MINI Fuel Injector cleaning
 

I just brought in my 2010 MINI Clubman S for service because of the engine fan was continuously on and it drained the battery. The dealer was telling me that I needed a fuel injector cleaning. The MINI has 13500 miles on it. They are charging $265 and I declined. What is the best cost efficient way of making sure the fuel injector is clean? Is there something I can do by myself to keep the fuel injectors clean?

I cannot believe you would need that after the mileage you've recorded. Don't bother with the cleaning; it's just a big money maker for the dealer. Use a top tier gas and after more mileage use an additive like Techron to keep things clean.

get Cheveron techron and put it in every other fillup. the Mini brand injector cleaner is techron in a mini bottle and sells for double what techron costs (around $6 for a 15 gal. treatment). I verified this with a Mini tech. the bottles are even the same with different logos.

Same thing happened to me with just below 13K miles. I declined the service ($265). The charge for adding the additive to the fuel tank was $69.95. I will do the Techron myself.

way overkill when using decent fuel.

I really don't think your fan was staying on cause of dirty injectors. The fan staying on has mostly likely to do with the thermostat being faulty. I would get that looked into.

never let Mini put fuel cleaner in your Mini as they rip you off. their fuel system cleaner is Chevron Techron in a Mini labled bottle. don't buy it from the dealer either as they will charge you close to double what you pay for the same Chevron Techron. I put Techron in every third fillup. some people think this is a waste, however, the injectors on the MCS direct injection engines have openings the diameter of a human hair and can be clogged very easily---why take a chance for $6 every third fillup?

Where's the best place to get the Chevron Techron? My Mini has 60k on it now and I do use Kwik Trip Top Tier 91 Octane, but an injector cleaner additive wouldn't be a bad idea once in a while. Where can a guy get this stuff?

:thumbsup: Redline SI-1

Advance auto or autozone. I think even walmart carries it.

WallyWorld even has it.
I use it about every 3K miles and always use 93 octane Shell or Chevron.
No problems with fouling, misfires, stalling, or stumbling.
Once a week blow the little bugger out (give it a good run through the gears). Mine is an auto and I use the paddles at that point. Fun.

I picked the Techron up at Wally World and have it in the tank with a fresh top off of Kwik Trip 92 Octane fuel. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...:thumbsup:

I had a similar situation with my '12 Cooper with 18k miles. I had it in for free oil change and they wanted me to do port and injector cleaning totaling about $350. They implied that it had to be done every 15k miles in order to keep my CPO warranty valid. Hmmm.

Also told me I must use 93 octane and BP or Sunnoco only. Original dealer and manual says 89 is OK.

I'd say show me in the owners manual where it says that at ? I'd say some of you have a real problem with your dealerships. I'd be calling MINI USA and asking them about the scams. Also be carefull on that octane rating, I believe that octane formula is the EU standard which equates to 91 OCT US

2009 Cooper
 

Hey Guys,

'09 81K Miles Cooper

Just had my car in the shop because it was having difficulty starting in the cold. It took 6 or 7 tries to get it started...

They said it was due to a carbon buildup on the engine and spark plugs, and I got them cleaned, and I was also hearing a bit of rattling from my heat plate, got that readjusted - $615

Didn't have a problem with the car before this, so I'm shocked to hear about those with the same problem at 10-15K miles...

would you recommend I start using fuel injector cleaners from here on out?
how much, how often, and what kind?

Is your MINI a Cooper S or a Cooper?

Fuel injector cleaners will help clean the injectors. It will not keep you from having carbon buildup, that is an issue that all direct injection engines face. This aplies if you have a Cooper S.

If you have a Cooper the fuel injector cleaner will help keep your injectors & valves clean.

I use a bottle of Chevron Techron at each oil change. For me that is every 5,000 miles.

Cleaning is always a good thing no matter what product you use. BG, Seafoam, Chevron,, etc. With the Ethanol fuel we get its good thing to keep it clean

Hi everyone,
from reading all the comments I searched for Chevron Techron but 2 different bottles come up a black one and a gray one...which one do you guys think will be good for my 2010 Mini Cooper Convertible with 120,874 miles???...please help!! Lol

When all these additives started I looked into it and found there are only a few companies making it for all the companies, per the companies requirements. They are all very close to each other, some might use a taste more of one chemical than the others, making it their specific additives. Now most all fuel manufatures add these to their fouel for sale to the general public.

Before I retired, I brought 5 different addtitive to our lab, (I worked at a large oil refinery) and we tested them. The chemical additives were the same with, like said, the different amounts. Slightly different. But I also brought in a bottle from one of those Dollar Stores and the test were the same. It actually cost a dollar per bottle.

I ran this one in my little pickup I used driving to and from work. I drove 800 miles minimum per week and used one bottle per week, and did this for the 12+ years I owned the truck. When sold when I retired, I needed to change 2 fuel injectors. Mileage was 400,000 miles on the clock.

Just an FYI I learned.

mini won't start
 

My mini has been sitting for 3 months while I was out of town.
Would not start. Sounded like not getting fuel.
What could it possibly be?

What year and model? So it cranks, getting spark, but no fuel?

yes.
2010 Cooper S 6 speed manual turbo
somebody sucked the gas out of it. I didn't see evidence of sugar so I put a couple of gallons in and try to start it.

Ok, that stinks. Do you here the Rear fuel pump prime (quick high noise whine) when you go to open the door or unlock it? If someone drained it i would get some fuel asap as you dont want to hurt the pump and front HPFP.

yes I put gas in. I hear clicking and whine before I push start and as I push start. click from interior fusebox.

Check Engine Light
 

I have a 2010 mini cooper s hatchback turbo with 170,000 miles on it. My check engine light came on and we replaced all 4 coils and spark plugs the turbo boot was also replace. Have put fuel treatment and injector clean and nothing is working. No stalling or rough speed up but idle is crap. Any idea what we could do? Should we replace the injectors too?