Just wondering if this is good stuff and whether its necessary. Thanks!

-steve

I had won a can of 44k and their oil treatment as well at a recent autocross. I posted the same question and got a couple of responses basically stating that there are some mechanics who swear by this stuff (no negative responses). They also recomended I wait a bit before using it, I've only got 16k miles on my car and will probably wait for it to hit 30k miles to use this stuff.

Regards,
Rodney

'99 A4 1.8tqms

This is good stuff IF you need it but should be used sparingly. It has very powerful solvents. According to my friend who is the asst. svc. mgr at my local M-B dealership, this is not to be used routinely... it's perhaps a once every 30k treatment, and they generally use it only if there's a sign that an engine needs a good cleaning.

A bottle of Techron every 3K or so probably has a similar effect in terms of ongoing cleaning of the fuel system/valves.

Be careful w/ BG44K on high mileage cars: my friend at the M-B dealer says they've actually seen it work so well it dissolves large carbonated chunks in older cars that are really gunked up, which then have even more running problems and need additional service. So basically, if I were you I'd keep it and then throw it in a tankful or two of gas before you go in for your 30k service;

Sorry, I have not used the 44K (I could never find it), but I have used Techron a few tanks before my last two oil changes. It seemed to help out quite a bit, but after a few thousand miles performance and milage started to diminish again (I drive a lot of short miles, which is supposed to result in a lot of carbon buildup, to which the 1.8t is supposedly highly prone to anyway.)

To try to improve on this, I have used a few bottles of the Redline Complete Fuel System Cleaner. It is supposed to be safe for continual use, and after an initial does of a full bottle per tank you only need to add an ounce or so to each tank thereafter. It seemed to be working great, but I have had a hard time finding it. After four trips to a local Pep Boys I could only net two bottles (they never had more than one bottle on hand the two times I did find it). So I have run out and never made another trip across town to see if they might have more. I give the Redline CFSC a thumbs up, if you can find it.

Evidently it cleans well enough to leave contaminates in the oil, so put it in after filling the tank and run out the whole tank just before you're going to change your oil. (Running 2 full tanks before changing the oil may even be better to be sure it's all used up.)