Date:         Fri, 10 Feb 1995 10:58:23 +0000
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Harry Yates" <hyates@bcit.bc.ca>
Subject:      Re: Fuel Injection Cleaner




> Here's one for the home tool kit that you don't need to bring on the 
> road.
> 
> 
> Gas has gotten 'better' but deposits still form on the injectors,
> especially in our hot engine compartments.  Here's how to clean them
> for a high initial expense ~$55 but very effective after the setup
> is made.
> 
> 3M makes a kit containing all the parts but it is VERY expensive.  A
> cheaper route is to just buy the following:
> 
> -get just the hose from the kit, it is available separately.  this 
> hose consists of a threaded adapter to go on a can of 3M cleaner, an 
> on/off valve, and a brass fitting at the end.  this hose will cost 
> ~$35 as opposed to over $200 for the kit.
> 
> - also, while at the FLAPS, buy a can of the 3M cleaner, these are 
> pricey (~$16)
> 
> -take the hose to any good hardware store that has plumbing fittings. 
>  buy: a small galvanized female 'T'
>           a M-M adapter (brass) that goes from the end of the 3M hose 
> and threads into the 'T'
>           a male thread nipple that fits the other end of the 'T' and 
> terminates in a 1/4" hose barb
>           a 0-100 psi water pressure gauge with a bottom thread that 
> fits into the top of the 'T'
>           a 2 foot section of 1/4" fuel line
>           2 small hose clamps
> 
> assemble this all together with teflon tape on the threads.  use 1 
> hose clamp on the fuel line to barb connection and loosely place the 
> other clamp on the open end of the fuel line
> 
> To use:
>  this whole setup attaches onto fuel system from the little
> T-shaped thingy right by the distributor.  depressurize the van fuel
> system then unsrew that tiny bolt in the top of the T.  attach the
> free end of the fuel line hose from the tool you just made. 
> energize the fuel pump once and then disconnect.  start and run the
> engine at idle until it dies.   there are good instructions on the
> can of 3M cleaner but essentially what this system does is run your
> engine for about 10 minutes off of this (large) can of pressurized
> injector cleaner.  when the can is empty, the engine dies and your
> injectors are clean! 
> 
> This has noticably smoothed out the idle on both of my vans.  I like to do it 
> about once a year.
> 
> An advantage of this setup is that one also gets to watch fuel 
> pressures on the guage.  Helps to determine how the regulator is 
> working.  Do not use this setup on CIS systems as the fuel pressures 
> run too high. 
> 
> If this isn't clear let me know and I'll fill in the gaps.
> 
> -dan
> 

Would not putting in a can of Chevron Techlorine a tank or two before 
an oil change have the same effect?  I run on Chevron Supreme, and 4 
times a year put in Chevron's wonder additive.  The van runs like a 
top.  It is important to do an oil change after a burning these 
cleaners as the deposits end up in the oil.  Just my 0.02 worth.

 
Harry Yates    Internet hyates@bcit.bc.ca
'90 Syncro Westfalia
'87 Golf Diesel