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The Benefits of Gas and Diesel Fuel Conditioners

December 21, 2021

Contrary to popular belief, fuels today aren’t what many may consider the best quality-wise. The problem begins with the current refining processes that aim to get the most fuel out of every barrel of crude oil.

That, along with government mandates, is a recipe for inefficiency and instability that can result in damage to your engine over time.

But many of these problems can be solved or mitigated with the help of a suitable gas & diesel fuel conditioner.

Why use fuel conditioners?

Low-quality fuel contains some harmful elements that could lead to long-term damage to the inside of your engine during the combustion process.

Residues arising from fuel combustion could lead to buildup in your fuel injectors, filters, and other crucial components in your engine. This could lead to various other issues, including some starting problems and poor performance, which could all contribute to a reduced engine life expectancy.

Diesel fuel, in particular, has numerous properties that need to be protected. These include lubricity, cetane rating, cold weather performance, and stability.

Fuel conditioners eliminate all of those issues while offering plenty of other benefits. A good fuel conditioner can:

∙ Improve fuel efficiency.
∙ Increase engine performance.
∙ Lower emissions.
∙ Prolong engine life.
∙ Offer protection against gelling in the winter.
∙ Increase cetane rating and improve startup time.

When should I use fuel conditioners?

Incorporating a gas & diesel fuel conditioner into your vehicle maintenance plan is largely beneficial and can significantly prolong the lifespan of your engine. In trucking, for instance, many companies have enjoyed a boost in fleet performance and avoided major problems as a result of incorporating fuel conditioners in their fleet’s maintenance plan.

The Berryman Gas & Diesel Fuel Conditioner was developed to help you avoid common problems that come with low-quality fuel as well as eliminate combustion problems in fuel injectors, improve fuel efficiency and offer lubrication to upper cylinders.

You can incorporate the Berryman Gas & Diesel Fuel Conditioner in your annual maintenance schedule by adding the fuel conditioner every time you fill-up. It is designed to treat up to 400 gallons of gas or diesel fuel and is compatible with all 2-stroke and 4-stroke gas and diesel engines.

Winterize your vehicle.

Winter is almost upon us. There’s never been a more perfect time to condition your fuel for the winter months .

Remember that when temperatures start reaching below 30°F, the paraffin in diesel fuel begins to crystallize, which means your fuel will start to gel. So winterize your vehicle and protect your engine! Start saving fuel with the added winter protection provided by the Berryman Gas & Diesel Fuel Conditioner.

What Happens to Vehicles without Regular Fuel System Cleaning

December 20, 2021

How do you check if it’s time for a fuel system cleaning? When you experience these 4 signs of decreased fuel system performance?

∙ The gas pedal is hard to press
∙ Poor acceleration
∙ Rough idling and/or stalling
∙ Reduced gas economy

Sometimes, these are problems related to other systems/parts failures. But many times, a thorough fuel system clean-up is all you need!

If you’ve never had your fuel system serviced, there may be improper fuel delivery causing the RPMs to jump up and down, or thwarting sufficient power, or prohibiting any start at all. As a crucial component of fuel efficiency, your gummed up fuel system may also be lowering your MPGs! So if you notice getting fewer miles to the gallon than before, it may be time to clean the vehicle’s dirty culprits.

Following the path of the fuel — from the tank to the engine and air intake — a complete fuel system cleaning should incorporate few major components:

∙ Removing any carbon deposits or clogging from the throttle body.
∙ Eliminating buildup from any components between the throttle body and the engine’s cylinders.
∙ Cleaning affected fuel injectors and making sure the entire system is free of deposits.

Let’s walk through the maintenance steps together.

Throttle Body Cleaning

The purpose of the throttle body is to control air intake to your engine. When it isn’t completely functioning, due to built-up grime and carbon deposits, there’s a direct effect on how smoothly your engine operates. That’s why throttle body cleaning should be considered a necessary part of your vehicle maintenance!

With the use of the right product, you can easily remove dirt and debris buildup. Our pour-in Berryman® B-12 Chemtool® Carburetor, Fuel System and Injector Cleaner dissolves a variety of fuel residue deposits to keep the carburetor, choke, and throttle body clean.

Read how it worked for John‘s Suzuki & Marvin‘s high-mileage Nissan:

“I have a 79 Suzuki GS850g. Started to lose power while running and stalling out. Was going to get a carb rebuild, but tried the Sea stuff to no avail. Decided to try this product. Used 15oz in about 3 gallons of gas. Bike was running smoothly within 1/2 an hour. Would 100% recommend and will continue to use.”

