Does anyone use an additive on a regular basis. After reading up on the pros & cons of direct injection engines, it seems this should be added to the maintenance list - maybe every 10k miles. Thoughts?

 

Most premium gas ie shell and chevron already have cleaners added. Adding additional will not cause an issue.

 

I have considered this but don't think it's a huge priority. That said I don't think it could hurt. I've watched somewhat closely and haven't really read / heard any reports of injector clogging or carbon buildup on p400 or p300 motors from JLR (or the 5.0 v8 motors). Perhaps dump in a bottle of Techron or B12 or Lucas Cleaner every oil change (PS - also pretty sure my dealership does this so they can charge $240 and have $8 cost).

Seems like one thing JLR did do correctly in the past 10-15 years (direct injection starting in 2010 I believe) is not having a carbon buildup problem. By contrast, early Audi and BMW direct injection motors needed walnut blasting and intake cleaning shockingly frequently. All of those poor original RS4 and 335i owners lol.

 

With direct injection engines, fuel additives can help keep injectors and the high-pressure system clean, but they won’t prevent carbon build-up on intake valves since fuel never washes over them. Using a quality fuel with detergents (like Top Tier) usually gives you most of the benefit. Many owners will run a good injector cleaner (Liqui Moly, Techron, BG, etc.) every 10–15k miles as cheap insurance, especially if the car sees short trips or lower-quality fuel. It’s not harmful if you stick with reputable brands. For valve deposits, periodic walnut blasting or catch cans are the only real solutions.

 

I use an app called Top Tier Approved Fuels to find stations when I'm away from home (otherwise I know whats local to me that usually do). Also, use a bottle of Chevron w/Techron fuel system cleaner at least once immediately after every oil change, which I do at the 5k mark since new, 5,10,15k, etc.

Obviously haven't seen internally as to what positive effect this has or has not made, but cheap enough to give it a shot.

And typically 'top tier' gas isn't any more expensive than stations without the detergents. When in doubt. Shell VPower is my go to.

 

Yes, many owners of direct injection engines use a fuel system or intake valve cleaner regularly, often every 8,000–10,000 miles, to help prevent carbon buildup. Products like Techron or BG44K are popular choices. Regular use can help maintain injector and intake cleanliness, smooth idling, and consistent performance. It’s generally considered a preventative maintenance step rather than a fix for existing problems.