Diesel fuel injector cleaner does work but only as part of a maintenance plan, not as a substitute for professional cleaning and inspections.

I recommend regularly using diesel fuel injector cleaners and scheduling professional cleanings when I tell my clients how to clean diesel injectors.

In this guide on how to clean diesel fuel injectors, I’ll cover the best way to clean fuel injectors at home. I’ll also explain why cleaning diesel injectors works well to maintain your vehicle between professional cleanings.

Quick Guide to Cleaning Diesel Injectors

A clogged fuel injector can’t deliver the right amount of fuel to the cylinder and can lead to higher emissions, damage to engine components, and decreased performance
Cleaning diesel fuel injectors at home involves using bottled diesel injector cleaner to remove buildup
For stubborn build up, schedule a professional fuel injector cleaning
Diesel cleaners may help improve engine performance, maximise the lifespan of fuel injector components, and improve fuel efficiency
Excessive exhaust smoke, loss of power, misfiring, and increased fuel consumption may indicate your fuel injector needs to be replaced
Never use gasoline to clean diesel fuel injectors
Using fuel injector cleaner approximately every 4,800 kilometres of driving is a common recommendation
Diesel injector cleaners work but they should be used as part of a maintenance plan, not as a substitute for professional fuel injector cleaning

How to Clean Diesel Fuel Injectors

Diesel fuel particles can build up in the fuel system over time, leading to clogged injectors and reduced overall performance.

I recommend cleaning diesel fuel injectors on a regular basis, both at home and at professional cleanings.

At home, diesel fuel cleaner additives can be used to reduce buildup in between professional fuel injector cleanings. Consider adding fuel injector cleaning additives once or twice a month, depending on your mileage.

Using bottled diesel fuel cleaner is straightforward and user-friendly but for stubborn buildup, I recommend a professional fuel injector cleaning.

Professional diesel injector cleaning requires commercial equipment and specialised knowledge to clear away tough buildup and deposits and is significantly more effective than bottled cleaners.

Bottled diesel injector cleaners can help reduce buildup and deposits around the injectors between professional cleanings. It can also help lubricate the fuel to protect engine components.

Using bottled diesel injector cleaner is as simple as adding it directly to the fuel filter when the fuel tank is almost empty.

Here are the steps on how to clean diesel fuel injectors using a fuel cleaner:

Step 1: Purchase a diesel fuel cleaner that is meant for diesel fuel and compatible with your engine (check that your engine type or vehicle model is listed on the package)
Step 2: Warm up your engine for several minutes
Step 3: Turn off the engine and remove the key from the ignition
Step 4: Open the fuel tank
Step 5: Fill the fuel tank with the recommended amount of diesel fuel cleaner additive
Step 6: Fill up the fuel tank the rest of the way with diesel fuel
Step 7: Ensure there is no air in the filter or its housing and close the fuel tank
Step 8: Run the engine for several minutes
Step 9: Turn off the engine and allow the additive time to work and purify the fuel system
Step 10: After several more minutes, start the engine and drive the vehicle about 10 to 30 minutes to completely cycle the fuel cleaner through the system

If adding a diesel fuel cleaner does not work, I recommend scheduling a professional diesel fuel injector cleaning.

Does Diesel Injector Cleaner Work?

My customers are always wondering, “Does diesel injector cleaner work?”. With so many opinions and products out there, I know it can be a confusing topic.

I recommend diesel injector cleaners as a way to remove deposits and buildup to help optimise engine performance. Good quality diesel injector cleaners contain solvents to dissolve buildup and lubricant to help protect the fuel system’s components.

There’s a lot of advice out there and some conflicting opinions but I like to rely on what I’ve personally seen over my decades in the industry.

Studies are limited on diesel injector cleaners, but testing revealed that clean injectors resulted in improved fuel efficiency for heavy vehicles.

For best results, diesel injector cleaner should be used approximately every 4,800 kilometres of driving. Some vehicles, especially if driven aggressively, will need the fuel injectors cleaned sooner.

When I’m doing a lot of beach driving in my 4×4 or doing a lot of off-roading, I like to add diesel injector cleaner more often. Using bottled diesel fuel injector cleaner every 3,000 km seems to be the ideal schedule for my 4×4.

Most importantly, diesel injector cleaning products are a complement, not a substitute, for professional fuel injection cleanings.

