For the longest time, the unprecedented leader in vehicle efficiency and fuel economy has been the diesel engine. Its conspicuous sound made diesel-powered vehicles more recognisable and the same goes for their carbon footprint. Diesel engines are unfortunately not as good for the environment as their petrol counterparts. Because of this, you need to prevent the build-up of soot inside from affecting the performance of the DPF filter as well as the engine. This is where a cleaner for diesel engines is used. It helps remove the build-up of carbon inside the engine and thus keeps everything flowing as it should.
Benefits of Diesel Engine Cleaners
Fuel
Not only will the fuel in your diesel-powered vehicle flow better but fuel components will also work far better when you use a diesel turbo cleaner. Since diesel is quite an oily substance it can make it easy for carbon to get stuck in fuel system components. The right cleaner used with diesel engines can help prevent the injectors from getting stuck or the EGR valve from any irreparable damage.
Performance
As you'd expect from a solution that takes care of all the mess inside of an engine, it's a no-brainer that it'll make your vehicle more powerful. Issues regarding performance and acceleration as well as with components such as the fuel pump and DPF filter alongside the injectors and EGR valve are going to be freed from otherwise unnecessary repairs.
Lifespan
Since you're going to be keeping your diesel engine clean you're going to prevent issues and major carbon contents which will, in turn, prolong its lifespan. As long as you use cleaner on a regular basis.
Cost-Effective
With a diesel engine cleaner, you save yourself money that you would otherwise spend on fixing components. You're better off using engine cleaner than tending to engine issues which could've been saved with the former.
Types of Diesel Engine Cleaners
Chemical Agents
The most popular cleaner solution for diesel engines is a chemical agent. This is a mixture of chemicals that help flush out not only carbon but also any residue of water from the fuel system. The chemicals, in this case, are polymers that can be combined with additives through many different formulas.
Ultrasonic Cleaners
The use of an ultrasonic cleaner or system is a far more advanced approach to getting rid of carbon soot from your diesel engine. This is done with the use of sound waves that help loosen debris stuck to the walls of the engine. While ultrasonic cleaners don't lubricate the engine and take a lot more time to work they are great when you want to clean multiple engines at once.
Rail-Induced Cleaners
Known as a last-resort option, the use of rail-induced cleaners is the best way to clean a diesel engine with grime that won't give up that easily. This type of cleaning is used in mechanic shops as it involves the use of pressure washers to get rid of the gunk. The downsides are that it takes a lot of time and it can damage filter baskets.
What to Look for in Diesel Engine Cleaners
Chemicals
Not every cleaner for diesel engines uses the same chemical formula. There might be some slight deviations but at the end of the day, the chemical makeup of one diesel turbo cleaner is still different from another. The most commonly used chemicals are polyisobutylene amine, polyetheramine, and polyisobutylene. These are organic polymers that can clear out residue when it comes to the injectors. While some cleaners clean the engine on a molecular level others only turn the build-up of soot into liquid.
Container
You'd think the container a cleaner comes in doesn't matter, but it matters more than you think. If you were to go for a diesel turbo cleaner in a clear container you should expect it to not be as effective. Especially if it's been sitting outside for a long time. This is because, with a clear container, the chemicals react with light and have their efficacy compromised.
Cleaner Amount
The amount of actual cleaner present in the solution is also a determining factor in how effective the product is. While a large container might get your hopes up since you'd expect it to contain more cleaner, that isn't always the case. You see if you get more cleaner than you need, the rest of it will go to waste. This is because when you first open the container, the seal is broken and the chemicals start to go towards their expiry date.
Compatibility
While diesel cleaners are generally meant to be used on any type of vehicle there are some that are made to be specifically used with one or two types of vehicles. The latter is more expensive but also more effective at cleaning your car or boat's engine.
Accidents
You should also be careful when using a cleaner. Since the chemicals inside it are mostly heavy-duty they can leave stains if you spill them on the body of your car. Some of them can even corrode the paint on your vehicle and others are flammable.
