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Thoughts on Injector Cleaner?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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hausmeister
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Re: Thoughts on Injector Cleaner?

Post by hausmeister »

Not sure how much cleaners do. PEA is mostly used/recommended for direct injection.
Probably good as a precaution, but not sure if it can fix a real problem.

I disagree on dirty or gummed up injectors causing a code... as long as they put in enough fuel and it ignites it wont. You can take out injectors and test /clean them. Spray pattern could be really bad, amount might be incorrect. In my opinion it is best to get some refurbed or new injectors for cars that old (or at least clean and test them). The ones in my 850 were really bad. Car still ran though, no way to tell.
I wouldn't expect any cleaner to fully clean 30 year old injectors that are in the car... for prevention, sure, why not. Once a year or something.
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Post by matthew1 »

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Cees Klumper
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Post by Cees Klumper »

About 10 years ago I tested out the usefulness, or lack thereof, of injector cleaners. Bought a generic brand cleaner in our French grocery store and tried it out on both our first gen high-mileage S80 and C70. To my surprise, both cars' fuel economy materially improved - and wasn't bad to begin with. As in, about 5-7% improved, long-term. Since then I am converted and run a bottle (usually Techron) through all my cars and motorcycles once a year.

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Post by abscate »

hausmeister wrote: 09 Dec 2025, 14:02 Not sure how much cleaners do. PEA is mostly used/recommended for direct injection.
Probably good as a precaution, but not sure if it can fix a real problem.

I disagree on dirty or gummed up injectors causing a code... as long as they put in enough fuel and it ignites it wont. You can take out injectors and test /clean them. Spray pattern could be really bad, amount might be incorrect. In my opinion it is best to get some refurbed or new injectors for cars that old (or at least clean and test them). The ones in my 850 were really bad. Car still ran though, no way to tell.
I wouldn't expect any cleaner to fully clean 30 year old injectors that are in the car... for prevention, sure, why not. Once a year or something.
The fuel management systems on these cars are closed loop on total oxygen in the exhaust, so if one injector is weak that cylinder will run lean and extra gas will be put into the others. You only get about 10%adjustment before a code, though
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Post by hausmeister »

Ok, makes sense. Depends on how bad they are then :)
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Post by volvolugnut »

I had read years ago that Techron was the best cleaner. If I use any cleaner, Techron is the one.
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