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Member since 7/23/07
Posts: 7276
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Posted on: 12/15/12 3:36 PM ET
My cute little Ford Focus went in to the quick oil change place recently and the guy said I need a $120 fuel system clean. DH (computer guy, not car guy) says it is just an upsell and there is no way I need it. I know for a fact he has done this once as I was with him at the time. And I do wish that if he wants to have opinions and ideas about how I deal with my car, he would do them himself!

Anyhoo.....I haven't a clue. I really don't like dealing with car stuff and always feel I am getting a bit of a runaround and HATE feeling lectured and scolded (don't get me started on dental hygienists...) so I am looking for some second, third and fourth opinions. Legit deal or waste of time and $$ ?
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Member since 12/28/09
Posts: 888
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Posted on: 12/15/12 3:46 PM ET
In reply to tourist
Is he talking about a fuel filter? $120 seems a bit high for that, even with labor. Not a car folk, but DH is and sometimes I get to help.
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Member since 7/31/10
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Posted on: 12/15/12 4:04 PM ET
I've had it done. It should help you to get better mileage.
Don't think it cost quite that much though!
  
Member since 7/23/07
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Posted on: 12/15/12 4:09 PM ET
It's the deal where they hook you up to some machine and blow all kinds of black gunk out of the fuel system.
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Member since 8/3/03
Posts: 163
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Posted on: 12/15/12 6:29 PM ET
Had the misfortune of working at a car dealership service department for 1.5 yrs and never had anyone want or even ask for the fuel injector service.
As you are in BC, I HIGHLY recommend getting your fuel filter changed regularly (whatever your maintenance schedule states) as the gas here is crap.
Upsell? You bet ya.
  
Member since 7/23/07
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Posted on: 12/15/12 6:50 PM ET
In reply to surfbird
Cruising some car sites it sounds like I can toss a bottle of fuel cleaner gunk in with the gas whenever I get an oil change and that will do the trick. I have a six minute commute with trips to "town" 30 km away several times per month. Not a heavy use car!
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Member since 8/3/03
Posts: 163
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Posted on: 12/15/12 7:21 PM ET
In reply to tourist
Quote: tourist
Cruising some car sites it sounds like I can toss a bottle of fuel cleaner gunk in with the gas whenever I get an oil change and that will do the trick. I have a six minute commute with trips to "town" 30 km away several times per month. Not a heavy use car!

[QUOTE]

Yup, the bottle of fuel cleaner is fine and a whole lot cheaper.
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 7941
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Posted on: 12/15/12 8:55 PM ET
In reply to tourist
Quote:
I have a six minute commute with trips to "town" 30 km away several times per month. Not a heavy use car!
Which is what your problem is. Long distance driving is the best for cars, because their fuel systems, especially the fuel injectors, get clean because of the consistent running of the engine at one speed. In town, as in your six minute commute, there's a lot of stop and go, which is hard on an engine. Get yourself a bottle of fuel system cleaner at your next gas fill up and save yourself some money.

Edited to add: I don't think it's an "upsell"; might just be a newly graduated tech who isn't aware of simpler methods because he/she has been taught how to fix the problem on his/her end.
-- Edited on 12/15/12 8:57 PM --
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Member since 1/16/08
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Posted on: 12/15/12 11:43 PM ET
Your owners manual should have h recommendations... I got so tired of all of the upsell stuff we take our vehicles to our mechanic fo oil changes... He never upsells.
  
Member since 7/23/07
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Posted on: 12/16/12 10:51 AM ET
In reply to Miss Fairchild
Miss Fairchild - yes,upsell is probably the wrong word. This guy made a big deal of having done this job (at a quickie, drive-thru oil change place - not a stellar resume, though I am sure he has learned quite a bit) for ten years. I suspect it is the classic "do you want fries with that?" sales training and I can't blame them. They are in business to make money and cleaning my fuel system will not hurt my car, just remove some fabric buying potential.
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