Auto expert warned about the dangers of fuel additives in case of illiterate use
Modern fuels can be unstable in quality, with high levels of sulfur, tar, water, and mechanical impurities. For complex automotive internal combustion engines with turbines, direct injection and sensitive catalysts, this is a real risk of accelerated wear. In such a situation, the proper use of additives can indeed become an additional protection, but chaotic amateur experiments can speed up expensive repairs. Nikita Rodionov, technical director of the international franchise network of car service centers, told Izvestia on July 21.
As the specialist explained, additives can be conditionally divided into two groups: preventive and professional, designed to work through special equipment. Preventive formulations for gasoline and diesel usually perform several functions at once: they slightly increase the octane or cetane number, improve the lubricating properties of the fuel, gently clean the injectors and lines, displace moisture from the tank and protect the system from corrosion.
"For the average car owner, this is a way to reduce the impact of shallow fuel quality problems, especially if the car is operated in the city, often stands in traffic jams and refuels at different gas stations. But even such products require strict adherence to the dosage. The place of purchase of such a composition is especially important. After all, online stores and marketplaces can also offer untested goods. You also need to remember that an additive is an addition to normal maintenance, not a replacement for filters, oil and diagnostics," Rodionov said.
Professional cleaners of injectors, injection systems and turbines are much more concentrated products that are designed to work through high—pressure equipment or specialized stands. Their task is to deeply clean the sprayers, the combustion chamber, the exhaust system, restore the geometry of the spray torch and eliminate the jamming of the turbine geometry without dismantling. If, in the hands of a professional car mechanic, such tools allow you to return the engine to its normal parameters without resorting to disassembly, then the independent use of such chemicals by eye can do more harm than good, the expert pointed out. In case of overdose, powerful solvents attack not only carbon deposits, but also protective coatings, rubber, and when they get into the crankcase, they can worsen the properties of engine oil.
"The main mistake that we see today is an attempt to solve serious technical problems solely with additives. If the fuel filter is destroyed, the injectors are mechanically worn out, the catalyst is clogged, and the oil has long lost its properties, no additive will restore the engine's life. It can temporarily smooth out the symptoms — reduce smoke, slightly improve start—up or dynamics, but the root of the malfunction will remain and will soon reappear," the specialist emphasized.
The expert called other mistakes when using such additives exceeding the recommended dosages, mixing several strong additives, and using professional chemicals in the household. As a result, the engine control unit gets an unpredictable gorenje pattern, the load on the catalyst and oxygen sensors increases, and the risk of failure of the fuel equipment only increases. It is better to make all decisions on additives together with the car service, which is responsible and guarantees its work, Rodionov summed up.
Earlier, on June 25, the expert stated that the use of so-called fuel pills, which appeared on marketplaces and allegedly artificially increase the octane number of cheap gasoline, instead of benefits, is guaranteed to lead owners to overhaul the engine.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
