Do Fuel Additives Work?

Do fuel additives work? Well the answer to this question is not really all that easy to answer. Many people believe that fuel additives are nothing more than unnecessary item that do more harm then good. There are others out there that believe that fuel additives do work, and can actually be a helpful addition to taking care of your car. There is some truth to both sides of this debate, and one that you will pretty much need to answer on your own. Here are a few guidelines that you can use to ensure that you will make the right choice.

• What are your expectations? The first thing to consider about fuel additives is what do you expect from them? Many people think that if you simply pour a bottle of fuel additive into the tank of your car you will end up with a car that could compete in the next Indianapolis 500. Admittedly, this is a bit extreme, but you get the idea. If you are thinking of using a fuel additive, you need to be realistic in what your expectations are, and try to keep them separate from what they actually do.
• What do they do? Fuel additives are generally created with different purposes in mind. Typically speaking these additives are used to help "clean out" the engine or the fuel filter. There are other types of additives that you can use to help increase the performance of your engine in extreme weather and temperature conditions.
• When to use them. Generally speaking, a fuel additive is only really good for when you find yourself faced with a vehicle that hasn't been maintained properly for several years. Another instance when you may want to use a fuel additive is when you are faced with a specific problem, such as water getting into your fuel tank. Another time that you may want to consider using a fuel additive is if you plan on making a switch from lower grade fuels to a high grade fuel. Most high grade fuels have quite a bit of additives in it already, and adding an additive to your existing fuel can help prepare the engine for the change.
• How to use them. In the event that you do decide to use a fuel additive, make sure that you are using it for the right reasons. On top of that, make sure that you carefully read the directions on the bottle or packaging before you pour it into the fuel tank. The manufacturer will include directions that you will need to carefully follow if you do not want to accidentally damage your engine.