Best Fuel Injector Cleaners

A clogged fuel injector can greatly reduce engine performance. If you notice frequent stalling or sputtering, it’s possible a fuel injector cleaner could be exactly what your engine needs. While a fuel injector cleaner or fuel system cleaner won’t turn an old pickup truck into an F1 racecar, it is a low-cost means to improve engine performance.

You can expect the best fuel injector cleaners to improve rough idling and fuel efficiency, prevent carbon buildup in your engine, and more. Customers who have used one, some, or all of our recommended fuel additives stand by these products and their effectiveness.

Fuel injection cleaners are not miracle cures for every engine ailment. These formulas are a low-cost way to mildly improve engine performance and fuel economy. If you notice that your engine is running roughly, a clogged fuel injector could be the culprit.

Fuel Injector Cleaner Vs. Fuel System Cleaner

You may need to try several options to find which type of fuel injector cleaner works best for your vehicle. Sometimes, you’ll see products labelled as either fuel injector cleaners, or fuel system cleaners. Generally, a fuel system cleaner with contain stronger chemicals and more additives.

• Fuel injector cleaner: This type of fuel additive works best on more modern cars with fuel injector engines. This type of product is designed to clean the fuel injectors, valves, and fuel lines. Fuel injector cleaners typically include solvent-based additives.
• Fuel system cleaner: This type of fuel additive is most effective on carbureted engines or older vehicles. This type of product is meant to clean out the entirety of a car’s fuel system. Fuel system cleaners typically consist of detergent-based additives.

It is typically recommended that you add a fuel injector cleaner to an almost empty gas tank right before filling up. This helps the cleaner mix with the gas and maximizes the effectiveness of the fuel injector cleaner.

How Do I Know If I Need A Fuel Injector Cleaner?

Your engine will tell you when it needs to be cleaned. Classic signs of clogged fuel injectors are: 

• Engine misfirings
• Rough idling
• Poor gas mileage 
• Dancing tachometer needle
• Your vehicle’s engine has simply died

When Do I See The Benefits Of A Fuel Injector Cleaner?

The timeline for a fuel injector cleaner to take effect will vary depending on the conditions of the unit. If your vehicle’s fuel injector is full of debris and other deposits, one treatment may have little effect on performance.

The same is true if your engine is already clean and operating optimally since there will be little for the driver to notice.

1. Most Versatile: Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant & Fuel Injector Cleaner
2. Best Fuel System Cleaner: Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus
3. Best Value: STP Fuel Injector & Carburetor Cleaner
4. Best for Clogs: Red Line 60103 Complete SI-1 Fuel System Cleaner
5. Royal Purple 18000 Max Atomizer

The Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant & Fuel Injector Cleaner is formulated for both gasoline engines and diesel engines. This fuel injector cleaner consists of a powerful blend of oils and additives that don’t contain solvents. Designed to increase power and fuel efficiency, this cleaner simultaneously lowers exhaust emissions. This is one of the best all-around and most versatile fuel injector cleaners that will work for almost any engine.

The fuel injector cleaner will improve your vehicle’s overall engine performance as the cleaning agents lubricate and remove carbon deposits in your fuel injection system. The product lengthens the lifespan of fuel pumps and diesel injectors while providing a thorough fuel injector cleaning. It should be noted that this fuel additive complies with federal low sulfur content requirements.

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.8 out of 5 based on over 380 reviews

One reviewer mentions this fuel additive increased the fuel economy in their 1996 Jeep Cherokee, while another mentions it increased their vehicle’s horsepower. Many reviewers speak to how well this product cleans out their entire fuel system.

The Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus Fuel System Cleaner works on both fuel-injected engines and carbureted engines. This product is designed to reduce rough idle, engine surge, and spark plug fouling, all things that can easily damage your engine.

This fuel system cleaner from Chevron features the company’s patented Techron® fuel additive technology. This slightly improves fuel economy in addition to cleaning your engine.

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 7,700 reviews

Reviewers point to the improvement in fuel efficiency once they started using this fuel system cleaner regularly. One reviewer claims the product made their V8 Chevy’s rough idle turn into smoother idling than they’d ever experienced in a car. A large number of reviewers also recommend replacing your spark plugs in tandem with beginning to use this product, as that will fully eliminate any carbon buildup.

The STP Fuel Injector & Carburetor Cleaner is exceptionally affordable, less than half the price of most fuel injector cleaners. STP reduces carbon deposit buildup and fights engine friction. Additionally, the redesigned fuel additive bottle is compatible with cap-less fuel tanks.

This fuel injector cleaner helps your car avoid issues such as rough idling, weak acceleration, and stalling. However, it should be noted that the product only works on gasoline engines.

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 1,000 reviews

Reviewers note that this added several gallons of fuel to their vehicle’s mileage or miles per gallon (MPG), with one seeing their 2017 Honda Pilot go from 16.0 mpg to a high mileage of 20.0 mpg. Gas mileage isn’t the only thing that impresses customers, as another reviewer mentions it cured his engine’s cylinder misfire. Many reviewers rave over the price of this high-quality product. Several negative reviews complain that one of the 5.25-ounce bottles was empty upon arrival.

Meant to be used every 3,000.0 miles for gasoline or petrol engines, the Red Line 60103 Complete SI-1 Fuel System Cleaner is designed to prevent corrosion in fuel systems. This fuel system cleaner contains upper cylinder lubricant and reduces an engine’s octane requirement by up to two points. It should be noted that the fuel additive won’t damage oxygen sensors or catalytic converters.

For the most effective results, the manufacturer recommends using one bottle per tank.  This concentrated and detergent-based fuel system cleaner cleans injectors, carburetors, valves, fuel lines, and combustion chamber deposits with ease.

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 5,000 reviews

Reviews speak to the fuel system cleaner’s ability to get the gum out of dirty fuel injectors and de-gunking the complete fuel system. One reviewer notes that it fixed the throttle response on their vehicle with over 200,000.0 miles. Negative reviews claim this product didn’t fix their fuel intake valve issues.

The Royal Purple 18000 Max Atomizer Fuel Injector Cleaner is designed for use in both gasoline and diesel engines. This fuel injector cleaner will restore fuel economy, stabilize ethanol, maximize horsepower, and improve responsiveness. The product is fully synthetic and is specially formulated to solve issues with modern-day direct injection engines.

Royal Purple’s Max Atomizer line of fuel injector cleaners features highly concentrated polyetheramine (PEA) detergents, which quickly and efficiently clean clogged injectors.

The manufacturer asserts that this specific model of Royal Purple Max Atomizer is the only fuel injector cleaner that stabilizes ethanol. Ethanol is known to absorb moisture, which can corrode engine parts. The amount of ethanol in low-quality fuel pumps paired with a lack of detergents means that most cars need fuel treatment of some kind.

What Customers Are Saying

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 1,800 reviews

Reviews mention how beneficial it is that this fuel injector cleaner includes a fuel stabilizer in it. One reviewer was simply pleased that it got all the gunk out of his motorcycle’s injectors and he won’t have to worry about clogging for a while. Many reviewers note their improved gas mileage after using this fuel injector cleaner. Negative reviews note that the product arrived unsealed.

Running fuel injector cleaner through your engine is good practice for older vehicles. While this solution cannot repair a broken engine, it can help preserve and clean old engines. Clogged fuel lines can be the source of stalling and poor emissions performance.

You may need to experiment with different engine cleaners to determine which work best for your vehicle. Our top recommendation based on customer review research is Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant & Fuel Injector Cleaner. Those looking for a low-cost option might consider STP Fuel Injector & Carburetor Cleaner.

*Data accurate at time of publication.