The Best Diesel Injector Cleaners: Boost Your Engine’s Performance

The gunkier they get, the more your engine struggles. If left unchecked, this impacts the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. But in the worst-case scenario, your engine could get damaged from overworking itself, especially if an injector becomes clogged. From stalls to difficulty accelerating, you risk a lot of performance issues without a diesel injector cleaner. 

To help stave off any issues, you can simply throw in some diesel injector cleaner to address the buildup. Like, as easy as pouring some in the next time you fill up with fresh fuel. This is an easy yet essential part of preventative maintenance, and the quality of these cleaners dramatically impacts its effectiveness. So, to save you some legwork, we’ve tracked down the best diesel injector cleaners available on the market today.

We narrowed down this list of top-choice diesel fuel injector cleaners by balancing out price, review, features, and ease of use. Whichever possessed the best mix got on the list, and then we rated them from there. You can't really go wrong with any of them, but some target more specific issues that your car might be experiencing. With that, let's discuss what's best for your spark-plug-less powerplant!

Designed to work on all types of engines, the Lucas LUC10013 Fuel Treatment works to improve conditions and prevent further damage. Coming with enough to treat 400 gallons of diesel, it works by using hydrophobic chemicals and additives to slide the particulate through. The detergent in the formula interacts with corroded parts and debris to clean the vehicle from the inside out. It results in a clean burn by enabling a smooth flow of the diesel and regulating the sulfur in the contents. When used regularly, this conditioner can keep your engine working at the top of its game.

The drawback to this entry is the gallon jug. While it's good to have on hand, the excess quantity makes it more difficult to add to your engine than others. That, paired with how harsh it is on paint, makes it inherently risky to use.

The Gumout Multi-System Tune-Up cleaner is an affordable product that works on your diesel injectors and the entire fuel system. It’s also suitable for gas, ethanol, and biodiesel engines. The product works with just one treatment on a 21-gallon diesel tank (one ounce per gallon of fuel in both 2- and 4-cycle engines). It cleans the fuel injectors, cylinder heads, the combustion chamber, piston tops, and intake valves. 

The product’s composition is made up of antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, and cleaning agents that prevent future carbon build-up in your engine. It also features polyetheramine (PEA) that effectively eliminates carbon deposits from the fuel system. The fluid stabilizes the fuel for two years, improves your vehicle's fuel economy, and fights ethanol and water corrosion.

The main problem with this product is that the mouth of the bottle may not fit on a fuel tank, which makes application difficult. You would have to use a funnel to avoid spilling the content on the surrounding area.  Moreover, the manufacturer could improve on the design and packaging of the bottle as it often comes with external damages to the can.

The Sea Foam Motor Treatment graces our list as a professional-grade cleaner that cleans injectors, carb jets, motors, passageways, intake pistons, and valves in both diesel and gas engines. This fuel system cleaner enhances the engine’s overall performance, promotes better fuel economy, and better fuel system operation. It also improves your vehicle’s performance with faster throttle response and smoother idle.

This formula is tried and trued, but they still have to get the bottle worked out. It's difficult to pour into a gas tank. It's worth noting that it also uses a de-icer that's not necessary, and it's hard to find it in single bottles online.

The Star Tron brand of fuel injector cleaner is available in several different sized containers. If you need only a little amount of the liquid (8 ounces), you’re covered. You can go for a larger amount (1 gallon) that will last you quite a long time. The injector allows your engine to start more easily, smoothly, and quickly once applied. It also helps reduce emission and carbon buildup from burners, injectors, and exhaust components.

The setback to this entry is that the cheap plastic used for the bottles tends to crack over time. It's also a relatively poor design that takes longer than usual to dispense the contents.

This diesel injector cleaner is formulated to clean out the whole fuel injection setup in the vehicle, with enough supply to mix well with a single tank of gas. Once you’ve used the cleaner and driven your vehicle for a while, it becomes better able to cold start and burns fuel more efficiently. The resulting cleaner combustion both reduces your carbon output and can save you at the pump. Meant to address carbon deposits, it lubricates and removes particulate from the injectors.

Though this does include a funnel, it seems to go missing before reaching many customers. It's also more expensive than most options, which will drive many consumers to something else.

After careful consideration, we’ve picked the Lucas LUC10013 Fuel Treatment as the winner of this roundup. Powerful, affordable, and long-lasting, it’s a solid choice. Looking to save a bit more? Consider the Gumout Multi-System Tune-Up as a one-shot treatment.