Engine additives: which should you choose for your vehicle and fuel? 🚗⛽

Engine maintenance goes beyond regular oil and filter changes. Additives can help support performance, reduce fuel consumption and extend engine life. However, not every additive suits every engine or fuel. This guide explains how to choose an appropriate product for your vehicle and fuel type.

1. Why use engine additives? 🤔

Engine additives are products added to fuel or engine oil to support vehicle performance and maintain engine systems. Depending on their formulation and application, their purposes include:

Reducing pollutant emissions 🌱
Improving combustion 🔥
Cleaning injectors, valves and carburettors 🧼
Protecting parts against wear 🛡️
Optimising fuel consumption ⛽

The additive must nevertheless be suited to your vehicle, engine and fuel.

2. Additives for petrol engines ⛽️

Petrol engine design calls for suitable additives to support performance and limit wear. The main types to consider are:

a. Injector and carburettor cleaners 💧

Petrol engines can develop deposits in injectors or carburettors. A suitable cleaner helps maintain effective combustion by aiming to:

Reduce deposits and blockages in the injectors.
Improve fuel atomisation, supporting engine performance.
Extend the service life of components within the engine.

Suggested product: NET ESSENCE – An injector and carburettor cleaner designed to help restore effective combustion.

b. Combustion-improving additives 🔥

Combustion-improving additives may help reduce fuel consumption while supporting engine performance. These products aim to:

Improve combustion efficiency, making better use of the energy in the fuel.
Reducing pollutant emissions through cleaner combustion.

Suggested product: BOOST ESSENCE – Designed to optimise combustion, support performance and help reduce fuel consumption.

c. High-performance lubrication additives 🛠️

Some ceramic additives can be added to engine oil to provide additional protection against wear and support overall engine performance, particularly under demanding driving conditions.

Suggested product: Ceramic Engine & Gearbox Lubricant – Supports lubrication in petrol engines to help reduce wear and friction between internal parts.

3. Additives for diesel engines 🚙

Diesel engines have particular maintenance requirements. Soot can affect injectors and the diesel particulate filter (DPF). The main additive types to consider include:

a. Injection system cleaning additives 💦

Diesel engines often have sophisticated injection systems that can accumulate deposits. A suitable diesel injector cleaner is intended to:

Remove carbon deposits from the injectors.
Restore engine performance and improve fuel combustion.

Suggested product: NET DIESEL – Designed to clean injectors and help maintain diesel engine performance.

b. Diesel particulate filter (DPF) additives 🔥

The particulate filter reduces pollutant emissions but can become loaded with soot, leading to power loss and increased consumption. A suitable DPF additive is intended to help:

Reduce soot loading in the filter by supporting the regeneration process where the product is suitable; it does not remove non-combustible ash.
Restore performance by helping keep the DPF functioning correctly.

Suggested product: FAP Particulate Filter Cleaner – A cleaner designed to help maintain the particulate filter and a cleaner-running diesel engine.

c. Additives to support diesel engine performance 💨

Modern diesel engines have specific treatment requirements. Suitable diesel additives can help:

Reduce wear by improving lubrication of the components the product is designed to treat.
Improve performance by optimising combustion.

Suggested product: ECO DIESEL – A concentrated treatment intended to help keep diesel engines clean and running efficiently.

4. Additives for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) engines 🔥

LPG engines can offer lower emissions for some pollutants, but their injection systems may still develop deposits. To support performance, consider products specifically designed for this fuel and system:

a. LPG injector-cleaning additives 💧

LPG engines require compatible injector cleaners. These additives are intended to:

Remove deposits associated with LPG use in the injectors.
Improve efficiency while helping to reduce engine emissions.

5. How do you choose the right additive? ✅

The choice depends primarily on:

Your fuel type (petrol, diesel or LPG).
The problems affecting your engine (fouled injectors, high consumption, excessive emissions and so on).
The manufacturer’s instructions for your vehicle and engine.

Before choosing an additive, check your vehicle’s specifications and read the product instructions. Do not mix different additives unless their compatibility has been confirmed.

Choosing suitable engine additives can support performance, limit maintenance costs and help preserve engine life. Petrol, diesel and LPG engines have different requirements, with products designed for particular fuels and systems. Select products that match your needs and follow the vehicle’s maintenance requirements.

Suggested products: