STP products, worth it?

STP products, worth it?

Author
Discussion

King Rolex

Original Poster:

176 posts

192 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
I was thinking about buying some STP stuff from Halfrauds.... injector cleaners etc, are they worth the cash, or a waste of mooney?

cheers

V6

3,771 posts

229 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
King Rolex said:
I was thinking about buying some STP stuff from Halfrauds.... injector cleaners etc, are they worth the cash, or a waste of mooney?

cheers
IMO your money would be better spent on more frequent oil changes and servicing (admittedly the money saved would not add up to much servicing but you get the idea)

King Rolex

Original Poster:

176 posts

192 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
Ahh right beer

I already give it an oil and filter change every 3k miles or so, it seems a small price to pay to keep your car in good condition. I was just unsure whether these injector cleaners really work... i'd buy some if they did

roofer

5,136 posts

219 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
Fuel contains enough detergents to keep your injectors clean, STP was only ever a good sticker in the 70's.

Callan.T89

8,422 posts

201 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
In my High mileage Golfs and Jetta's (130k - 200K) I always added a bottle of STP oil Treatment in with each oil change.

Seemed to reduce the amount of smoke and mechanical rattles from the engines, it was only £5 a bottle on Trade Card from Halfords.

Probably didn't give any performance benefit but I elieve it did prolong the life of the engine and make it a smoother drive.

Paul Drawmer

4,967 posts

275 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
In my opinion, pour in additives for fuel and oil are the automotive equivalent of 'hydrating regenerist' for those who are 'worth it'.

In that they make bu66er all difference, but it makes you feel better.

ian in lancs

3,824 posts

206 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
King Rolex said:
I was thinking about buying some STP stuff from Halfrauds.... injector cleaners etc, are they worth the cash, or a waste of mooney?

cheers
complete waste of money.

BMW specifically advise against using them in the engine, gearbox and back axle.

halo25

2,890 posts

207 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
ian in lancs said:
King Rolex said:
I was thinking about buying some STP stuff from Halfrauds.... injector cleaners etc, are they worth the cash, or a waste of mooney?

cheers
complete waste of money.

BMW specifically advise against using them in the engine, gearbox and back axle.
I once used something similar in my old BMW 330d - after that experience and the dent on my wallet never again!

Most of the products are just not needed these days, save your money for something worthwhile smile

Joecooool

1,020 posts

236 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
ian in lancs said:
King Rolex said:
I was thinking about buying some STP stuff from Halfrauds.... injector cleaners etc, are they worth the cash, or a waste of mooney?

cheers
complete waste of money.

BMW specifically advise against using them in the engine, gearbox and back axle.
Well, the reason BMW does that is because they sell oil changes with their own "special oil" and tell their customers if they use their products additives are not necessary.

Just as bad as what STP does if you ask me...

funkyboogalooo

1,844 posts

276 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
Ive sat and thought about how to reply to this without sounding like I want to advertise a product (the one that i sell) but as no-one knows what brand I sell I shall say it anyway without mentioning any manufacturer.
This is an example of a demonstration I carried out.
One of my garages had a customers car in with a tickover and running problem. It was a 53 plate small engine petrol Focus. No faults showing on scanner. Garage had allready changed TPS sensor.
I suggested a compression test. Results were, cylinder 1 was 80 psi, 2 was 120psi, 3 was 60 psi, 4 was 105 psi. The car had around a 1/4 tank of fuel. We added an injector cleaner and a fuel treatment to the tank. The injector cleaner does only what it says and then burns off, the fuel treatment starts at the tank, cleans the injector and inlet valve, turns to gas and cleans the combustion chamber exhaust valve EGR and Lambda of contaminants and carbon build up. The garage then road tested the car for 15 mins keeping the revs up.
Compression test after was 100psi, 105psi, 105 psi, 100 psi. And the idle was drastically improved. The treatment and clearly cleaned the valves and the crowns of the piston(s) levelling out the compressions to somewhere more reasonable. The owner of the car returned to the garage the following day commenting how it was like a different car to drive.
Just and if not more importantly for engine longevity is a good qualty engine flush when changing oil. When you drain oil you never remove it all as it sits in the oil baths and galleries. During normal running of a car crankcase acids are produced. If left within the system when the oil is changed, these acids immediately go to work breaking down the new oil leading to the creation of lacquers and varnishes which are deposited on the oil system components such as Hydraulic Valve Lifters, Variable Valve Timing Systems and Piston Rings. A good quality flush will remove more of the contaminated oil and neutralise already built up acids enabling your new oil to last longer and do the job its supposed to do better.

But like everything do your homework and buy the right stuff, some of it is no more than snake oil. Many fuel system cleaners are solvent based and by there very nature burn off as soon as they hit the injector, some flushes have little or no lubrication and can cause damage where as some are too thick and oil like to do do any good.

Our company only sells to the garage industry and sell over 100,000 bottles a month to people who know what they are talking about.

Still think it doesn't work?

Hope that helps some of you make an informed decision, for me if I ever leave the company I work for I would go out of my way to buy it and use in my vehicles.

Mike

root 666

316 posts

193 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
So go on then Mike, what is it?

