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In 1975 I began using Techron to clean the injectors in my Opal wagon. The gasoline, and the stations that sold it then, were full of water and crap and it killed fuel injectors. After going through replacement injectors multiple times I found Techron at a BMW garage some distance away and began using it. I've used it ever since, and I've never had another injector problem.

I keep two old "dry gas" containers that I keep filled with Techron and Marvel Mystery Oil (wish the name didn't sound like that), one I keep in the garage and one in the vehicle. EVERY time I fill up I put that container of Techron and MMO in first. Afterward, of course, I switch with the full one and refill the empty. And the cycle goes on.

There is lots of history behind MMO to be found, for doubters. I have my own history. Because I've tuned multiple turbo cars, among others, to the ragged edge the last thing one wants is a malfunctioning fuel injector. These past years with Subaru turbo cars I've also had WBO2s to monitor things, and have always remained trouble free. I am certain the Techron and MMO are responsible for that trouble free success, and I'm not about to second guess myself now. If it works, don't fix it.

To the OP - "self cleaning fuel injectors"...? Seriously? Ever see one or look at how they're made or how they work?

 

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I grew up using MMO in my engines, as my father before me. Haven't ever used it in a Subaru, not sure why not.

How much Techron do you toss into the gas, and how much MMO? What I mean is it a single bottle, dry gas sized, of a 50-50 blend? Or a dry gas sized bottle of each?

Sorry to sound so dense, been a long day. :redface:

Each container gets 5 oz of Techron and 5 or 6 oz of MMO.

I'm not the only one I know who does this, BTW. Since mentioning it years ago others have related similar use of a "special sauce." Like I said, doubters... meh.

When I got my '05 LGT in Sept '04 it was an exciting day. It was the first in our area and had been acquired from another state. It had paint issues, a rotor that was scored, and it idled and drove like crap. First thing I did (besides hitting the rev limiter :icon_biggrin: ) was drive to NAPA and get some Techron. The next day it ran flawlessly and did the 80k afterward I had it.

The various forums often have threads where cars run rough and idle poorly, or stall at lights because the RPM drop too low. Many times that's simply because the injectors are dirty. Subaru injectors, and others, have many tiny orifices instead of one large one like the first injectors. The multiple-orifice injectors help atomize the gasoline better and provides better emissions performance as well as fuel economy. But, they are more sensitive to fuel quality and contaminants. That's why Chevron, e.g., advertises their injector cleaner gasoline.

MMO has a long history of solving problems, sometimes where nothing else would. It has provided trouble-free and perfect performance from every gasoline engine I've owned since discovering it, from motorcycles to weed eaters and lawn mowers. All except the cars have been carbureted, engines benefit from Techron and MMO with and without injectors. Obviously, the quantity is adjusted to relative volume.

 

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How would an owner/driver know an injector was "dirty"? Whilst I occasionally use a fuel system cleaner, I do wonder whether Ford's claims are as much snake oil as the cleaners are...

Many of the so-called injector cleaners are "snake oil" IMO. At one time I tried them all, mostly looking for a cheaper and often easier to find alternative to Techron. As time went on I discovered the consistent performance of Techron made testing others a waste of time and money.

If your injectors are impaired your idle will tell you first. At low rpm the injector duty cycle is very short and the atomization critical. Any loss in injector performance shows up there first. with rough uneven idle, stalling, and "stuttering." Fuel economy will obviously suffer. A WBO2 would show air/fuel ratios off. A seriously bad injector on a turbo motor can cost an engine rebuild. Injector health is serious business.

 

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Despite the OMG of DFI, my confidence in MMO and Techron as additives to my gasoline is absolute.

Both my '14 FXT and '14 2.5i have been receiving the pre-fillup cocktails since purchase, and both are doing just fine. I've got over 30 mpg on an extended trip with the FXT, for example, and performance is flawless. The 2.5i is abused, with lots of very short runs here in the city, yet again, it also operates flawlessly.

There is more to "deposits" in an engine than the valve area. Rings, for example, suffer as well piston crowns, etc. Both can cause serious issues. MMO is particularly effective here.

Subaru has uniquely addressed DFI valve deposits with their proprietary and patented oil separator - a part of every '14 Forester XT. Its job is to remove the oil vapors responsible for the valve deposits. IMO MMO keeps ring deposits down and their seal effective, and Techron makes sure the gasoline is evenly dispersed by the injectors - both, therefore, helping the Subaru AOS minimize intake valve deposits.

As always, however, "time will tell," but I'm comfortable that my proactive gasoline treatment will keep my engines working better than without it. It always has.

 

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Extending OCIs until UOAs indicate you've gone too far is in the same boat with only attending to the health of injectors once or twice a year, IMO. Nor do I wait until I'm fat to go on a diet, or suddenly discover I'm out of shape to initiate exercise activity. Life is a continuity... YMMV, but I KEEP things good that are good, instead of waiting until they're not.

Ok, so what kind of injectors does the N/A FB25 motor have?

Tony, you pose an excellent question. No online search provides answers, but from looking at my engine it is obvious they're top-feeds, and smaller than I'm used to. They're in the head, as elsewhere revealed, as opposed to the intake in EJ series engines. The entire observable fuel system is different, in fact. The fuel "rails" are large and center fed, excellent design. Also, unlike the earlier systems, the fuel lines are not metal... in itself an address, I believe, to the resonances that plagued earlier fuel systems.

No aftermarket fuel injector supplier lists replacements that I could find. No reason to either.

It is no stretch, however, to assume the FB's injectors are multi-orifice just like the others are. Capacity and other specs will be in Subaru's database. The specs most are concerned about will be revealed if/when someone provides a look into the FB ECU. Meanwhile, the exact answers are moot beyond the above.

 

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Read here, more information:

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f183/new-fb-engine-direct-injection-108149/

Thanks, Tony. Read it. No fuel injector revelations there.