Keeping your vehicle performing its best requires a few different regular preventative maintenance tasks. Routine services like oil changes and fluid flushes help to keep your engine running properly for years to come. But one component that many people forget about when it comes to maintenance is their fuel system.
No matter how careful of a driver you are, or how high quality you think your fuel is, fuel systems aren’t zero-maintenance. Over time, small impurities from fuel and even the air can build up in your fuel system. This leads to decreased performance, decreased fuel efficiency, and can even eventually lead to issues with getting your engine to start or stay running. That is why having a fuel system service performed per your manufacturer’s recommendation is an important part of vehicle maintenance.
Signs of Fuel System Problems
If you aren’t sure what your recommended fuel system service intervals are, you can check your owner’s manual. If you are experiencing any of the following issues, you need to have a service done no matter what your interval is. These include:
- Rough starting
- Engine shuddering when idling
- You lose power when going uphill, towing, or carrying a load
- The engine is slow to respond when you press the gas pedal
- Acceleration is slower than usual
These issues happen because deposits cause clogs in your fuel system. This means that the fuel isn’t able to get where it needs to go as quickly or as efficiently as it is supposed to. Getting your system serviced helps to clean out these deposits, allowing the fuel to flow properly and increasing your engine’s performance and fuel efficiency.
What is a Fuel System Service?
When you bring your vehicle into your participating neighborhood Jiffy Lube®, our highly trained technicians will inspect your entire fuel system to check for additional concerns like leaks. Then, they will carefully clean your fuel system to manufacturer’s specifications to ensure no delicate components are damaged. Here is what the steps typically look like:
- Clean the Injectors
Fuel injectors are responsible for spraying fuel inside of the engine to provide combustion. Build up causes them to be less efficient, often leading to issues with idling or lack of power. A careful cleaning removes build up, helping the injectors operate properly.
- Remove Build-Up From the Throttle Body and Valves
Build-up can also occur in the throttle body, which controls air intake, and the valves, which can result in poor sealing. A fuel system service cleans these components as well, leading to more efficient fuel usage.
- Change the Fuel Filter
Your fuel filter is an important part of keeping your fuel system free of debris, but over time build-up can make it less effective at performing its duty. Similar to an oil filter, it does require changing at certain mileage intervals to ensure proper operation. Some newer vehicles have the filter integrated as a part of the fuel pump, which means that they do not need to be changed until the fuel filter has to be replaced.
- Add Fuel Additive
The last step is adding a fuel additive to the fuel tank. This helps to remove any moisture, which is bad for your fuel system, and extend the overall lifespan of the fuel system components.
If you can’t remember the last time you had your fuel system cleaned, and you are experiencing signs of poor performance, it may be time to have this important service done. A fuel system service not only helps to increase your gas mileage, it also helps to keep your engine running smooth and strong for years to come.
If you’d like to learn more about our fuel system cleaning services, head over to our website for more information. Or, you can simply stop by your participating neighborhood Jiffy Lube® location, and our highly trained technicians will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Jiffy Lube® recommends following manufacturer recommendations, where applicable, for maintenance schedules and service intervals.
Not all services are offered at each Jiffy Lube® location. Please check with your local Jiffy Lube® service center for specific services offered.
Go to ChicagolandJiffyLube.com for services and locations in Chicagoland, Rockford, Northwest Indiana and Southeast Wisconsin.
Jiffy Lube® Service Centers are owned and operated by independent franchisees.