Even if public opinion is changing, diesel is still a great fuel choice. Its near-unbeatable fuel efficiency over long distances and its ability to save money at the pump make it a great choice, although, like any engine, it thrives best when looked after with regular maintenance and some TLC from fuel additives or diesel injector cleaners to keep it spritely.
If you run a modern diesel vehicle regularly and notice a decrease in power and fuel efficiency over time, it could be due to carbon build-up in the engine’s injectors. The role of injectors is – quite simply – to inject fuel into the engine’s cylinders and over time, the combustion process is prone to leaving carbon deposits. This is quite a common process if the engine has built up a lot of miles, but this issue can easily be resolved using diesel injector cleaners. Diesel engine cleaners are also available if you feel the need to clean out more than just the injectors of your engine.
There are both diesel and petrol engine cleaners available to treat your vehicle. However, due to their role and delicacy, the fuel injectors are quite a common spot for carbon build-up, which can directly affect your car’s performance and fuel efficiency. It can also affect the level of pollution your car produces, which may be bad news for its next MOT.
The best diesel injector cleaners at a glance
Thankfully, there are additives that can help clear these injectors and improve the overall running of your car. We’ve been exploring what these additives are all about, and here are our picks of the best diesel injector cleaners to help you save money on fuel and potentially maintenance costs.
The best diesel injector cleaners
Best diesel injector cleaner
Rrp: $23.95
Rrp: $23.95
Pros
- Helps improve the efficiency of older diesel engines
- Added protection against rust and corrosion in the fuel system
- Great value for money at under £8 per bottle
Cons
- Can take a few days to take effect
| Volume: | 325ml |
Editor's choice
Pros
- Effective on cleaning carbon deposits in the injection system
- Good value for money at under £7
- Can help against rough idling
Cons
- Less effective on more refined engines
- You only get 200ml of cleaner rather than 325ml in the Wynn's product
| Volume: | 200ml |
The best thorough diesel injector cleaner
It also comes in 500ml guise, which is a little more than the 325ml bottles that Wynn's offer as standard. A full bottle is designed for up to 60-litres of diesel and ensures your engine is running smoothly.
Pros
- A more thorough solution than the standard injector cleaner from Wynn's
- Helps clear carbon deposits off the EGR valves and turbocharger(s) as well
- Can help your engine run more smoothly
Cons
- Doesn't represent as good value as the standard cleaner
Best for continuous use
If you like to use additive on every fill-up, the Redex diesel cleaner is your best for regular cleaning and maintenance. The best part is this cleaner comes in two doses, meaning you'll be able to clean your engine twice or treat two vehicles with each bottle.
Pros
- Two shots in one bottle
- Larger quantities available in both diesel and petrol cleaner
- Can be used at every fuel fill-up, if you like regularly treating your engine
Cons
- Not the most powerful cleaning agent
| Volume: | 250ml |
Best diesel injector cleaner for cold starts
To use this Forte injection cleaner appropriately, simply add the contents of the bottle to your fuel tank along with about 40 litres of diesel - the chemical makeup of the product will take care of the rest.
Pros
- Great in winter - particularly upon cold starts
- Helps improve a bit of performance and efficiency
- Can potentially help with engine misfires and rough running, too
Cons
- It's a bit less effective in warmer weather
| Volume: | 400ml |
Best for high mileage cars
The older these deposit build-ups become, the tougher they can be can be to tackle. This formula is slightly stronger than the regular STP injector cleaner, and that's because it's designed to be tougher and tackle thicker carbon deposits.
Pros
- Great for high-mileage diesel cars
- High quality additive, as per STP's range
- Can be used every 300-miles or so
Cons
- Perhaps a bit strong for newer/lower mileage engines
| Volume: | 250ml |
Best twin-pack injector cleaner
It can treat up to 60-litres of diesel and is even claimed to initiate smooth ignition in colder weather - making it great for winter use as well as all-year round.
Pros
- Good value for money for a twin pack
- Suitable for both car and van diesel engines
- Helps make engines run more smoothly
Cons
- Not as thorough as other products available
The most thorough diesel injector and fuel system cleaner
Designed to be used (a full 500ml bottle) for every 15-litres of fuel every three-months, Cataclean's product is a great option to try out before diagnosing faulty engine components. This in-turn, can lead to a prevention of expensive repairs if some parts only needed a clean if your diesel engine isn't running as it should be.
The best part? There is even a petrol engine option as well.
Pros
- A very thorough cleaner designed to tackle the notorious parts of an engine
- Cleans everything from injectors to to DPF filters and more
- Doesn't have to be used regularly
Cons
- Usage instructions (500ml per 15L every three-months) are quite precise
Diesel Injector Cleaner: FAQs
What do you need to know about diesel injector cleaners?
Carbon build-up in your engine can affect your car in many ways. The most extreme examples are black smoke and a strained, noisy ignition (not to mention those scary engine warning lights). Reduced performance and increased fuel usage are also common, as the deposits make your engine run rougher. If you notice any of these in your diesel car, your first port of call should be looking at an injector cleaner.
How often do you need to use diesel injector cleaner?
Carbon deposits from diesel injectors can start to form very early on in an engine’s service life. While they may start to appear between the first 1000 to 2000 miles, you may not need to clean them until you’ve passed 3000-4000 miles. Any further than this, and you may start seeing a drop in performance.
With that said, higher mileage engines will most likely need injector cleaners the most. A lot of diesel injector failures stem from dirty and clogged-up units caused by carbon deposits. Injector cleaners act as a great form of preventative maintenance to ensure some longevity to your engine.
Good maintenance generally leads to good performance and reliability. Regular servicing, including frequent oil changes and engine flushes (if and when necessary), can reduce the risk of engine problems. Depending on what product you go for, it’s generally good practice to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Is diesel injector cleaner safe?
Yes, diesel injector cleaners are safe to use in most, if not any car or van diesel engine. You need to use them according tot he manufacturers’ instructions, and your engine will end up thanking you for it. Simply put, they clean the injectors that insert diesel into the combustion chamber of your engine and if left dirty with carbon deposits overtime, they will end up being less effective or stop working altogether.
Is diesel injector cleaner worth it?
In the grand scheme of things, yes. While these working components are in use, they will end up wearing out at some point, diesel injector cleaner (and engine cleaners in general) help improve the longevity of vital fuel system components – making the injectors, filters and so-on last longer.
This on its own can save you a lot of cash in the long run, and then there’s the added benefit of your engine running smoothly and efficiently; an untreated diesel engine will use up more diesel than one that’s being regularly cleaned and the same applies to petrol engines and subsequent cleaners.
With that said however, they won’t magically repair every unhealthy engine. If you feel your diesel engine is running rough, our advice is to always try some engine and/or injector cleaner and see if that makes any difference. If after a few bottles it doesn’t improve, then a deeper issue could lay within – such as the injectors themselves being faulty and in need of replacement.
How we choose
All of these diesel injector cleaners have been hand-selected by our team of experts who have spent hours investigating and researching diesel injector cleaners to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we’d never recommend a product we don’t believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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