Well finally my new spark plugs arrived off fleabay yesterday, so took myself off to the garage to mooch around for a couple of hours. Old plugs were not in that bad a shape.. RR6 with 9k miles, thought I would change them given the bike is now over 7 years old as I got a shock at how dirty the air filters were at this mileage. I took a photo down the plug holes just for a look.. and you can see how dirty the top of the pistons are looking! Was wondering if anyone has added any fuel additives etc in the past for cleaning fuel injectors / engine de-coke before? The bike runs very smooth, but still would like to "treat" this if possible. I've added additives to the Wife's diesels in the past, and genuinely believe they make a difference.
I've used a Wurth petrol additive, on all my bikes, I only put it in once a year normally when the service interval is due and just add it to a full tank of fuel. If it makes a difference I can't really say but it's never gave me any problems either
Personally I haven't used additives in mine but prefer to put BP ultimate or shell optimax as they have a cleaner burn with the fuel.
well that hasn't made any difference for me.. I always either of those as well!! usually the BP stuff..
Its more because we don't tend to run these bikes at what they are designed for. ie. high revs. This makes the bike run rich, which then leaves the deposits on the top of the pistons. It's a normal thing with sports bikes. Here's the top of the piston on my SP1 for reference. Ps the engine is now a lot cleaner than that
I think these fuel additives are a gimmick. I mean BP put millions into developing their fuel to get the perfect blend. then we are told a £10 bottle of fuel treatment will clean our engine internals. I don't believe it. I just change my oil at regular intervals, use the best fuel and engine oil and never have problems. Im a mechanic and ive seen a few fuel pumps break down when customers swear by diesel additive. I believe the fuel additive thins the oil in the diesel not lucubrating the pump enough. Fuel companies are bigger than these "engine treatment" companies, more money and development has gone into fuel development, why would we need to add a treatment to it?
I used to use additives in my RR3 - STP and Wurth for instance but I ended up with a exhaust valve cracking and blowing a chunk out of the pipe! Was pretty standard motor with a PC3 and K&N so cant understand what caused it but I understand the additives may increase combustion temperature/give an octane boost. Always worried me, especially after paying out £700 for a new valve/reseating etc. I'd rather live with the carbon deposits
Correct me if I am wrong but Redex used neat down into the cylinders and left for awhile was supposed to loosen all that carbon and blew it out through the exhaust.
Havent heard of that one before.. although I have for brake cleaner Guess you could pour some in and leave it 24 hrs, then turn the engine over with the plugs out and blow the crap up out onto an old towel or similar..
As I understand it the fuel additives are ment to clean the fuel system ie lines filters and injector nozzles, the deposits prevent the injectors from efficiently atomizing the fuel, once cleaned they give a finer spray and so a cleaner burn but I dont think they clean carbon out of the engine.......only engine strip and hard graft or ............................. preferably a DAMN HARD THRASHING, which is much more fun. Were the plugs black in original post, could be running rich or need more air / high flow filter. or a clean.....just a thought
plugs were fine.. not black at all, 9k miles but they could have almost passed as new.. Just changed to BMC Race and gutted the air intake this winter.. Its already had a custom map, but now the BMC Race on, will get another map to be on the safe side
