BG44k for $9

[jbillion]

I took my buddy to the shop to pick up his car. While we were inside, I asked the owner how much for the BG44K, he said $9, so I purchased 3 cans. He charged my $27, with no tax.

[jbillion]

For the local Chicago area residents it was Auto Tech:

1000 S Arlington Heights RdArlington Hts, IL 60005-3139

[szh]

Excellent price!

Z

[M45Runner]

Does it really worth using - on newer cars?

I understand it cleans the engine, but, if a car is properly maintained, the engine and fuel line should be clean to begin with. Am I missing something there?

[jbillion]

I'm approaching 75K miles, so there is definitly some build up somewhere in the fuel system. I follow a 3750 OCI and use only 93 octane but I still only average 13mpg, I went through an entire gas tank and filled up today, I'll let everyone know if milage improves on the next few tanks.

[szh]

Does it really worth using - on newer cars?

I understand it cleans the engine, but, if a car is properly maintained, the engine and fuel line should be clean to begin with. Am I missing something there?

Helps clear the carbon buildup on our engines if a good high rev acceleration does not do it ... I don't use it often, but an occasional session (once only per oil change interval) does work wonders.

Z

[Double E]

Wow. That IS bad. I've not done the BG 44K in over 6 months & I'm getting 23.5 in each of the past 8 fill ups and reset the average mileage every 2 fill ups. I routinely get 400 miles pewr tank ...and I'm on the highway for about 60% of my commute. Otherwise I'm stomping on it a few times a week around town.

[EniGmA1987]

Ive been getting 13.7 lately...

[Poyzinous]

Thats unbelievable. Here at my dealer it costs COSTS us $15 a can and we sell it for $22I would have bought like 10 cans...

[jbillion]

I have never seen it online for less than $14 and that was when you purchase in bulk. With no tax and no shipping, I knew to grab more than 1.

The real time display says I am getting 16.5 through a 1/4 tank. My commute is all city driving and stop and go.

[jbillion]

You are getting tremendous gas milage. How many miles are on yor car? Do you drive with a feather foot?

[SteveTheTech]

OMG is that stuff really $15/ea.

I think a more important question would be what type of fuel you are using. You might have better results using the best fuel possible. The cleaners and higher refinement level in top tier premium fuel (is it Shell that is using something pretty comparable and safer(for your fuel system) than 44k).

I am extremely skeptical of these "cure alls", I think that stems from my fathers insistance that Marvels Mystery Oil would fix absolutely any running issues. It frustrated me to no extent he would put it in everything and call it a day.

Nissans have never really been very fond of aftermarket replacement parts and I do what I can to ensure that all of my customers get the best replacements possible, and this includes customer purchased add on fluids. I do however wonder what the results of a long term (~1year) of proper usage would have, although the variables are too great to acertain any concrete proof. I never really believe any of the manufacturers promotional research of the salesmans lines.

Many people have used these products for years without any issue and that is great, I do however wonder if the results would differ in any way at all from their current status if the additives were never used.

[M4T5]

I actually purchased two cans of that stuff locally for $27.99 a can!!!I placed one can of it in my Company truck and the other i my bosses truck. It made no difference to either trucks. No difference in power or fuel economy. Both trucks had about 85,000mi on them.Would not waste money on one of those products again. Nor would I waste money on ANY more fuel treatments that go into the gas tank.

J

[Poyzinous]

fuel treatments generally do nothing. But as far as BG stuff, there isn't anything better as far as I know. They DO help, but not on modern vehicles. On older cars, 10 years+, it helps. My Dad's 91 240sx benefitted from a can I gave it. After the can it stopped blowing out a little cloud of black smoke on start ups. But its of no use if you have an M. It wont do anything unless somehow you have 200k. Maybe then it will help

[M45Runner]

fuel treatments generally do nothing. But as far as BG stuff, there isn't anything better as far as I know. They DO help, but not on modern vehicles. On older cars, 10 years+, it helps. My Dad's 91 240sx benefitted from a can I gave it. After the can it stopped blowing out a little cloud of black smoke on start ups. But its of no use if you have an M. It wont do anything unless somehow you have 200k. Maybe then it will help

Thank you, that's what I thought. Newer cars are better engineered and much more efficient. If you take care of it (meaning, follow maintenance schedule, use high quality gas and don't abuse it), the engine will last a long, long time.

[Double E]

It just turned 68K this week. I'm pretty aggressive with it but I do more daily highway driving than most here ...it seems.

My highway speeds are always at or near 80 with at least one visit to 100 a week to get clear of cell phone users. Around town I'm usually no faster than 45 with 30 being the average.

[maxnix]

Joe has sold it for $8/ in the past. Redline SI1 might infact be a stronger solution to keep injecotrs (not engine!) and combustion chambers clean.

Best to use immediately before oil change. And yes, Nissan has offered a fuel system cleaning solution in their past. Don't know if they still do.

