OT - Need car service advice re fuel injector cleaning

[TimNDansMom]

I recently had to take my 2004 Impala in for some brake work at the local GM dealer and was told that my car is due for fuel injector purge and emission control maintenance, cost $150.

Was wondering if this is really necessary maintenance service that other car or Impala owners do? The car has 79,000km on it.

There's nothing about this is my maintenance schedule book, so I asked a friend who works with cars and he said the only purging is my wallet and recommended Techron Fuel Injector cleaner from Shell.

I can't seem to find anything conclusive online and thought I'd see if there were any mechanics on the DIS and what their views are?

 

[tgropp]

If your car gets its normal mileage and it runs good, I would leave it. Like the dealer said , it is reccomended , not necessarily needed

 

[TimNDansMom]

Yes, my car runs fine.

There seems to be all these extra maintenance things they want to do now that it's not under warranty any longer. Last fall they said the calipers should be cleaned etc to the tune of $69 per side to prolong them. Since I'd had new brakes on the front in the spring I just let them do the rear. Then a couple of weeks ago I had to take it back to get the rear rotors machined because they were starting to pulsate. Over $200!! Can't win! And then they spring this about the fuel injector cleaning being due!

Thanks for your reply, tgropp.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Yes, my car runs fine.

There seems to be all these extra maintenance things they want to do now that it's not under warranty any longer. Last fall they said the calipers should be cleaned etc to the tune of $69 per side to prolong them. Since I'd had new brakes on the front in the spring I just let them do the rear. Then a couple of weeks ago I had to take it back to get the rear rotors machined because they were starting to pulsate. Over $200!! Can't win! And then they spring this about the fuel injector cleaning being due!

Thanks for your reply, tgropp.

You do need to regularly clean and service your brakes, which includes the calipers and rotors. Changing the pads/shoes is not just all that is required. So don't feel taken on that one.

 

[TimNDansMom]

No, sorry I guess I worded that wrong. I have no qualms about keeping things like the brakes in good working order and I always have. The rotors have been machined before but most of my driving is in the city, just wasn't expecting to have to take it in again after the brakes were cleaned. I was more annoyed when they told me about the fuel injector maintenance.

 

[TimNDansMom]

Sorry I meant to start a new thread for this.

 

[tribus121]

if your car is running fine then it does not need

fuel injector purge and emission control maintenance

now that there is no longer warranty on your car i would ask your friends to recommend a small local garage to look after your car

 

[TimNDansMom]

now that there is no longer warranty on your car i would ask your friends to recommend a small local garage to look after your car

I've been considering finding a garage but the Dealer is extremely handy to me and they have good customer service. However, I find it a bit annoying that they also like to call me when they figure an oil change is due even though they put a sticker on my windshield plus the car has an oil life sensor.

 

[Stittsville]

How about a fuel additive to clean your injectors?

When was your last Drive Clean test? That should tell you if there is anything wrong with the fuel emission system.