use of fuel injector cleaner

[jobee58]

I have an 87 K100 LT. I was wondering if anyone has ever added fuel injector cleaner to earlier K-bikes. It seems that it's a beneficial practice for fuel injected cars and I'm not sure that it wouldn't be helpful to K-bikes as well. Doesn't seem that the technology on a 20 yr old K would be way more exotic or complex than a car, but when it comes to deeper technical issues, I'm not very savvy.

Any feedback/clarification would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[roy]

Yes you can use injector cleaner cleaner on the "K" bikes. Just try to keep the dosage correct for the amount of gas you have in your tank.

Roy

[jcridge]

Sea Foam........ Works great. You can buy it at almost any good automotive parts store, NAPA, Walmart, etc...

[GregFeeler]

I've use Techron, from Chevron, for many years as a fuel system cleaner with excellent results. In addition to using Chevron gas whenever I can (which has a small amount of Techron), I run a tank-full through every vehicle just before the next oil change. I've been doing this for twenty years and have yet to have any gunk-related fuel system problems.

[PGlaves]

I use Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner as a part of each major 12,000 mile service. I run it in the fuel the last tank before the service. Any gums or carbon loosened and picked up in the oil are thus drained away with the oil/filter change.

[Kayseventyfive]

I used Gumout regularly on all my vehicles for years. My motor home generator got difficult, and I was loathe to remove and redo the carb. So, on a tip from a respected friend, I ran some Red Line through it from a separate tank. The improvement was dramatic.

When I put some in the main tank of the MH, it loosened up a whole bunch of varnish that had formed in the fuel lines and clogged the inlet filter of the carb.
This was inconvenient, of course, but it was an indicator of how effective it was.

I recently bought a bike that had been sitting. The drive home got worse and worse, as I believe the fresh gas loosened up crud in the Amals. I stopped at the first auto parts store and poured in some Red Line. By the time I got home, the bike ran quite well.

[90204]

I have an 87 K100 LT. I was wondering if anyone has ever added fuel injector cleaner to earlier K-bikes. It seems that it's a beneficial practice for fuel injected cars and I'm not sure that it wouldn't be helpful to K-bikes as well. Doesn't seem that the technology on a 20 yr old K would be way more exotic or complex than a car, but when it comes to deeper technical issues, I'm not very savvy.

Any feedback/clarification would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I have used Gumout fuel injection cleaner in my cars and bikes for years. I did use it in my 95 klt after getting rain through the cap. 70,000 plus miles with no running problems. When the cars act up I add a can once every few months. No more hicups.
Tip, if you ever clean the throttle body make sure you don't use carb cleaner. use throttle body cleaner only. Other stuff ruins sealing matierials. The other safe addative is mystery oil in your fuel and motor oil. Follow can directions. Allan

[jobee58]

Thank you all for your collected experience. It's one thing to have a hunch that's something is okay, but something else to have people be able to tell you with authority what's helpful and what's not. Will definitely find myself one of the products recommended.

[reimerdavid]

Me and my son use Lucas Fuel Injection Cleaner.

[GregFeeler]

Me and my son use Lucas Fuel Injection Cleaner.

Lucus, 'eh? Aren't you afraid that your injectors will stop working if it rains? :hide

[jcridge]

Lucus, 'eh? Aren't you afraid that your injectors will stop working if it rains? :hide

Not if they are using the improved Lucas cleaner that actually adds additional smoke to all of the electrical components when used as directed. If you still have the original light switch, add another 8oz...

here we go...I can't help myself, I worked for British Leyland dealer a long, long time ago.

[98lee]

Three positions on a Lucas light switch?

Dim

Flicker

Off



:dance :dance :dance

[bikerfish1100]

Three positions on a Lucas light switch?

Dim

Flicker

Off



:dance :dance :dance

mmm, didn't you forget "moonlight"?

[astrin]

I just started adding Sea Foam to the already excellent Shell V-Power (93 octane, no ethanol) I fuel my '91 K75RT with. It makes it run even SMOOTHER, it sounds like a jet engine with the Sea Foam in there. My wife noticed the difference. It feels like I'm getting a bit more push around 4000 RPM, ie. a bit more torque below the peak at 6250. But that may be psychological because it sounds so smooth. The engine has 75,000 miles on it.

I just started doing this in case there was residual gunk in my injectors after running V-Power (mostly) for a couple of months, which improved performance quite a bit after I bought the bike. I think the Sea Foam might just be giving it a bit higher effective octane, not sure any new cleaning is happening, it runs as before if I don't add it.

The ultimate plan here is to try the Ford injectors that folks say improve power/mileage at 4000 RPM ($43 each at Weaver Auto Parts, reconditioned units). I ride mostly at around 62 MPH which is about 4500 RPM in fifth gear, so it might improve mileage noticeably, and it's nice to have more torque, anyway. I want the stock Bosch injectors to be as clean as possible (without removing them and getting them cleaned) so the injector comparison is somewhat "fair." I'll post the results of that if I do dyno comparison, if the shop will give me a decent deal on two dyno runs. It's a science experiment if I do the dyno comparison.

[mrich12000]

That Shell Fuel works wonders:clap

[toddlamp]

I just started adding Sea Foam to the already excellent Shell V-Power (93 octane, no ethanol) I fuel my '91 K75RT with. It makes it run even SMOOTHER, it sounds like a jet engine with the Sea Foam in there. My wife noticed the difference. It feels like I'm getting a bit more push around 4000 RPM, ie. a bit more torque below the peak at 6250. But that may be psychological because it sounds so smooth. The engine has 75,000 miles on it.