“I have a 2006 Nissan Murano 3.5 engine with 213000.0 miles that had a rough idle so I tried two other products and noticed little difference. Then I remembered this product from many years ago, purchased 2 cans and added both cans to a full tank gas. It has a 19 gallon tank. After driving the first 100 miles I notice car idling very good; it had a lot more power. I was so impressed with the performance, I also added 2 cans to my 2009 Chevy Silverado 5.3 with a 25 gallon tank and 132000.0 miles on the engine. I received the same results. I can say there is an increase on the car from 18 mpg to 20 mpg on the interstate and my truck also had 2 gallon gain also. I’m very impressed with this product, so I wanted to share.

Choose Chemtool® (part #0116) for the one-two-punch to knock out fuel system deposits!

Want to see more customer experiences? Visit our ongoing list of HESTimonials.

Intake Manifold Cleaning

Just like the throttle body, an intake manifold is prone to carbon buildup.

An intake manifold is the component the air goes through before reaching the engine and mixing with the fuel. To deliver the right amount of air, the intake manifold connects to each of the cylinders through a series of tubes — each tube equal in diameter.

Also used to recirculate exhaust gasses for more complete combustion, buildup in this area looks like black goo or sludge. When undesirable exhaust particles get lodged inside the air intake, clogging begins. This may significantly reduce your manifold’s air-passing capacity.

Dark Sludge in Intake Manifold - YOTATECH — With no regular fuel system maintenance, black buildup will reduce efficiency.

To find a proprietary universal application system that works with both air-intake and manifold vacuum injection systems, look no further than our 4-Step Professional Air & Fuel System Maintenance Kit. This kit was designed to clean all major air-intake components in your fuel-injected, gas-powered vehicles!

Fuel Injector Cleaning

Your fuel injectors control the volume of fuel delivered to the combustion chamber and ensure the right amount is injected at the right time.

As soon as an injector isn’t doing what it should, (adding too much or too little fuel), the check engine warning light on your dashboard should light up. This is the most common sign of a bad fuel injector.

When properly doing their job, fuel injectors spray a fine mist into your vehicle’s cylinders, where the gasoline is mixed with air. To produce the desired fuel mist, a tiny hole (where the fuel comes out) establishes the right pressure. So, of course, because the hole is so small, it doesn’t take much to get clogged!

These blocks or clogs happen after you’ve turned off your car. As the vehicle cools down, a small remainder of fuel inside the injectors can leave deposits. That’s when you need a fuel treatment that thoroughly cleans the fuel injectors, fuel pump, and fuel lines!

With the use of strong, high energy solvents, combined with state-of-the-art polymeric additive technology, (H.E.S.T.), Berryman® products provide a more complete combination of available chemical technologies to remove those leftover deposits. Specially formulated for cleaning fuel injectors, our B-12 Chemtool® Injector Cleaner disperses moisture and dissolves gum, varnish, deposits, etc.

Another sign of a dirty injector would arise if your vehicle fails the emissions testing that is required by many states and municipalities. Fuel injection systems help to limit carbon emissions, so it’s often a sign of a clogged fuel injection system!

In this situation, we recommend dramatically reducing your hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions by pouring in Berryman® Emissions Pass Protection. This additive will clean clogged fuel injectors, dirty intake valves and carburetors to improves idling, drivability, and fuel economy!

For information about how to test your fuel injectors, visit our blog: What to do with a Bad Fuel Injector

Depending on your driving habits, a recurring fuel system service may improve the overall performance of your vehicle. Every 2 years or every 30,000 miles is a general recommendation for this automotive maintenance. Our B-60 High Mileage Fuel System Rejuvenator will also give one-tank clean-up of fuel injectors, intake valves, carburetor, and combustion chambers to thoroughly clean your high mileage (exceeding 60,000 miles), gas-powered vehicle’s fuel system.

Total Fuel System Clean-Up

And finally, for complete fuel system clean-up, we formulated Berryman® part #2616 specially for vehicles that have not had any regular fuel system maintenance! Restore lost power and peak performance with B-12 Chemtool® Total Fuel System Clean-Up:

How-To Guide: Cleaning a Motorcycle’s Gummed Up Carburetor

December 2, 2021

Customer question:

My motorcycle has been sitting for about 9 months. It starts fine. However, when turning the throttle, it sometimes hesitates and almost dies.
What would the best method be to try and treat this?

First, check the condition of the gasoline.

Investigate the gasoline in the tank. If it’s 9 months old, the fuel has likely gone bad.

In order to make the determination, you might compare the clarity, color, and smell alongside fresh gasoline.

∙ By clarity, we mean that it should be crystal clear. Any haze, sediment, or precipitate is undesirable.
∙ For color, it may have a slightly different hue. However, it should still be light, like a straw yellow.
∙ For smell, you’re hoping for a similar odor profile. But as you check, be careful to not over-sniff. All varieties of gasoline contain many hazardous components — nearly all of which are quite volatile. If you find that it has gone bad, then please read on to the next section.

Next, remove the old fuel from the tank.

