Is cleaning fuel injectors a good idea??

[KCKBMOA]

My '93 K1100 runs pretty good, so maybe I should leave it alone, ...:brad , but that's no fun! I was wondering if fuel injectors need routine cleaning, or if they can be cleaned, and if it makes sense to bother with it.:evil After I got a battery back in the bike that actually has some water in it... :banghead , I was noticing the idle has always been a bit rough. Anyone done injectors? Or is that a dealer only thing? :burnout KC

[cayuse60]

My '93 K1100 runs pretty good, so maybe I should leave it alone, ...I was noticing the idle has always been a bit rough. ... :burnout KC

Have you ever had timing checked and throttle bodies balanced?

[BuddingGeezer]

I recently cleaned the injectors on a K75.

I removed the injectors and a machinist buddy made a device that had an air fitting on one end and a 4 inch long x 5/8ths diameter hose on the other that the injector inserted into.

Filled the hose with Berryman Chemtool and/or carb cleaner and the connected to 25 psi air, used a nine volt battery to open the injector and blew the cleaner through the injector untill I got a good spray pattern.

Bike runs great.

If your bike is running pretty good, I would and do run Sea Foam, Berrymans in the fuel occasionally and ride it. I have run Sea Foam in outboard motors, and motorcycles with a 1 ounce-1gal gas mix a couple tanks usually cleans the system.

Others may have a different prefference as to which additive.

Ralph Sims

[breyfogle]

I was wondering if fuel injectors need routine cleaning, or if they can be cleaned, and if it makes sense to bother with it.

They don't really need routine cleaning but once every 10 years or so an off-the-bike cleaning & balancing by a FI professional certainly would not be unreasonable.

[Kayseventyfive]

I recently cleaned the injectors on a K75.

Others may have a different prefference as to which additive.

Ralph Sims

FWIW, Red Line fuel system cleaner has worked better for me than other cleaners.

[dlearl476]

In theory, since dirty injectors can really cause problems, I'd say yes, cleaning them is a good idea.

In practice, if the bike hasn't set for a long time, you use quality sources of gasoline, and your fuel filters get changed regularly, you shouldn't need to remove the injectors to clean them.

I've heard mention of Seafoam. I use BG products 44K and SuperchargeII (44k once a year and S/CII every third or fourth tankful) in every one of my vehicles and I've never had a problem with a fuel injector that required removal. I like SCII because it's a gas stabilizer as well. With all my cars and bikes it helps a lot after a few months inactivity. I noticed significantly better performance after switching from Stabil.

[KCKBMOA]

Thanks for the info and experience comments. I guess I'll use some cleaner in the tank first, as I haven't done that simple thing. I was a bit worried about pump or line reaction to the chemical cleaners, but it sounds like it's been tried out OK by you folks. KC

[motoedde]

Thanks for the info and experience comments. I guess I'll use some cleaner in the tank first, as I haven't done that simple thing. I was a bit worried about pump or line reaction to the chemical cleaners, but it sounds like it's been tried out OK by you folks. KC

Try runnning a few tanks of Chevron gas...no matter what octane you choose, you in theory should be getting their Techron additive...and THAT does make a difference.
Then go for the other stuff like SeaFoam, etc.
I run Chevron 1 out of every 3-4 tank fill ups...or as often as I can get it...a bit easier and less riskier than trying some of the other stuff...

[KCKBMOA]

Chevron is a good idea. I've been guilty of buying the discount gas lately with 91 Oct running about $3.50 here at the cheapest. One reason I commute on the bike is to save on gas, and increase grins of course, :D , so buying the higher priced fuel sort of kills the savings idea, but I see that is flawed logic.
Funny how you see articles written on gas that say it all comes from the same source, but I do think the Chevron has the cleaning additive. KC

[Kayseventyfive]

Another Chevron nod. I have had a few bikes that ran a little better on it.

[PHMarvin]

Hi, KC,
Cleaning injectors is NOT a dealer service. Most dealers would be happy to REPLACE the injectors, but they don't clean them. If you need them cleaned, take them off the bike and take them to a diesel injection shop. THEY can clean them for a lot less than new injectors.
Regards,
Phil Marvin - El Paso, TX

[KCKBMOA]

Filled up with Chevron yesterday, and that will be a once a month thing now. Thanks for the tip on where to get injectors cleaned Phil. :D KC