Tis the season for magnets, “vortex generators,” “water injectors” and other useless accessories designed to give your engine better performance. But these and other dubious tune-up processes can bleed your wallet and leave your car no better off than before. The best preventive car medicine is to read your owner’s manual and bone up on your ride’s needs, but in the meantime, here’s a 5-point list of dubious or unneeded engine-enhancing procedures.
FUEL-INJECTION CLEANING ($125-$200)
“If your Check Engine light isn’t on and your car’s running fine,” says Mike Allen of SaturdayMechanic.com, whose team of testers have debunked dozens of phony gadgets, “Skip fuel-injection cleaning.” An upper engine carbon cleaning is a good thing to have every 35,000 miles because of varnish deposits. Once a year is overkill.
ENGINE FLUSHES ($100-$200)
An engine flush uses a machine and chemicals to rid your engine’s innards of sludge, but it’s not a normal maintenance check-point unless you’ve neglected your engine. Change your oil according to manufacturer’s recommendations and you won’t need an engine flush. If you’ve got an engine with high mileage and deposits, a flush will break loose sludge that can get into the engine, but it’s not necessary if you’ve otherwise taken good care of your car.
OIL ADDITIVES ($5 AND UP)
There are numerous oil additives on the market ranging from products designed to reduce friction and bolster fuel economy to those whose manufacturers claim their product will allow you to run your engine dry of oil without damaging bearings. Steer clear of all.
GAS SAVERS ($10-$400)
Some of the pseudo-scientific gas savers on the market just plain don’t work and may actually hurt engine performance. The E.P.A. has tested over 100, from pills you pop into your tank to “cow magnets,” and none have proven effective.
LONG-LIFE ANTIFREEZE ($4-$8 PER QUART)
There isn’t any evidence that “long life” antifreeze is any better for your radiator than standard antifreeze, and you shouldn’t assume that because you’ve bought and used it, you can ignore maintaining your radiator. Perform a 2-year, 24,000 mile flush regardless of what kind of antifreeze is in your radiator, especially if you live in a wintery climate. And don’t mix coolants, either, says Mike Allen. “That’s asking for trouble, especially if your car’s engineered for a specific type of anti-freeze.”
