tank... so it's time to go back to using it.

I have for the past few years used 2 stroke marine oil in my small gas engines, motorcycles, and vehicles. I ran across a thread on one of the motorcycle sites that had an extensive article attached to it. The key was that the marine oil had to have the TCW3 additive. (I think that's right without going to look at my jug) If I remember, the authors and testers of this article claimed it was the same as a Marvel Mystery Oil additive at a fraction of the cost. The suggested amount was 1 once per 5 gallons of gas. I will say that I saw an improvement on some of the equipment, and no difference in others. They tested with many thousands of miles with great results. They also discuss what we have in todays gasoline. I was raised that ATF was a good additive.....but one thing I took from the article was that the marine oil was actually designed to be added to gasoline....ATF wasn't. The other thing that stuck with me is for those that have rebuilt carbs.....are the two stroke carbs cleaner than the four strokers? Mine always seemed to be.