Halfords Autocentre Fuel Service

Halfords Autocentres offer a fuel service for £35 - see https://www.halfordsautocentres.com/car-care/fuel-service

Also you can pay them £20 to do a fuel line clean

Does anyone know if this is any better than using a product like this (https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/stp-stp-complete-fuel-system-cleaner-petrol-400ml-549991140?type=shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiA_MPuBRB5EiwAHTTvMQKwGjcxXnBNolZEzC3SHLIRLeN2ZACEK9UmvXO_QaPPN883xe1W-hoCtR4QAvD_BwE) yourself?

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Reply 1

IWMTom

Original post by maths42

Complete rip off and simply not required on a modern car.

Reply 2

maths42

Original post by IWMTom

Complete rip off and simply not required on a modern car.

What about a car that's around 15 years old though?

Interestingly they used to say that if there isn't a drop in emissions they will refund you but they don't seem to say that anymore.

Reply 3

IWMTom

Original post by maths42

What about a car that's around 15 years old though?

Interestingly they used to say that if there isn't a drop in emissions they will refund you but they don't seem to say that anymore.

It's not going to do much if anything. None of these treatments will touch the sides of a neglected engine.

Use good quality fuel from the get go.

Reply 4

maths42

Original post by IWMTom

It's not going to do much if anything. None of these treatments will touch the sides of a neglected engine.

Use good quality fuel from the get go.

Ok thank you.

Another thing that they recommend is an oil system flush for £20. Would it achieve the same thing just to add this (https://www.amazon.co.uk/STP-Engine-Petrol-Diesel-Engines/dp/B0095KKXB2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=engine+flush&qid=1574010318&sr=8-3) before an oil change?

Also what do you think of using this (https://www.amazon.co.uk/STP-Oil-Treatment-Petrol-Engines/dp/B003H5DX68/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20E4MXD9RBA7I&keywords=stp+oil+treatment+petrol&qid=1574010440&sprefix=stp+oil+t%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1)? Would you just add this after an oil change and is there a risk of overflow?

Reply 5

IWMTom

Original post by maths42

Not necessarily either - has been known to cause more problems than it resolves.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Reply 6

nevershear

Not worth it. People jumped on this bandwagon over a decade ago by offering mobile fuel clean services, and a few people fell for it until Watchdog got involved because it was getting sold to people that clearly didn't need it. And that was on cars back then. A decade on Halfords think everyone's forgotten and is trying the same charm again. Telling you straight up don't pay them for it lol.

Reply 7

StriderHort

Yeah, they're widely known as crap. Modern fuel & oil already contain these things. Every car manual i've ever seen warns not to add them.

Ha, I was in Halfords for bulbs the other day and they offered me a free car health check, I asked if the problems they found were also free, and they said no :frown:

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 8

Dunnig Kruger

The best way to flush the engine oil is to drain it all out and replace it with brand new oil of the right specification. And to change the oil filter at the same time.

IE to do the manufacturer's recommended service work.

If you've bought a 2004 diesel you've probably made a very wise decision. Because it should have been very cheap to buy and it probably won't have a DPF.
DPF's are good for cutting down on cancerous particles, less good for fuel economy, longevity and reliability.

Reply 9

StriderHort

Original post by Dunnig Kruger

DPF's are good for cutting down on cancerous particles, less good for fuel economy, longevity and reliability.

Great for discreetly murdering people though, just tell the owner how much it will cost to replace and watch them clutch their chest.

Reply 10

IWMTom

Original post by StriderHort

Great for discreetly murdering people though, just tell the owner how much it will cost to replace and watch them clutch their chest.

Don't remind me

Reply 11

RoyalSheepy

Original post by Dunnig Kruger

DPF's are good for cutting down on cancerous particles, less good for fuel economy, longevity and reliability.

Unless you've secretly done a DPF delete :angel:

Reply 12

RoyalSheepy

Original post by maths42

What car do you have and what engine?

Can assure you it'll have no beneficial impact on your car.

Reply 13

maths42

Original post by RoyalSheepy

What car do you have and what engine?

Can assure you it'll have no beneficial impact on your car.

It's a petrol engine from 2004.

I always thought that the fuel line clean must be something you should have every so often since they recommend it.

Reply 14

maths42

Original post by nevershear

That's crazy, do you have a link to an article about that?

Reply 15

Dunnig Kruger

Before motor cars, petrol was used to clean things.
It's a good cleaning agent already.

All you need to do is change the fuel filter at the recommended intervals to keep the fuel lines as they should be.

Plus any repairs like replacing any overly rusty fuel pipes, as and when required.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 16

maths42

Original post by Dunnig Kruger

I thought it doesn't filter everything out though. Is there really any harm in cleaning it?

Reply 17

StriderHort

Original post by maths42

I thought it doesn't filter everything out though. Is there really any harm in cleaning it?

There's no harm in giving me a tenner, but I'll sit here and also do sweet FA for your engine.

Reply 18

Dunnig Kruger

You are continually cleaning it any way by pumping petrol through it.

Your car runs on a volatile cleaning agent (petrol). It doesn't run on raw sewage.

What doesn't get filtered is small enough to get vapourised. Most of it will be burnt or will go out with the exhaust gases.
A small fraction might get suspended in your engine oil. But you replace that every 10,000 miles or so anyway.