Rail flush preliminary impression

[DAEDALUS]

http://home.socal.rr.com/robverna/mileage.jpg

Click on the link to see the initial results after doing a fuel rail flush. I've been tracking my mileage since late last year. In early March my mileage fell off the cliff, dropping by almost 33%! No change in driving habits, and I fill up at the same station every time, so I assumed it was California switching over to reformulated gasoline in the springtime. Somehow it makes sense to our government for us to use a fuel that leads to 15% less smog, but requires 50% more fuel to get where we're going!

So I did a fuel rail flush almost a month ago and I've driven 2 tanks of gas since then. Wow! Mileage shot up roughly 4 miles/gallon. Again, no change in driving habits...same weekly routine more or less. I still can't believe the flush had this much of an impact. I can't say I feel any difference in performance. Whaddya'll think? Big fluke? Did we somehow switch back from RFG before the fall?

[Q45tech]

RFG at worst might be 10% lower BTU. May is when they switch to Summer blend in most of US so it gets to all tanks by June 1.California is a special case. Study the following carefully-42 slides!http://www.naseo.org/events/su...p.pdf

The El Segundo [Chev/Tex] refinery has been blending some Ethanol all year.

The extension of the MTBE phaseout will mean WIERD gasoline on a week by week [day by day] basis as currently most Ethanol comes in via ship thru Panama Canal.

"The refinery snag comes on top of an earlier glitch in San Diego, where a problem blending in ethanol forced BP to pump gas out of 59 stations and return it to the refinery for reformulation, leaving many of the Arco stations temporarily short of fuel."

If I were you I would just leave the state [CA, NV, AZ] for a year till they get this gasoline mess sorted out. Just kidding but be prepared for problems with the fuel system.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/i....html

[Q45tech]

I would love to say YES the rail flush did it because every car could benefit from an annual flush. BUT maybe the O2 sensors were marginal and the flush cleaned them also. BUT still I doubt that that was more than HALF the improvement in TOTAL.

Report back after another 200 gallons has passed thru.

[DAEDALUS]

Thanks Q45tech. That presentation sounds like a congressional "Don't fine us, it's not our fault" testimony. The gasoline mess is just another on a long list of problems for this bankrupt state. Enron is the poster child of CA. But this is where the work is; eventually though they'll have to raise taxes so much that all workers will have to leave.

[AZhitman]

Did you do it yourself Rob?

I'd like to do my own as well, since the shops here want too much (IMO) to do it...

[nuQ]

i got quoted a price of around 80-90 dollars(can't remember exactly, was a couple months ago). what do the want in AZ hitman?? jeff

[DAEDALUS]

Yeah, I did the flush myself:

http://home.socal.rr.com/robverna/railflush.jpg

I don't recall who, but someone posted that their dealership was offering a rail flush and a power balance test for around $90. That's far more reasonable that just the flush alone IMO. Either way, if you do the math, for low-mileage cars like ours (15-20 mpg), getting 2mpg better on average throughout the year more than pays for the service, with some reasonable assumptions. I made a spreadsheet that looked at the cost savings, varying such factors as current mileage, mileage improvement, cost of gas, and miles driven in a year. The numbers say you should at least give it a try. Email me if you want to see a sample of the results for a given set of parameters. It's also cost-effective to replace old O2 sensors that aren't working right.I ordered an adapter that will allow me to do intake cleanings as well. We'll see if there's much more of an improvement to be had. Probably not; last plenum cleaning was less than 10k miles ago. I will post an update in a few months.

[Q451990]

Nice pic! Is that the BG flush system? Also, what are you doing with the multimeter?

Heath

[DAEDALUS]

It's not BG brand, but it works on the same principle...compressed air and a regulator to control the fuel rail pressure. The multimeter has an inductive pickup so I could watch the RPMs while I worked the throttle, making sure I didn't run it above the recommended 1500 RPM limit.

[maxnix]

I ordered an adapter that will allow me to do intake cleanings as well.

That sounds downright useful. How about some more inormation or a picture?

[Need4Speed]

Hey Daedalus....how much did that system cost? Where can I get one?

Andy

[Q451990]

Hey Daedalus....how much did that system cost? Where can I get one?B]

My question too!

Heath

[DAEDALUS]

http://www.otctools.com/newcat...at=10

I won't recommend the place I bought it from as I am having a dispute with them currently. Not only have they billed me more than they said they would on the intake adapter, but they billed me twice! I'll post another pic after the adapter shows up...maybe this weekend.

[AZhitman]

Hey Rob - Can you do a rail flush on Quella if I come out your way next month? We're gonna do a quick vacation with the kids...

[DAEDALUS]

Bring that ghetto booty by! I'll have to find an air tank and have it filled. The flush was done in my shop class using their air. My gf said that when we buy a house I can install a lift in the garage and promised to buy me the biggest air compressor I can find. But so long as we're still maxed out of space in our little apartment, I guess I need to stay away from the larger tools.

[AZhitman]

LOL - You're the coolest, Rob.

Actually, I was just talking with Anand, and we're gonna be quite a ways south of you. We're staying in SD and taking the kids to Mission Beach (we'll be there July 11-13). Hopefully you guys can come down and have dinner with us one night?

Really wish I could get the railflush done... Think it'd be rude to bail on the family for six hours to run up to your place??

[maxnix]

The way I see it, an early morning visit to the beach or Disneyland (with tickets) for the family and a sufficient cash stipend, they won't even miss you until you return that afternoon. Maybe won't even notice you were gone. On second thought, skip the beach unless you want to vacuum sand for the next two years.

And they will be so amazed at how much smoother the car runs down the CA Freeways! You're cool, Dad!

[AZhitman]

LOL - Actually, this started last year when we took our first vacation to Sea World and the beach. Kids were ho-hum re: Sea World, but are STILL talking about their boogie-boarding adventures. Last year we rented an Impala and thrashed the piss out of it. But the budget dictates driving Quella this year, so I'm gonna put sheets over the seats and hope for the best. Gives me a good excuse to detail her when we return.

Disney's definitely not gonna fit in the budget (after gas, motel, wetsuit/boogieboard rentals, food and incidentals).

I'll definitely pick up a couple cans of BG for the blast out there.

[msscomm]

AZ

I'm trying to recollect if Jerry Tucker has the BG equipment - 10 mins from Mission Beach (619) 573-1118 - Our own "West Coast T3"

Or -

I can send you over to a Caddy indie (I know, I know, please don't shoot the messenger) that has BG equip and will run a complete rail flush and fog all w/the BG 3 Pack O' Chemicals for $89 - and he is 20 mins from Mission Beach -

Reach me by Sun if ya need #s as I am outta here for the week -

Mike

[DAEDALUS]

I won't recommend the place I bought it from as I am having a dispute with them currently. Not only have they billed me more than they said they would on the intake adapter, but they billed me twice! I'll post another pic after the adapter shows up...maybe this weekend.

Well, forget it. The adapter was worthless. I thought it would atomize the cleaner for distribution into the intake, but geez, it's just a little clear tube with a schraeder valve on one end and a nozzle on the other. It just flows liquid into the intake, which is a hydrolock risk IMO. I'll have to get something else.