When routinely using a fuel cleaner additive, it is rare for high-quality diesel fuel injectors to get clogged. However, I recommend having a professional deep clean for every 30,000 to 50,000 kilometres of driving. This will help optimise engine performance and maximise the lifespan of the fuel injector and other engine components.

The Importance of Cleaning Diesel Injectors

Over time, build up can form on the tips of fuel injectors, leading to decreased efficiency and increased wear and tear on components.

Clean, functioning fuel injectors are crucial for maximising fuel efficiency and the overall performance of your diesel engine.

Benefits of cleaning diesel injectors include:

Increases in power and torque
Improved overall engine performance
Improved acceleration
Smoother idling
Reduced emissions
Improved throttle response and fuel efficiency
Reduced wear and tear on fuel injectors and engine components
Reduction of turbo lag
Enhanced driving experience and vehicle agility

Considerations When Cleaning Diesel Injectors

Here are important considerations to remember when cleaning diesel injectors:

Don’t Use Gasoline — This is my #1 rule for cleaning diesel injectors: do not add gasoline to diesel fuel to clean the injectors. I’ve had a few unfortunate customers come in over the years who had tried this idea after hearing it recommended online. Gasoline can strip the lubricating films from the common rail injection system and lead to damage. If you take one thing away from this article, remember to never use gasoline to clean diesel fuel injectors.

Use High-Quality Fuel — Using clean, high-quality diesel fuel that matches the cetane rating for your engine helps prevent injector deposits. Never run contaminated fuel.

Don’t Neglect Fuel Filter Replacement — Change your fuel filters regularly and according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Dirty fuel filters allow contaminants to reach the injectors and reduce their performance.

Ensure Engine Oil Quality — Use engine oil with the right viscosity rating for your vehicle and change the oil at proper intervals. Contaminated or dirty engine oil can indirectly reduce injector performance.

Maintain Proper Fuel Pressure — Ensure your fuel pressure is maintained according to the engine’s specifications. If you notice performance problems, I recommend having a mechanic check over your vehicle to make sure the fuel lines, fuel filter, pressure regulator, and fuel pump are all clean and working properly.

Signs Your Diesel Injector Might Need Replacing

Sometimes a diesel injector just needs a good cleaning. But it is important to know the difference between a dirty diesel injector and one that is worn and needs replacing.

I’ve seen rare cases where common rail diesel injectors last over 300,000 km but the typical diesel injector lifespan is between 80,000 and 160,000 km. The fuel injector lifespan depends on the vehicle model, quality of fuel used, injector type, maintenance routine, and driving conditions.

Bottled diesel fuel injector cleaners can help decrease and prevent buildup in between professional cleanings. However, even with the best maintenance and regular high-grade fuel and injector treatments, all fuel injectors eventually require replacement.

It is important to know when fuel injectors are worn and require replacement, not just a cleaning.

Cleaning a fuel injection system that requires replacement may loosen build-ups that get pushed through the system and cause damage. If you try using a bottled fuel injector cleaner and it does not resolve the issue, contact a mechanic immediately.

Here are signs that your diesel injector may need replacing:

You tried a bottled diesel fuel cleaner but did not notice any performance improvements (you may even notice that it worsens the issue)
Loss of power or acceleration
Overall poor performance
Trouble starting the engine
Misfiring on start-up
Excessive exhaust or blue exhaust smoke
Increased fuel consumption
Raw fuel smell in the exhaust or fuel smell inside the vehicle
You have over 80,000 km on your vehicle
Rough idling
Frequent stalling

If you notice any of these symptoms, it is crucial to schedule an appointment to have your injectors inspected and replaced if necessary

Final Thoughts: Does Diesel Injector Cleaner Work?

Yes, diesel injector cleaner does work but they are best used as part of overall vehicle maintenance.

Although diesel injector cleaners may improve fuel efficiency and performance, they cannot replace professional cleanings and inspections.

Along with regularly cleaning your diesel injector, use high-quality fuel, don’t use gasoline, maintain proper fuel pressure, change your fuel filter regularly, and schedule a professional cleaning for your vehicle.

Elite Tune, we have the decades of experience and specialised equipment needed to repair and service diesel fuel injection components and keep your 4×4 running smoothly. We also offer a range of injector upgrades to take your 4WD to the highest level of performance.

Ready to experience the difference our team’s expertise can make for the performance and lifespan of your 4×4? Enquire about injector upgrades or professional diesel fuel injector cleanings and get your free quote.