Another Car Question....

[RonJ]

My wife's '08 Focus is in service for a new alternator. They're recommending fuel injector and throttle body cleaning for an additional $300.00. Just a money grab or is it a good move?
The car has 45,000 miles.

 

[4011]

Unless the car is not running smoothly at idle are has lost it's gas milege I'd tell to pass. Now thats just my take on it. Do you run an after market cleaner from time to time ? I try to when I remember it. helps get some of the condensate out of the tank.

 

[65kaiser]

There is a reason they call them "Stealerships" pick up some additive at your local auto parts store and be done with it.

 

[Silver77]

I run Techron. Every now and then they are two for the price of one at Auto Zone. I use it about every 10,000 in my Vett.

 

[MK]

I'd pass. As long as you use top tier gas, it really shouldn't be
that dirty. And if it were, you can go to the auto parts and buy
a bottle of Techron. That will clear it up.
But all the top tier gasoline's have cleaner in them already.
IE: both Chevron and Texaco use Techron. The other top brands
use their own proprietary cleaners.
I've had to clean very very severe carbon out of a Camry one time.
It was so bad, the engine wouldn't run once it warmed up due to
the carbon expanding and keeping the valves from fully closing.
And then no run.. I found that Techron is one of the better cleaners,
and it really does work.
I'm running an 05 right now with 60k miles, and I've never had any
carbon issues yet. Still runs the same as when I bought it.
But I do stick to top tier gas, and I prefer Chevron and Texaco due
to them using Techron. But I burn a lot of Shell too.. They use their
own "oxygen" cleaner. How it compares to Techron, I don't know..
Anyway, if you start seeing possible carbon issues, just dump a
bottle of Techron in the tank. That should clean it up.
All gas sold must have a minimum amount of cleaner, but the top
tier brands seem to have more of it. And the higher octane grades
usually have a bit more than the regular. So every once in a while
I'll dump some premium in the tank, even though mine runs ok on
regular without knocking. But part of that is due to the knock sensor..
It actually runs better and has more power with higher grades once
the car puter adapts to the higher octane.
45k miles is a tad early to be losing an alternator.. I'd think with
that low mileage, it would be covered under warranty..
Maybe it is, and the carbon cleaning is so they can actually make
some $$$ off you.. :/

 

[diamonback68]

I have 143,000 miles on my Mercury Marqius and I have never had the fuel injectors clean, nor do they need it. Same mileage as day one. PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RonJ]

Thanks for the replies, you guys are just confirming what I suspected.
I agree that 45,000 miles is low for an alternator but Ford only warrants it for 36,000 miles. The drive train is covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles.

 

[snowman]

Ron,

Another forum member ran into this recently and asked us about it. But his tech only wanted $150. I think whoever suggested this nonsense to you ought to pay YOU $300 for having the unethical audacity to even promote it. As already noted, name brand gasolines have detergent additives; and if that isn't enough, a bottle of Techron Concentrate in the fuel tank once in a great while will keep the fuel system clean.

Please forgive my vehement words. I have no use for people who try to take advantage of others in this way. I would find somewhere else to take my vehicle, and tell this guy why you won't be back.

Andy

 

[old bear]

BIG RIP OFF!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to you can do this yourself. Get a can of "Gunk" at Pep boys, use this to clean exterior of fuel system, then a can of STP fuel injection cleaner ,finally a full tank of high quality 89 + octane gas. Drive car at highway speed for 10 - 15 miles.
Total cost 1 hour of your time and $50.00 at most.

Now that I have saved you $250.00 do you want to split the cost of the savings with me

 

[Beemer-mark]

Seriously, for that price you could buy and have new injectors installed.

 

[DeathGrip]

The newer generation injectors are really good as far as failure rates go.
Keep your fuel filter clean and your air filter also and you should never have a injector fail due to build up.Remember they are before the combustion chamber.It is after all dirt management.A little spray cleaner to the throttle body wont hurt if it needs it.Make sure your air filter and duct work don't leak.
Do not buy gas from a 7/11 type source,That is some pretty good advice.

 

[tom turner]

If you pop for the fuel injector cleaning they'll probably also recommend topping off the Halogen fluid in your Halogen headlights!

 

[truckemup97]

If you pop for the fuel injector cleaning they'll probably also recommend topping off the Halogen fluid in your Halogen headlights!

Don't forget the turn signal fluid. At 45k, it's bound to be low. And change the air in the tires, too.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. But, if you can't already tell, I don't think you should spring for the injector cleaning, either.

 

[Big Cholla]

I looked in my dictionary for a definition of, "rip off artists". It gave the description all right.........just below the picture of that Dealership! ...... Big Cholla

 

[66TAS]

Seriously, for that price you could buy and have new injectors installed.

Not Hardly.

Fuel injector flushes and induction cleaning services are usually not needed. Todays fuels, especially the high grade fuels, contain plenty of cleaners to keep them clean and most modern injectors are self cleaning. Those can be seriously damaged by high pressured solvents, so its not really a good idea on a car less than 10 years old. We use it as a diagnostic tool these days, and usually not even then.