I want some NOW!!

Edit. I'm so pathetically easy I'm almost ashamed.

Edited by root 666 on Sunday 21st December 15:58

funkyboogalooo

1,844 posts

276 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
root 666 said:
So go on then Mike, what is it?

I want some NOW!!

Edit. I'm so pathetically easy I'm almost ashamed.

Edited by root 666 on Sunday 21st December 15:58
LOL

I will PM you with how to find your closest supplier

Taita

7,729 posts

211 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
I'd like to know what it is too.

Redex etc say bung it in with a full tank, however whenever I have used it I have put it in with a 1/4. I do it about once every 6-8 months. Seems a bit smoother afterwards, same with higher grade fuel.


King Rolex

Original Poster:

176 posts

192 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
I'm all ears ears

what's the name of this stuff then?

Chainguy

4,381 posts

208 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
My money is on Forte stuff.

I started my working life as a mechanic, and it is the only stuff we would use in the garage. It actually worked.

Maybe something else has came along, but that Forte kit was bob on. I still use the oil flush when I do a change, and the injector cleaner made a very big difference to a friends ridiculously huge mileage BMW 525.

DSM2

3,624 posts

208 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
Joecooool said:
ian in lancs said:
King Rolex said:
I was thinking about buying some STP stuff from Halfrauds.... injector cleaners etc, are they worth the cash, or a waste of mooney?

cheers
complete waste of money.

BMW specifically advise against using them in the engine, gearbox and back axle.
Well, the reason BMW does that is because they sell oil changes with their own "special oil" and tell their customers if they use their products additives are not necessary.

Just as bad as what STP does if you ask me...
BMW use Castrol don't they. The same one in both petrol and diesel.

Most, if not all, the oil companies will tell you extra additives are a waste of time.

shalmaneser

6,055 posts

203 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
damnit, I've just done an oil change and now I'm desperate to do another with engine cleaner stuff! could do with knowing what products you sell, I too have hear that forte stuff is pretty ace but i didn't think it was available for the general public...

DSM2

3,624 posts

208 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
funkyboogalooo said:
Ive sat and thought about how to reply to this without sounding like I want to advertise a product (the one that i sell) but as no-one knows what brand I sell I shall say it anyway without mentioning any manufacturer.
This is an example of a demonstration I carried out.
One of my garages had a customers car in with a tickover and running problem. It was a 53 plate small engine petrol Focus. No faults showing on scanner. Garage had allready changed TPS sensor.
I suggested a compression test. Results were, cylinder 1 was 80 psi, 2 was 120psi, 3 was 60 psi, 4 was 105 psi. The car had around a 1/4 tank of fuel. We added an injector cleaner and a fuel treatment to the tank. The injector cleaner does only what it says and then burns off, the fuel treatment starts at the tank, cleans the injector and inlet valve, turns to gas and cleans the combustion chamber exhaust valve EGR and Lambda of contaminants and carbon build up. The garage then road tested the car for 15 mins keeping the revs up.
Compression test after was 100psi, 105psi, 105 psi, 100 psi. And the idle was drastically improved. The treatment and clearly cleaned the valves and the crowns of the piston(s) levelling out the compressions to somewhere more reasonable. The owner of the car returned to the garage the following day commenting how it was like a different car to drive.
Just and if not more importantly for engine longevity is a good qualty engine flush when changing oil. When you drain oil you never remove it all as it sits in the oil baths and galleries. During normal running of a car crankcase acids are produced. If left within the system when the oil is changed, these acids immediately go to work breaking down the new oil leading to the creation of lacquers and varnishes which are deposited on the oil system components such as Hydraulic Valve Lifters, Variable Valve Timing Systems and Piston Rings. A good quality flush will remove more of the contaminated oil and neutralise already built up acids enabling your new oil to last longer and do the job its supposed to do better.

But like everything do your homework and buy the right stuff, some of it is no more than snake oil. Many fuel system cleaners are solvent based and by there very nature burn off as soon as they hit the injector, some flushes have little or no lubrication and can cause damage where as some are too thick and oil like to do do any good.

Our company only sells to the garage industry and sell over 100,000 bottles a month to people who know what they are talking about.

Still think it doesn't work?

Hope that helps some of you make an informed decision, for me if I ever leave the company I work for I would go out of my way to buy it and use in my vehicles.

Mike
How do you think it lowered the pressure in #2?

Garlick

40,601 posts

248 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
I used some STP injector cleaner in the Benz, seemed to work well for me.

Chainguy

4,381 posts

208 months

Sunday 21st December 2008
quotequote all
shalmaneser said:
damnit, I've just done an oil change and now I'm desperate to do another with engine cleaner stuff! could do with knowing what products you sell, I too have hear that forte stuff is pretty ace but i didn't think it was available for the general public...
We used to sell it to Joe Public if he wanted some. Not expensive either.

It doesnt have pull some visible crap out of the engine via the oil if its a high miler and it's the first time it's been flushed. You will be surprised.

Years ago I did a friends fathers 405 td, a high mileage car but it'd had an oilchange every 5k since new. What came out the time I used the Forte stuff for him was like coal tar.