Add in fuel treatments .......

[john57]

What do people think of using add in fuel treatments such as 'Detox', Wynns or STP injector cleaner in their Griffs ???

I use Optimax which supposedly has a cleaning agent in it already......

Is there anything to be gained by trying one of these sort of things in a Griff 500 to give it a clean out or can it do damage. I'm generally meaning the one treatment every 10K mile type stuff rather than Redex.

Any views welcomed

[Ian Lewis]

I use Slick 50 fuel treatment and it works for me.

I started using it two years ago when the Griff started with an erratic idle and pick up.

Since then no problems-smooth as a baby's rear end.

Ian

[shadowfax]

Service records on mine show that a couple of TVR agents used injector cleaner during services.

Slick 50 sounds a good idea, Thanks!

[daxtojeiro]

hi,
have a read of this:
www.cobraclub.com/forum/articles.php?action=viewarticle&artid=5
Phil

[Hoover33]

Chucked some Detox in mine...... can't say I've noticed any difference... positive or negative.

Contemplating having the injectors taken out and cleaned properly/professionaly, mine are 13yrs old now.

[sam Gamgee]

daxtojeiro said:

hi, have a read of this: www.cobraclub.com/forum/articles.php?action=viewarticle&artid=5 Phil

Tend to agree but this appears to be about fuel additives. wouldn`t put owt in me oilio but have tried stuff in me petrol....and has appeared to do some good.Any other views?

[red griff 500]

What would you guys recommend to help de-coke the engine. My plugs have quite large brittle deposits on them so I assume that the valves etc will be similar?- the colour of the plugs is ok suggesting good mixture ratios.

[lucky lichfield]

My plugs were quite badly carbon fouled. Checked and had afm setting + corrected. Still ran sluggish, low mpg etc.

Decided to try fuel treatment + clean out cylinders with aerosol induction cleaner.

Initial result after petrol treatment was an apparent improvement in performance and was able to advance ignition, whereas was pinking before. Assumed cleaned out inlet valve/stem area.

Next took out plugs and cleaned out cylinders/plugs + ran engine repeating a few times, idea being
to clean out exhaust valve/stem area.

Result after this was a backfire when driving at 70 and engine dying on me. Had to retard ignition to re-start + limp home. Checked plugs, wich were badly fouled (after 5-6 miles only), cleaned again. Since then can't get more than 1/2 km before the engine dies on me again. Plugs badly fouled again.

Seems that the procedure i carried out exacerbated an existing oil leaking/burning problem.

Can't say what will happen with your motor, may cure a problem or may make it worse??

On that note any ideas out there on what's causing my problems.

[dnb]

I've found in my year of ownership, the best thing for cleaning out a Griff engine is to take the car out for a damn good hoon. Works a treat

[Guillotine]

there isn't a cleaner on the market that will sort out fouled/old injectors.

remove them and clean in an ultrasonic bath. match them (if lucas) to give even delivery then reinsert. this will cost around £400.

STP (use it myself) will keep new/clean injectors clean

the only cure for old/worn injectors is new ones.(new ones will have a better pattern anyway)they will give more power/torque and improve idling and pick up.

combine this with a visit to Austec/Mark adams and the difference will be VERY noticeable.

[OctaneBooster]

dnb said:

I've found in my year of ownership, the best thing for cleaning out a Griff engine is to take the car out for a damn good hoon. Works a treat

Totally agree, in fact an annual trackday should be part of the maintenance schedule.

>> Edited by OctaneBooster on Tuesday 9th August 12:33

[gerjo]

Indeed, a good blast will clean things up a bit. I asked Austec about fuel additives and they said "don't bother, makes no difference". Some people use octanebooster for trackdays to help avoid pinking; it won't hurt.
More important for a trackday: put in some extra oil (half a dipstick above max).

[Guillotine]

OctaneBooster said:

dnb said: I've found in my year of ownership, the best thing for cleaning out a Griff engine is to take the car out for a damn good hoon. Works a treat Totally agree, in fact an annual trackday should be part of the maintenance schedule. >> Edited by OctaneBooster on Tuesday 9th August 12:33

and there's one coming up...

www.ballisticbanana.co.uk/tvrmonster.htm

[dnb]

OctaneBooster said:

Totally agree, in fact an annual trackday should be part of the maintenance schedule.

Annual? I thought at least quarterly.