Do I need Injection Cleaning Done on my Ranger?

[derekw24]

So I bought my Ranger at ~91k miles. To my knowledge, I do not believe it has had any cleaning done to remove carbon buildup in the engine.
I don’t drive the truck very often and usually shorter trips so I am worried about extra carbon buildup.

I hear there are a couple potential things to do:
1. Walnut blasting - seems most effective but expensive and dealer doesn’t offer this service.
2. Injection Cleaning Service - Not sure if that’s the exact name but something where they introduce a chemical and burn off the carbon build up.

I’m trying to figure out since it’s likely never had this done should I just let it be or I should get something like this done? (I don’t know exactly what the signs would be but i’m not experiencing anything like rough idling or misfires, I recently replaced spark plugs and had transmission overhaul for what that’s worth)

My local ford dealer would charge $290 for the injection cleaning so not too terrible.

I just don’t know if there would be any hard deposits/build up due to the high mileage at almost 100k. TIA!

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[ScarzRanger21]

So I bought my Ranger at ~91k miles. To my knowledge, I do not believe it has had any cleaning done to remove carbon buildup in the engine.
I don’t drive the truck very often and usually shorter trips so I am worried about extra carbon buildup.

I hear there are a couple potential things to do:
1. Walnut blasting - seems most effective but expensive and dealer doesn’t offer this service.
2. Injection Cleaning Service - Not sure if that’s the exact name but something where they introduce a chemical and burn off the carbon build up.

I’m trying to figure out since it’s likely never had this done should I just let it be or I should get something like this done? (I don’t know exactly what the signs would be but i’m not experiencing anything like rough idling or misfires, I recently replaced spark plugs and had transmission overhaul for what that’s worth)

My local ford dealer would charge $290 for the injection cleaning so not too terrible.

I just don’t know if there would be any hard deposits/build up due to the high mileage at almost 100k. TIA!

Never hurts to keep things cleaned and maintained. If you’re already at that many miles and it’s never been done, I’d probably go ahead and do it just to prevent any issues down the line. I’ve heard/read that every 60k miles you should be cleaning injectors. I’d buy some cleaner to put in your gas tank and let it do its thing.

 

[Rp930]

If it ain’t broke…

 

[Conman50]

From what I understand, as long as you use good synthetic oil, you won't get much oil vapor going through the PCV valve and it isn't too much of an issue in these engines. Some people like to take precautions with cleaning and oil catch cans. And that's fine. Buy I don't think even with some of the higher mileage guys that it has been an issue.

 

[Fawnbuster]

I've used this for years, served me well. At the Sheriff's Office fleet management used it in all of our dept vehicles and they ran well. They bought cheap octane gas or at most midgrade and we kept our vehicles for 100k

I've only paid for an actual injector clean once on my 1990 Bronco and that was before seafoam was around. I use it twice a year in both our vehicles.

 

[rozebud]

I am a FIRM believer in Sea Foam. once a year i dump a full bottle in my truck with a fill up and drive 150 miles to my summer cottage and drive home a week later. also dont be afraid to stand on the skinny pedal every once and a while to keep the cats from carboning up. I also put 1/3 of a bottle in each jerry can i use so that what ever I put gas into will also benefit too.

 

[Dgc333]

The issue with direct injection engines like the one in the Ranger is there is no fuel being sprayed on the back side of the intake valves to keep the build up of carbon from forming. Putting a treatment in the gas tank will help keep the injectors clean but won't do anything for the intake valves.

In order to clean the intake valves you need to spray something into the intake while the engine is running or mechanically clean them with something like walnut blasting.

I have owned a Ford product with direct injection continuously since March of 2011. I would spray CRC Direct Injection Cleaner into the engine every 15k miles. Never had an issue. With the Ranger I am now at 43k miles and I have not used any top end cleaner and it is still running great. FWIW, a friend of mine had a Focus ST with the 2.0 Ecoboost engine which is direct injection. He ran it on 87 octane gas, changed the oil at 10k intervals and used conventional oil. It was still running strong at 120k miles when he traded it for a new truck.

There has been a lot of work developing oils that won't cause build up, better baffling in the PCB system to minimize oil vapor and clever tuning so valves get splashed with fuel when they are open. Not sure if it really is an issue anymore like it was in the early days of direct injection.

 

[got3fords]

I've only paid for an actual injector clean once on my 1990 Bronco and that was before seafoam was around. I use it twice a year in both our vehicles.

Seafoam has been around since 1942. I remember using it in the '80's.

 

[Fawnbuster]

Seafoam has been around since 1942. I remember using it in the '80's.

I had no idea, it was just new to me. Thanks!

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Don’t use cheap gas. Chevron (or a Techron additive) was recommended by a friend who is a retired Ford service manager.

 

[Dereku]

If its not running funny probably not needed. I get a big bottle of lucas once a year and do a few fill ups with it. It has lubrication in it too, typically do it in the winter when the gas is worse.

glad to see you spell your name the correct way!

 

[thomas46alamo]

This is some good stuff I run a bottle every 2500-3500 miles

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

If its not running funny probably not needed. I get a big bottle of lucas once a year and do a few fill ups with it. It has lubrication in it too, typically do it in the winter when the gas is worse.

glad to see you spell your name the correct way!

Prolly ancient history… but one reason for his recommendation was seized and broken spark plugs when being changed at normal interval, which I believe was 90,000. Short blocks are expensive.

 

[landiscarrier]

I use 93 Octane all the time, change the oil with top tier synthetic on a regular basis. 97k and no engine issues to date. Still runs great as far as I can tell. And I'm tuned as well

 

[OrangeStreak]

If it ain’t broke…

...fix it!

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