I just started doing this in case there was residual gunk in my injectors after running V-Power (mostly) for a couple of months, which improved performance quite a bit after I bought the bike. I think the Sea Foam might just be giving it a bit higher effective octane, not sure any new cleaning is happening, it runs as before if I don't add it.

The ultimate plan here is to try the Ford injectors that folks say improve power/mileage at 4000 RPM ($43 each at Weaver Auto Parts, reconditioned units). I ride mostly at around 62 MPH which is about 4500 RPM in fifth gear, so it might improve mileage noticeably, and it's nice to have more torque, anyway. I want the stock Bosch injectors to be as clean as possible (without removing them and getting them cleaned) so the injector comparison is somewhat "fair." I'll post the results of that if I do dyno comparison, if the shop will give me a decent deal on two dyno runs. It's a science experiment if I do the dyno comparison.

I just filled my tank last night with some sea-foam. I didn't notice much difference today but i'm not surprised.

I just got my Ford injectors last week. I'm not sure if i'm going to put them in this season since I figure they would just have to sit over winter; the riding season is almost over (~40F degrees here). I have been getting about 32mpg so i'm looking to try whatever I can to get it up.

[nh7robmw]

Hey, Todd, I think you should be getting a lot better mileage on your K75 than that.

I averaged 51.5 mpg on my cross-country trip, and am probably getting at least mid-forties around town now.

Most K75 owners seem to report 48-52mpg as far as I can recall from reading the forums, too.

Btw, how much Sea Foam is recommended for a tankful?:ear

[ejressler]

Hey, Todd, I think you should be getting a lot better mileage on your K75 than that.

I averaged 51.5 mpg on my cross-country trip, and am probably getting at least mid-forties around town now.

Most K75 owners seem to report 48-52mpg as far as I can recall from reading the forums, too.

Btw, how much Sea Foam is recommended for a tankful?:ear

Just went to garage and checked: "One pint treats 8 - 25 gallons of fuel (avg 1 oz per gallon).

It also says that you can add to crankcase (oil), Diesel fuel, Air intake, Vacuum or Induction system, and smaller 2 or 4 cycle engines.

"For peak performance, use Sea Foam every 2,000 to 5,000 Miles."

Lot of other stuff on the can, but that is the meat of it.

[LSkrabut]

Not sure if this is the correct way or not, but this is what I have done with Seafoam (SF).

On the capped off opening for throttle balancing on the air intakes for each cylinder, I sucked in a touch of Seafoam via a small tubing from a open top can with about 1 oz SF and then shut the motor off and let the motor sit for about 10-15 minutes. Smoke city after starting it up.

I have done this 3 times so far on my K100. The first time I done this I did it for each cylinder. Time consuming. The next 2 times, I rigged up 4 equal length hoses and tie wrapped them together and with the ends being flush with each other, used an open can with SF in it, Someone else slightly revving the motor and I moderate this injecting process the SF till I used up, about 2-4oz, then shutting down the motor. Let is sit for 10-15 minutes. This way I was cleaning all 4 cylinders at the same time. Even more smoke which to me shows that carbon was being removed and burnt up.

My thought process on this method, this cleans the intake track slightly before the injectors, more fluid within the intake track, injecter ends, valve stems and seat for the cleaning process. The rest of the can I do use in the fuel to clean the normal fuel passages of the injectors and intake while running.

To me the bike runs smoother and has a touch more power, but the power factor could be a well intended wish factor.

I have been using SF now for about 6 years in all of my 2 and 4 stroke motors around the house and I am a firm believer in this product, if used properly and not to the point of hydro locking the motor. Yes I used it in the fuel, oil, and of course direct vacuum suck method. If used in the oil, plan on changing the oil soon afterwards (20-100 miles). I really do feel direct injection of SF does helps. If I follow up soon afterward with another session, the amount of smoke is a lot less or nonexistent. If I put on 10k miles and do it this process again, smoke city again. I tested this out on my other car, tractor, ATV, RV motors, I feel about every 10k miles or once a year thingy is a good frequency to perform this action.

YMWV (Your Mileage Will Vary);)

[LSkrabut]

Oh yea, mileage, I run on interstates in Utah around 80mph and get about 43mpg. If I head out to the back roads, then anywhere from 45 to 52mpg, speed dependent (speed limit +5 normally) and amount of stop and go's.

This is with a '88 K100LT, single rider with gear.

[BuddingGeezer]

32 mpg. Is the exhaust pipe sooty? If it is the bike is rich.

Really dirty air filter
Temp Probe may be malfunctioning, signaling the FI control to keep it richer
Mass air flow sensor spring may be weak allowing the flap to open wider than it should, telling the FI control to keep the injectors open longer.

If you aren't hammering the throttle you should be getting better than 32mpg.

Just a thought.

Ralph Sims

[toddlamp]

32 mpg. Is the exhaust pipe sooty? If it is the bike is rich.

Really dirty air filter
Temp Probe may be malfunctioning, signaling the FI control to keep it richer
Mass air flow sensor spring may be weak allowing the flap to open wider than it should, telling the FI control to keep the injectors open longer.

If you aren't hammering the throttle you should be getting better than 32mpg.

Just a thought.

Ralph Sims


Thanks.