I own a 2005 Toyota Sienna with 100,000 miles. I purchased it about 6 months ago. Runs Excellent without any problems such as an M.I.L. Lights or rough idling. Although I have no service history on the vehicle, I'm thinking of keeping the engine clean from carbon and sludge and to prevent corrosion as a future preventive maintenance.
In this below video, Scotty mentions a fuel cleaning additive with PEA such Gumount to not only clean carbon, but to use it because it has anti-corrosion inhibitors. He says at first to run 2 or 3 tank fulls at first. My question would be after the initial uses, how often should I use Gumont so as not to prevent any damage to the seals or other parts?
Scotty also mentions that Shell Gas has V-Nitro Power which has the same detergents and anti-corrosion inhibitors. (Scotty always mentions how good Shell Gas is) So my second question would be: Would Shell Gas be amongst one of the best Gas Brands to clean carbon and prevent corrosion on fuel injection vehicles?
If I were to own a GDI vehicle, would it be best to only use Shell Gas along with a PEA Fuel Additive every now and then to prevent corrosion and carbon build-up?
I would like to verify these points so I can start recommending the right gas and additives to my friends and loved-ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg9ppeUMpK4
Shell gas is a Top Tier brand, which is a series of fuel brands that allegedly sell gasoline with higher concentrations of cleaners than minimum EPA requirements. 90% of the time, Shell is the only brand I use. You don't need to run cleaners constantly. Even the cheapest gas at UDF contains some level of cleaner by EPA mandates. Run Top Tier fuels and put an occasional shot of cleaner in (once per oil change or so) and you should be good to go.
You don't want to be too obsessive about cleanliness in your engine, you can inadvertently cause problems by doing that. Change your oil and filter regularly, every 5,000 miles with a quality brand and the proper weight, and your engine will stay functionally clean. It's never going to be spick and span, burning gasoline is a dirty process, and a little bit of build-up is unavoidable. It can be beneficial, in some cases. As your piston rings wear, for example, built up carbon and oil residue on the perimeter of the pistons can help the engine maintain its compression. That carbon and gunk gets in, behind the piston rings, and helps press them outwards.
GDI systems don't respond to PEA the same way multipoint fuel injection does, at least not as far as valve cleanliness. PEA keeps the valves in the standard fuel injected engine clean, because gasoline is being sprayed over them. In a GDI engine, gasoline does not contact the intake valves, so carbon will build up, no matter what you put in the gas tank. You can install oil catch cans to keep oil from the PCV system out, which is a key source of intake valve carbon, but it's not going to be whistle clean. Get a GDI and MPFI combo engine vehicle like the most recent Toyotas have. PEA also keeps fuel injectors on both engines clean.
Thank you so much for your knowledgeable opinion. I now have a better understanding on keeping an engine along with the fuel injection system as clean as possible.