Fuel additive gone wrong. Please help!
After completing a routine oil and filter change I decided to use a brand x fuel additive. The type you dump into your fuel tank supposedly cleans fuel system
injectors etc. Shortly there after my truck developed what I would consider a miss-shutter. The service engine light when on soon after that. For a corrective measure decided to change out fuel filter, PVC, spark plugs. Also tried to burn up most of the suspect bad gas in the fuel tank.
Well, all my efforts where to no avail. Any thoughts form this board to my current problem would be greatly appreciated. ;-)

 

No.1, check the codes in the computer. Maybe it has nothing to do with anything you did.

 

ya, try reseting your computer. disconnect your battery, turn on your lights for five minutes, turn lights back off, connect battery, and start up. to make sure you did reset it your clock should be back to 12. it is worth a try seeing as how it is easy, quick, and free. good luck.

 

IMO no gas additive used correctly would create such a severe problem. Was the mixture at the right level, most bottles say like this bottle treats up to _ _ gallons? TO strong and something might happen but I doubt it. I do know from Mike T. that continued use of gas additives and octance booster is not good for the plugs nor really the engine. Did the plugs have a reddish cast to them or was they tan/brownish like a normal good plug should be? You may try resetting the OCM but if the code doesn't come back you have lost your only lead to what the problem is.

 

Thanks for your input my gas mixture at the time I used the additive might not have been right on. The bottle stated treats 21 US gallons. when I added to the fuel I had 1/2 tank maybe 13-14 gallons.
My question is if the mixture was to concentrated could this have damaged a fuel injector, etc.? Sounds way out there I know but this is so strange the problem started right after I used this additive.
The spark plugs when I pulled them all look fine normal condition.
I would also like to buy my own code reader any thoughts on whats a good unit to
buy?

 

Since the fuel guages on the 150's are optomistic, with half tank showing there is a lot less then 10 gals left in the tank...I get almost 300 miles down to half tank then, only another 150 before the empty light comes on...

Yes, depending on the additive, they contain some pretty nasty stuff...acetone, xylene, alcohol, petroleum distillates, etc....this stuff will eat the heck out of neoprene...

If it damaged somethig I would suspect the fuel system...the fuel lines in particular...it could possibly eat the injector orings, creating vacuum leaks fuel leaks, etc....

These things are minimum compared to an engine...

 

I'd read the computer code before doing anything else rash. Your problem is in all likelyhood unrelated. 10 gallons of fuel and additive is still pretty diluted. Now... if you only had 1 gallon in there, then yes, maybe.

OBD scanners... this one plugs into your computer and comes with software. There was a group purchase being organized, don't know if it went through though. http://www.obd-2.com/



Cool thing is if you have access to a laptop computer you can do a live analysis as you drive plus it does a more detailed scan than the pocket units.

"Vehicle Explorer scan tool browser with connection software, connectors, cable
and your choice of any one router $122 _____ "

That's cheaper than the handheld units. Next problem I have I'll be ordering one. You should ask around if anyone here has tried it yet. I know some users were ordering it a while ago.

 

Shouldn't be a problem iwth adding the additive to 1/2 a tank which we all agree would be around 10 gallon. Heck I have seen a lot of small cars with that size tank dump a whole bottle in. That doesn't really relate to your truck as each vehicle can be different.

Code readers have come down in price but you can spend as much or as little as you want. You get what you pay for most of the time. I paid 150 for an Actron unit (had to have one ASAP) that is super eazy to use and accurate but does not provide data streaming or record functions. Auto X-Ray makes a really nice setup for 400 that test OBD 1 and 2 plus does all the other stuff. Equus makes one that is more like the Actron but maybe just a little more advanced for like $180. Go to www.obdii.com for more in depth info. Most of the time the cheaper reader will get the job done for your average DIY, as all they are interested in is getting that code to fix what's broke. Not to anaylize data stream's and wave pattern's and the technical junk.