Best Diesel Fuel Injector Cleaner

How do you know what’s best for your vehicle?

Diesel vehicles are known for their robust performance and ability to surpass the owner’s expectations. However, diesel fuel presents some challenges that periodically may require an additive.

Diesel fuel contains hydrocarbons and additives. When these two elements enter a dirty injection system, the injectors will restrict. This will affect the flow rate of the injectors as well as how well the fuel atomizes and distributes

Symptoms Of A Dirty Injection System

• The engine does not run smoothly. It will make noises, stalls, or have idling difficulty.
• It will become difficult to start the vehicle.
• The vehicle has trouble accelerating.
• Gas mileage will decrease.
• Smoke comes from the tailpipe.
• The vehicle fails emission testing.

There are different types of diesel fuel.

• Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD)
• Biodiesel
• Biodiesel blends

Diesel fuel injection systems can develop deposits and sludge within the injectors. Debris and a buildup of carbon can also present problems. When this happens, your vehicle will have trouble accelerating, may not idle smoothly, and have difficulty with cold-starts. Stalling and decreased gas mileage often occur as well.

Injectors act as a mechanism that releases fuel through an atomizing mist into the engine. This creates what’s called combustion. Dirty injection systems prevent proper combustion resulting in the engine not being fed the appropriate fuel to function correctly. If the dirty injectors are not cleaned out, the entire system and engine can easily become damaged or fail.

Taking preventative measures by using a fuel injector cleaner can literally save your vehicle! Fuel injector cleaners vary in how they are designed to perform. Some will clean the entire injection system whereas some partially clean some components. Lubricants in the cleaners coat the injection system to remove deposits and to prevent wear and tear.

Professional mechanics that are familiar with diesel fuel injection issues will recommend using a fuel injector cleaner first. After doing so, if you notice your vehicle returns to its normal operating vigor, then you can be confident the system needed the cleaner. However, if you find that the vehicle has not improved, it may be time to have a professional look at it. A mechanic may need to disassemble the injectors and employ various methods to clean them out.

Things To Look For In Diesel Fuel Injector Cleaners

• It should clean the entire system.
• It should contain a lubricant.
• It’s beneficial if it eliminates algae and bacteria in the fuel.
• It should boost cetane. This will cause the engine to perform efficiently, increase your gas mileage, and help with cold-starts.
• It should be able to stabilize stored fuel and eliminate water.
• It should be designed to use with all diesel fuels.
• Some cannot be used during the winter months so be sure to take note of that when using.

We have researched the best diesel fuel injector cleaners. Our recommendations on the best based on customer reviews.

Features:

• Cleans injectors that are dirty while preventing them from sticking in both HPCR (high-pressure common rail) and older systems.
• Effectively removes deposits internally and externally in the injection system.
• Reduces the need to downshift in boosting the power and performance of the engine.
• Max HP Formula (use during spring, summer, and fall only.)
• Cetane booster for a smoother engine, less sluggishness, and fast cold-start.
• Advanced formula that cleans the injectors and high-pressure common rail systems
• Stabilizes stored fuel.
• Gives you up to 8% more miles per gallon fuel use.
• Provides maximum lubrication with ‘Slickdiesel’ to protect the components of an injection system. Also protects the injectors from increased wear that can result from ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel) fuel.
• Restores engine’s performance.
• Can be used with all diesel fuels; ULSD, biodiesel, and biodiesel blend.

Features:

• Proven formula produced by a fuel system manufacturer.
• Prevents and eliminates internal deposits in the injection system.
• Effectively cleans common rail and high-pressure common rail injectors.
• Concentrated form for a one-tank cleaning.
• Restores engine performance and increases horsepower.
• Improves gas mileage.
• Lubrication to protect and prevent wear that is caused by low-quality fuels.
• Cetane booster for a smoother-running engine and quick starts.
• Works with ULSD, biodiesel and biodiesel blend.
• Comes in various sizes; 8 oz, 16 oz, 24 oz.

Features:

• Removes deposits from the injection system, injectors, and combustion chambers.
• Effectively cleans high-pressure common rail.
• Cetane booster to improve overall engine performance improving cold-starts.
• Contains a lubricant to protect the injection system from wear.
• Improves the emission system.
• Engine runs smoother.
• Comes in various sizes; 11 oz, 32 oz.

Features:

• Improves gas mileage.
• Designed to work best with ULSD.
• Boosts cetane to optimize engine performance.
• Lubricating to protect the overall injection system.
• Reduces harmful emissions.
• Stabilizes stored fuel.
• Comes in 1-gallon size.

Features:

• Improves gas mileage.
• Cleans the entire injection system.
• Reduces deposits.
• Reduces harmful emission.
• Contains the highest amount of lubricant protectant on the market to protect against wear, rust, and corrosion.
• Keeps your engine running at peak performance.
• Designed for use with ULSD.
• Comes in various sizes; 4 oz, 8 oz, 32 oz, 1 gallon, 5 gallons, 55 gallons.

Features:

• Improves gas mileage.
• Reduces harmful emissions.
• Works with diesel fuels, as well as gasoline.
• Cleans and lubricates carburetor and injectors.
• Reduces harmful effects of ULSD.
• Does not contain any solvents.
• Lubricating to protect the injection system.

•  Comes in various sizes; 5.25 oz, 1 quart, 1 gallon, 5 gallons, 55 gallons

Features:

• Works well in either gasoline or diesel.
• Lubricating to protect the injection system from wear.
• Corrosion inhibitor to protect the system.
• Includes biocide to eliminate algae and/or bacteria.
• Effectively cleans deposits.
• Stabilizes stored fuel.
• Restores engine performance.
• Boosts cetane.
• Improves gas mileage.
• Comes in two sizes; 8.45 oz, 16.9 oz.

Features:

• Concentrated to clean all internal deposits and the entire injection system.
• Contains professional-grade cetane booster.
• Stabilizes stored fuel.
• Lubricant added to protect the entire injection system.
• Restores unresponsive throttle.
• Increases gas mileage.
• Reduces harmful emissions.
• Improves cold-starting.

Features:

• Safe to use with all diesel and biodiesel blends. Can be used in farm/marine diesels and home heating diesel.
• Removes deposits built up on injectors, and pumps.
• Adds lubrication to the system to protect it against wear and corrosion. Also provides protection in the injectors, pumps and upper cylinders.
• Eliminates water in the fuel.
• Increases gas mileage.
• Guaranteed to boost a diesel’s performance by at least 5%.
• Eliminates microbial growth.
• Reduces harmful emissions.
• Comes in two sizes; 8 oz, 32 oz

There are numerous injector cleaner products on the market that basically all perform in the same way. When purchasing a cleaner, base your selection on the criteria we discussed earlier on what to look for in a cleaner. Use that information as a guideline in selecting what product is best for you and your vehicle.

Some of the products are not designed to work in winter seasons; however, if you live in a warm climate where the temperatures rarely drop below 30 degrees (F), there are no worries. You can confidently use the cleaner without fear of it becoming gelatinous in your engine.

If after looking over our recommendations, you are still scratching your head not quite sure what to get, we have narrowed down our “best of the best” to the top-three.

Best

Power Service Diesel Kleen + Cetane Boost

This product was the best-rated product by consumers.

Better

Archoil AR6200 Fuel Treatment

This product cleans as well as reduces microbial growth.

Good

Howes 103067 Meaner Power Diesel Kleaner

This is a comprehensive robust cleaner.

Routinely using a diesel fuel injector cleaner will keep your diesel working at its best!