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That satisfying puff of white smoke coming out of your tailpipe after using a fuel cleaner? One TikTok auto enthusiast says it\u2019s not your engine getting clean, but it\u2019s actually your cleaner getting cooked.<\/p>\n
In a viral clip that\u2019s been viewed more than 83,000 times, creator RoyblingE90 (@pistonplays) takes on one of the most confusing corners of car care: fuel system cleaners. Looking at a partially disassembled fuel system, he warns viewers not to be fooled by flashy smoke or vague marketing claims.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you see that thick white smoke at the back of your car, you’re thinking it’s working; it’s burning off all the carbons. No, it’s not doing anything, my guy,\u201d he said. \u201cI promise you, that’s the product just burning off.\u201d<\/p>\n
The star of the clip is a chemical compound called polyetheramine, commonly abbreviated as PEA. According to the clip, this is the only additive ingredient worth seeking out in fuel cleaners. RoyblingE90 claims that while many products use solvents or detergents that may work in low-heat lab tests, they don\u2019t hold up inside a running engine, where temperatures are much higher.<\/p>\n
That assessment is largely backed by industry science. PEA is a detergent compound first introduced<\/a> by Chevron in the 1980s and is now used in premium fuel system cleaners designed to dissolve carbon deposits in high-temperature environments, such as fuel injectors and intake valves. According to research published<\/a> in the SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants, PEA-based cleaners can significantly reduce carbon buildup in modern engines, particularly those with direct injection systems that are prone to valve fouling.<\/p>\n What makes PEA unique is its ability to remain stable<\/a> at combustion temperatures, unlike many other over-the-counter additives that evaporate or burn off before they can do much cleaning. In simpler terms, it sticks around long enough to do its job.<\/p>\n The white smoke effect, which some drivers interpret as proof that the additive is “burning out the bad stuff,” is more show than substance, the narrator argues. He said visible smoke usually means the product itself is combusting incompletely, not that carbon is being effectively removed from the engine.<\/p>\n That smoke may be satisfying, but according to RoyblingE90 and multiple automotive experts<\/a>, cleaners that produce visible exhaust changes aren\u2019t necessarily doing what drivers think they are. PEA doesn\u2019t produce visible byproducts and is more effective at breaking down<\/a> tough, baked-on deposits than many other additive types.<\/p>\n So what should drivers reach for? The clip doesn\u2019t name specific brands but does show a product label with a telltale gold seal in the corner in a nod to formulations that include PEA. Popular products known to use polyetheramine include Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus, Red Line SI-1, and Gumout Regane High Mileage Fuel System Cleaner.<\/p>\n MotorTrend<\/em> has tested some of these and confirms that Techron, among others, is widely recommended<\/a> by automakers like GM and Honda for its cleaning efficacy.<\/p>\n In the video, the creator states that he purchases a six-pack of PEA-based cleaner on Amazon for around $26 and adds a bottle every time he refills, spacing out treatments with a six-month break in between. That cadence may be more aggressive than necessary for the average commuter, but periodic use, especially in higher-mileage vehicles or cars with drivability issues, can help restore injector spray patterns and reduce hesitation, experts say.<\/p>\n This is a hot topic among drivers, and the simple answer is: It depends.<\/p>\n For a clean engine, especially one running on high-quality gasoline, fuel system cleaners are unlikely<\/a> to yield any measurable gains in fuel economy. Most improvements, if any, would be too small to notice.<\/p>\n In contrast, older cars or those with heavy injector buildup may see modest gains<\/a>\u2014typically in the range of 1\u20132 mpg\u2014after cleaning restores proper fuel spray patterns and combustion efficiency.<\/p>\n What many drivers perceive as \u201cmore power\u201d or better performance may come from a restored throttle response. The engine isn\u2019t burning more fuel; it\u2019s burning it more efficiently.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s a cautionary note: The Federal Trade Commission has warned<\/a> consumers to be skeptical of bold gas\u2011savings claims. Years ago, it took action<\/a> against companies promising dramatic mileage gains\u2014like 50% increases\u2014when there’s no independent testing to back them up.<\/p>\n Motor1<\/em> reached out to the clip creator via direct messages on two platforms.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" That satisfying puff of white smoke coming out of your tailpipe after using a fuel cleaner? One TikTok auto enthusiast […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2320,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2318"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2321,"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318\/revisions\/2321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.undergroundz.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Busting the White Smoke Myth<\/h2>\n
What the Pros Use<\/h2>\n
Do Fuel Cleaners Improve Gas Mileage?<\/h2>\n
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