Date:         Thu, 9 Apr 1998 23:37:15 EDT
Reply-To:     GMBulley <GMBulley@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         GMBulley <GMBulley@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Thick-Glasses & a lab coat, was: How Do U Clean Injectors?
Comments: To: BM2AM@aol.com, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

In a message dated 98-04-09 23:11:46 EDT, BM2AM@AOL.COM writes:

<< Does anyone have any suggestion on how to clean fuel injectors that are out
of the van?  >>

I wouldn't try.

Injectors are pretty sturdy, granted, but the needle and seat is a delicate
mechanism.

Further, unless you want to build a little rig with FI hoses, a pressure pump,
a 6 volt (correct me?) power supply and some sort of switching mechanism that
can cycle on and off in 1/120th of a second, it isn't worth the trouble. By
the way...I think the Clymer manual for my 1971 Squareback had a picture of a
thick-glassed dolt wearing a lab coat demonstrating just such a "fuel injector
cleaning rig". Looked very official, and costly. I digress.

The electromagnet that opens the needle valve (aledgedly) is not supposed to
be subjected to a constant "open" current flow, gets too hot, and then you
have to amputate your limbs...wait a minute, that was a differant
thread...So...

Instead, run a high quality Fuel injector cleaner through the fuel system once
the injectors are back on the motor. I recommend Chevron Techron, around $8
for a bottle of their top-o-the-line crud buster. There are others that work
well, and it's fun to drive with this stuff in the tank. In my experience, you
start feeling a difference in 15-20 miles. Instant gratification. :)