Protecting Your Vehicle’s Engine as it Ages

Fuel additives keep your engine healthy

Passenger Cars Passenger Cars

If you have 75,000 miles or more on your vehicle’s odometer, you’re not alone. In an earlier Lube Matters article, we noted that people are keeping their vehicles longer – more than 12 years on average, and well over 100,000 miles. And younger vehicles that are driven constantly – think ride-hailing services or long commutes – can put on that many miles in just a couple of years. Both older and newer vehicles that have hit the 75K mark are considered high-mileage vehicles, and can benefit from high-mileage engine oils that address the issues associated with a heavily traveled engine.

 

However, if you really want to keep an aging engine in healthy condition, consider adding a high-mileage fuel system cleaner to your maintenance routine. Where a high-mileage oil addresses wear-and-tear issues that older engines encounter, a high-mileage fuel system cleaner helps mitigate the adverse effects of dirty carbon deposit build-up at various points in the engine.

 

Common Fuel System Problems with High Mileage Vehicles

 

Carbon deposits are a normal byproduct of engine combustion. Left unchecked, they can cause sluggish performance, reduce fuel efficiency, and lead to engine damage in some cases. In a high-mileage vehicle, these problems are compounded. Deposits can clog fuel injectors and foul the carburetor, resulting in poor fuel flow and impaired engine performance. Fuel that sits in the tank for a length of time can degrade through oxidation. Moreover, moisture contamination may find its way into the fuel system and cause corrosion.

 

When to Switch to a High Mileage Fuel System Cleaner

 

Consider starting with or switching to a high mileage fuel system cleaner when your vehicle reaches 75,000 miles or more, or if you’re experiencing problems that may be the result of a dirty fuel system, such as knocking sounds or occasional stalling. Check the owner’s manual to see if a fuel system cleaner is recommended at certain intervals, or ask about using fuel system cleaners at your favorite quick lube or mechanic.

 

Have a High Mileage Vehicle?  Enter Chevron Techron® High Mileage Fuel System Cleaner

 

Regular use of a fuel system cleaner at recommended intervals can combat the issues highlighted above.  However, not all fuel system cleaners are created equal. Chevron Techron® High-Mileage Fuel System Cleaner is specially formulated for gas-powered vehicles and light trucks that have reached or exceeded 75,000 miles. It contains powerful cleaning agents that break up and clear away deposits from the fuel injectors and combustion chamber. And this specially formulated fuel system cleaner for high-mileage vehicles contains enhanced additives, like anti-oxidant additives to reduce the risk of oxidation and maintain fuel stability.

 

Using Techron® High-Mileage Fuel System Cleaner can help undo the effects of carbon deposit build-up and keep the fuel system clean. That means the engine doesn’t have to work as hard, resulting in improved fuel efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and better overall performance and power. It can also help maintain fuel stability and quality, especially in a vehicle that may go long stretches between fill-ups. It also helps reduce engine wear and corrosion of metal surfaces.

 

Whether your vehicle has reached the 75,000 milestone through old age or constant use, a specialized fuel system cleaner like Techron High Mileage Fuel System Cleaner can offer added engine protection, help extend the life of the vehicle, and generally restore much of its youthful energy. What’s more, it can help save on maintenance and repairs over the long term and maintain a healthy resale value when the time comes to part ways. 

09/26/2024

Anita Leung
Anita Leung has held various technical positions at Chevron specializing in engine oil development, including research on next generation additives and product development of Chevron's latest line of GF-6 passenger car motor oil. She is currently the North America Product Technical Specialist responsible for passenger car and motorcycle engine oil, as well as the Techron branded aftermarket fuel additive. Anita also holds a U.S. patent on a gasoline additive manufacturing process. She has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and a M.S. in Environmental Science from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

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