"Carbon buildup on fuel injectors"

[KSC 2019 XLT]

Went into Ford dealership to get AC extended warranty work and the service advisor said the technician told her there is carbon buildup in the fuel injectors and I should do the fuel system service. She said they do a courtesy check of vehicles and this is what they found out. Is this service needed? I don't know what's the cost as she bundled the quote over the phone with other stuff she was trying to sell me.

2019 Expy with 63,000 miles.

 

[Fastcar]

Sounds like a money grab to me.

 

[Dice Roll]

Run a top tier gas like Costco and if you are feeling groggy, put some stabil 360 in. It’s a fuel system cleaner too. Won’t hurt and much much cheaper.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Went into Ford dealership to get AC extended warranty work and the service advisor said the technician told her there is carbon buildup in the fuel injectors and I should do the fuel system service. She said they do a courtesy check of vehicles and this is what they found out. Is this service needed? I don't know what's the cost as she bundled the quote over the phone with other stuff she was trying to sell me.

2019 Expy with 63,000 miles.

I would ask the service advisor how the technician determined there was carbon buildup on the fuel injectors?

 

[JasonH]

I would ask the service advisor how the technician determined there was carbon buildup on the fuel injectors?

I seriously doubt they pulled the injectors to check for carbon buildup. Sounds like the stealership tryna steal.

OP: Just use top tier fuel and you'll be fine.

 

[Left Coast Geek]

my long time experience is, good fuel and/or fuel additives can help KEEP injectors clean, but once they are crusty beyond what an 'italian tuneup' can deal with, nothing really helps. Now, true, those were all manifold injection systems, not direct injection, except one high mileage diesel truck...

 

[Boosted]

I would ask the service advisor how the technician determined there was carbon buildup on the fuel injectors?

Oh, that report will come from our Accounting Department.

 

[bmpcamry09]

Lol. There’s no way they actually checked your injectors. That said, as much as I hate dealers (being a former dealer tech myself), if they offer BG products for the fuel system cleaning, that stuff is actually legit and works very well. Worth the price IMO. Plus you used to get a warranty on parts affected by the BG services. Not sure that’s still a thing.

For what it’s worth, when I did my cam phasers at 100k on my 18 Expedition, I also went ahead and replaced all 6 DI injectors and all 6 port injectors while I was in there as preventative maintenance. I run exclusively top tier 93 octane, plus Lucas fuel injector cleaner every oil change, and the tops of my DI injectors were actually still pretty carboned up! And I drive tuned and drive hard. Tops of my pistons were perfectly clean though.

If it were my money, and if it’s a BG service, I’d have them go ahead and do it. The BG engine treatment stuff works great too. Prior owner of my Expedition had that done twice and when I did my cam phasers, the entire engine was spotless untarnished and clean aluminum!

 

[Danm355]

Went into Ford dealership to get AC extended warranty work and the service advisor said the technician told her there is carbon buildup in the fuel injectors and I should do the fuel system service. She said they do a courtesy check of vehicles and this is what they found out. Is this service needed? I don't know what's the cost as she bundled the quote over the phone with other stuff she was trying to sell me.

2019 Expy with 63,000 miles.

 

[Danm355]

Run Mobil gas because that helps clean injectors and go to an auto store and get some injector cleaner and run through your gas tank. I run a fuel injector cleaner through my tank with every oil change.

 

[sjwhiteley]

I would still like to know how they came up with that diagnosis - I can't believe it's such a short job to remove an injector for inspection that it would not be billable hours. Indeed, I'm sure they would have to record the time, somewhere, that they did such a thing.

 

[5280tunage]

Before I add my opinion, i'll start by saying I've always been a big BG/Lucas/Seafoam fan in my older big ol' V8's. But I've started doing less and less additives in general. I use pretty good fuel, given I'm in Denver, and I always use Mobil1 and Purple oils.

Interestingly, I used to use a lot of Lucas additives in Oil, but only do it about every other oil change anymore. I'm not sure the Mobil1 needs it, and after reading this, it may not be a good idea in general - https://www.motor1.com/news/719617/oil-additives-test/

years and years ago, when i used to race my acura, we used to use tons of fuel additives to try and combat the forced induction, fuel pressures, and even the occasional burst of NOS, but I slowly stopped as it seemed like a waste. interestingly i found this old test that went into it a little bit. https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/impp-1106-fuel-system-cleaners/

I think this is one of those topics that each person could go far one way or another. My biggest concern is with the complexity of these vehicles, direct/port injection, emissions systems, lightweight materials, it feels like the risk of damaging more than improving things is going up a lot.

 

[Mr Big]

I put a can of Seafoam in my gas talks a couple times a year. I never had an injector issue. I can't say it helps but my mechanic swears by it.