[jbillion]

Joe had the Nissan version on sale last month for $12.99 + shipping. I almost purchased it, but had heard so many good things about the BG44K. I'm gladd I held off, it saved me a few bucks.

[NightRiderQ45]

Steve, you always provide great answers. Why don't you visit the Q45 forum once in awhile? I have an a/c problem/question I would love for you to view there. Thanks!

[szh]

fuel treatments generally do nothing. But as far as BG stuff, there isn't anything better as far as I know. They DO help, but not on modern vehicles. On older cars, 10 years+, it helps. My Dad's 91 240sx benefitted from a can I gave it. After the can it stopped blowing out a little cloud of black smoke on start ups. But its of no use if you have an M. It wont do anything unless somehow you have 200k. Maybe then it will help

Normally, I would agree with you. On my older Q45's, the BGB-44K did not do much at all ... even at high miles on the car situations.

On my 2003 M45 though, it has definitely helped. With a light foot on the car (like when my wife drives it), it tends to build up carbon deposits over time. The Infiniti TSB on this issue recommends: a few high sustained WOT rev's on the road (i.e., not without load), and if that does not "work", followed by a treatment using their Nissan equivalent of BG-44K.

So, I have done this and it has definitely fixed problems - within a quarter-tank of putting it in. Dramatic changes from stumbling, poor engine performance, all the way to normal operation. In my current 75k miles of driving the M45, I think I have used about 5 or 6 cans of BG-44K (one time was the Nissan equivalent). With exactly the same improvement each time.

Z

[SteveTheTech]

Steve, you always provide great answers. Why don't you visit the Q45 forum once in awhile? I have an a/c problem/question I would love for you to view there. Thanks!

If you have any questions you want another opinion you can email me. I admittedly do not frequent the Q forum as my time gets thin sometimes. And the kids have taken over there. Technically the Q forum is by far the forum with the most technically inclined members. I will peek in there more frequently though. Thanks for the heads up.

Normally, I would agree with you. On my older Q45's, the BGB-44K did not do much at all ... even at high miles on the car situations.

On my 2003 M45 though, it has definitely helped. With a light foot on the car (like when my wife drives it), it tends to build up carbon deposits over time. The Infiniti TSB on this issue recommends: a few high sustained WOT rev's on the road (i.e., not without load), and if that does not "work", followed by a treatment using their Nissan equivalent of BG-44K.

So, I have done this and it has definitely fixed problems - within a quarter-tank of putting it in. Dramatic changes from stumbling, poor engine performance, all the way to normal operation. In my current 75k miles of driving the M45, I think I have used about 5 or 6 cans of BG-44K (one time was the Nissan equivalent). With exactly the same improvement each time.

Z

For some reason the VK upto ~06 (Q45 only) and 04M uses the old school simple setup, which may have some improvement for slower (lower revs) drivers that tend to develop carbon deposits as part of normal combustion. Honestly the Y35 is an old Q when it comes to its the basics. The newer cars that have more control over ignition and valve timing offer a more complete burn. Also things like fuel sending units have been designed so they no longer use a strainer at the lowest point in the tank keeping sludge and debris from clogging the filter holes. I think a strong example of this is the new (06+) models do not use external fuel filters. Even after a hundred thirty+ thousand mile car the screens are pretty clean.

The biggest issue I see in any of these cars is oil buildup in or around the intake from the PCV. I do not think it is to the point that a catch can is needed but instead of that I recommend removing and cleaning the intake, the differences noticed by that will far exceed anything a chemical spray cleaner can safely remove (think about where all that sludge goes??? Catalysts...yep and carbon does not burn off easily and effects the operating temperatures). In cars that exceed 8/80k (federal emissions warranty) I would advise against that do the fact that the VK catalytic converter and manifold assembly costs almost $2000 and they can be destroyed very quickly with an ignition missfire or something else that will cause combustible materials to enter the honeycomb mesh inside the cat. The result of this is a firing off of the cats that cause them to overheat (a glowing or burning smell will be noticed) and soon enough you have a P0420 and/or P0430 to greet you after a short highway trip.

In some older cars things like these cleaners work well, if there is already a significant amount of carbon (Poyzinous' dads old machine) 44k may be able to dent that. Nothing though will ever beat a thorough deep cleaning. The problem with that service is you cannot recommend something like this to people, as the labor required to do this correctly is excessive, although it is not going into our pockets. I have done this 3 times in the last few months (a G, Qby4, and Q) and the outcome results were great, this allows you replace PCVs or any wearable part that may show signs of wear. If it were financially feasible to give us a budget and what you want out of the car someone out there can correctly perform this fairly intensive task. Going through and doing a massive thorough cleaning every 10/100 ish or as needed will do more for the overall success of your car over time.

sorry to rant, just my thoughts after a long day of G Convertable new model training.