Fuel system cleaning cost can vary wildly from about $20 to over $1000. The variance in cost has a lot to do with what sort of cleaning you decide to use. Of course, you’re wondering, is the $1000 cleaning really worth that kind of money?
The answer: probably not. An expensive fuel system cleaning will include the removal of all your injectors to have them cleaned and tested individually while they are out of your engine. Unless you drive a race car and need maximum power or you are sure you’ve got a fuel injector that is so clogged it won’t even open this kind of cleaning will provide little to no benefit to your car.
So what is included in a fuel system cleaning? First, it’s important to know what components are actually included in your fuel system.
Fuel System Components
- Fuel tank
- Fuel pump pre-filter
- Fuel Pump
- Fuel filter
- Fuel lines
- Fuel rail
- Fuel injectors
- Fuel pressure regulator
All of these components serve a special role in your fuel system and all of them will get extremely dirty over time. Even the smallest amount of impurities in your fuel will add up over the thousands of gallons of gas your car uses in its lifetime. Your fuel tank will gather these deposits as well as other dirt and debris that enter it during filling. Your pre-filter and the regular filter will do their best to catch what they can but also aren’t perfect. All the twists and bends in your fuel lines and fuel rail make for a perfect place for debris to settle and the tiny openings in your fuel injectors and fuel pressure regulator can only let certain size particles through allowing large ones to start blocking their openings.
Fuel Filters
When it comes to your fuel filters… Change them! It’s inexpensive insurance to make sure everything in your fuel system stays as clean as possible We agree with Your Mechanic that every 2 years or 30,000 miles is a good rule for changing your regular fuel filter. Since the fuel pump pre-filter is usually much more difficult to change, we only recommend changing that filter when changing your fuel pump or as often as your manufacturer recommends.
When it comes to cleaning the other components in your fuel system you’ve got 2 options. A chemical cleaning, or removing and mechanically clean them. As we talked about with your fuel injectors, removing them and cleaning them off the car is often overkill for a regularly driven road car so we recommend a chemical cleaning. Luckily, BlueDevil Complete Fuel System Cleaner is an easy to use chemical cleaning agent that can be added to your fuel tank and will travel through your fuel system dissolving deposits and restoring your fuel system to clean, like-new performance. BlueDevil Complete Fuel System Cleaner is so much more than just a “gas treatment” and can save you the time and money of having to remove any of the components from your fuel system.
You can pick up BlueDevil Complete Fuel System Cleaner at one of your local auto parts stores like:
- AutoZone
- Advance Auto Parts
- Bennett Auto Supply
- CarQuest Auto Parts
- NAPA Auto Parts
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Pep Boys
- Fast Track
- Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Specialists
- S&E Quick Lube Distributor
- DYK Automotive
- Fisher Auto Parts stores
- Auto Plus Auto Parts stores
- Hovis Auto & Truck Supply stores
- Salvo Auto Parts
- Advantage Auto Stores
- Genuine Auto Parts stores
- Bond Auto Parts stores
- Tidewater Fleet Supply
- Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts
- Any Part Auto Parts
- Consumer Auto Parts
Pictures Provided By:
fuel_tank.jpg – By CoffeeKai, Licensed by Getty Images – Original Link
BlueDevil Products can be found on Amazon.com or at AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, and other major auto parts retailers.
18 responses to "Fuel System Cleaning Cost"
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What if my car ran out of gas and would not start back up… do you think that I need a system cleaner
Merlin-
It’s possible the fuel pump needs to be primed, as running out of gas completely may have allowed air to enter the fuel lines. Try turning the key to the on position (without cranking the engine) a few times to prime the fuel pump.
Thank you!
-BDP
I have 99 Chevy S10 pickup, 4.3 v6. I’ve ran the tank on e a few times. I spray either in the breather n stays running when I stop, then truck dies. Way does that sound like to your?
Billy-
Thank you for asking about your Chevy S10. If the problem isn’t battery related, it’s possible that a dirty fuel filter or clogged fuel injectors could be the culprit. Running a fuel system cleaner would be a good place to start, as this would eliminate dirt/debris from the fuel lines and help with better flow. If the problem persists, checking/replacing the spark plugs may be your next option.
Thank you!
-BDP
My mechanic is charging me 337.00 to clean my fuel oil . My car is a Toyota Celica 2002. Is this a correct amount?
Thanks
Sandra-
If the mechanic is simply performing a fuel injector cleaning or fuel system cleaning, the price you’ve quoted does seem pretty high. This service would typically be less than $100. Hope this helps.
Thank you!
-BDP
My mechanic has recommended I replace the spark plugs, the air flow sensor, and have a full fuel service on my 2010 lexus gs350. I can’t afford the $800 cost right now. I don’t think I can replace the spark plugs myself but wondering if the fuel service is necessary or if I can purchase fuel system cleaner myself to use. Any advice would be appreciated!
Christy-
More than likely, a shop would use some type of fuel system cleaner to perform the fuel service on your Lexus, so you could avoid the extra labor charge and perform the work yourself.
Thank you!
-BDP
Someone puts sand in my gas tank how do I go about cleaning it
Sherline-
If you have not attempted to run the engine, you would be able to remove the sand by having the fuel tank removed, draining and flushing the tank until all sand is removed.
Thank you!
-BDP
Some put maple syrup in my gas tank my truck died in middle the road what’s the best option to handle this can I clean this out myself or do I need a mechanic I would assume would need change fuel filter and drain tank how would I know if made it all the way to the injectors or not
My gas tank is make an a loud noise and when I open it air coming out and this does it off and on then when I fill up gas it’s hard to start it back have to keep purge gas for it to run again
Brieann-
Based on your description, it sounds as though there may be an issue with the car’s EVAP system, not allowing the fuel vapors to be routed back through the engine properly. This could be due to a plugged vapor hose or the EVAP purge solenoid has gone bad. We’d recommend bringing the vehicle into a mechanic for inspection.
Thank you!
-BDP
I bought a Ford ranger been sitting for about 5 years it runs perfect but since it’s been sitting so long do you suggest I bleed everything fuel oil radiator what should I do
David-
Thank you for asking about your Ford Ranger. Unfortunately, many issues can arise when a vehicle sits for an extended period of time. It would be best to change the oil and filters and check all the fluid levels to ensure they are reading at the proper level. Worn belts, rusted brakes and dead batteries are other expected issues to keep in mind.
Thank you!
-BDP
I think I put 85 gasoline in my 91GMC Sierra. It has a very large tank and I did not completely fill it it may be has a quarter of a tank. Can you tell me how bad I have damaged my engine and what steps I should take to try to fix?
Sunniburke-
As long as you are able to have the vehicle towed to a mechanic to have the fuel tank removed and drained, you may be able to avoid damaging the engine.
Thank you!
-BDP
How much do you think it would cost to flush a motorcycle?