In need of restoring your fuel system, you’ll want to drain as much of the base gasoline as you can.

If it is at all possible to remove the tank, do so. Then add a few ounces of Berryman® B-12 Chemtool® to it. Carefully swirl it around.

WARNING: It is important to be cautious with part #0116 if you’re fond of your paint! The beloved H.E.S.T. product can ruin most finishes.

Drain the B-12/bad gas blend, repeat until clear, and reinstall the tank.

Now it’s time to add a Berryman® fuel additive.

At this point, we’d recommend using a top-quality fuel additive to thoroughly clean the fuel line, carburetor (internally and externally), intake valve(s), and combustion chamber. Add B-12 Chemtool® Total Fuel System Clean-Up at 1 oz/gal and top off with fresh gasoline.

If your gas tank is fairly small, you should run the #2616 in back-to-back tanks.

Finally, inspect and clean your carburetor.

The easiest way to clean the carburetor is to remove the air filter and spray our B-12 Chemtool® aerosol (part #0117) directly into it.

Assuming that the carburetor hasn’t corroded internally—that can happen with aluminum carburetors that sit too long with ethanol-based gasoline like “E10” in them—then that should quickly help smooth out the idle and improve runability. You can, of course, start with this step, but doing so may only temporarily mask bigger issues.

All done!

Once you’ve completed this 4-step regimen, you can be confident in your healthy fuel system, again.

However, if you plan on letting your bike sit for extended periods of time again, you’ll need to make sure that the gasoline is protected. Adding a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank and topping it off with fresh fuel will accomplish this.

Best of luck!

Stabilizing your Fuel for Long-Term Storage

November 15, 2021

An important piece of long-time vehicle storage is making sure the fuel in your tank maintains full strength and keeps fresh, to prevent deterioration or gumming up the fuel system.

When a seasonal machine is going to sit with gas in the tank, waiting in your garage for months without being used, it needs proper preservation. Not adding a fuel stabilizer into your tank before storing it away means that you could discover an unpleasant surprise when finally starting up your engine again.

So don’t forget to add “fuel stabilizer” to your winter preparation list!

Fuel is a perishable commodity.

It’s good to know about the shelf life for both gasoline and diesel fuels. Over time, these liquid materials will break down and deteriorate.

In just months, untreated gas can fade in potency, varnish the carburetor, and/or prevent the internals of your fuel system from working the way they’re meant to.

Unwanted chemical reactions within aging fuel might also mean trouble over time! For instance, the evaporation of some volatile components within stored fuel might leave behind harmful deposits in your engine, or stop your fuel from igniting properly in the engine after 3+ months.

But using the correct fuel additive can eliminate any need to drain your fuel before storing the engine. With a fuel stabilizer to keep your fuel fresh, you can preserve a properly balanced, perfectly stable environment.

There are a different types of fuel stabilizers for different applications.

While every fuel stabilizer has the same primary goal in mind, each is formulated differently, for different key goals. The specific areas of protection may change based on storage longevity, application, or performance/efficiency goals.

Some of the most commonly-stored machines — that may need a fuel stabilizer during storage — include: gasoline and diesel engines, found in classic cars, motorcycles, UTVs, snowblowers, and even generators, as well as two-stroke motors, found in chainsaws, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and certain water pumps.

Please note that certain brands of fuel stabilizer are formulated to be used only with gasoline or diesel. Others are dual purpose.

You should always read the labels provided and follow the product instructions.

How much fuel stabilizer should I use?

“Directions on every bottle of stabilizer tell you how much to add for a given amount of fuel, and you’ll find that the quantities specified are small. A tablespoon or two in a lawnmower or chainsaw gas tank is enough to allow gasoline to burn cleanly even after years of storage. One small bottle of stabilizer preserves a full tank of fuel in a car or truck.” – Steve Maxwell, Family Handyman

Help maintain performance and long-term functionality with fuel additives.

Some fuel stabilizers can extend the life of your car’s fuel for as long as two years!

Below are some ways they’re known to help with the trouble-free operation of engines stored for long periods of time:

→ Saving fuel that’s left in the motor (instead of having to drain it)
→ Cleaning out impurities in the gas
→ Preventing fuel from forming sticky resins
→ Protecting your vehicle from corrosive condensation build-up
→ Eliminating cold starts

FAQ: Can you leave a car in storage with a full tank of gas that has Berryman® B-12 Chemtool® Carburetor, Fuel System and Injector Cleaner mixed in it?

Answer:

As an effective fuel tank cleaner, B-12 Chemtool® (part #0116) helps to dissolve gum, varnish, and other fuel residues from the entire fuel system. However, it doesn’t have any stabilizer in it. It’s 100% strong solvent!

It is designed to help remove water from the gas tank (to prevent rusting), however, it will not remove rust from the gas tank or fuel lines. So, while B-12 Chemtool is beneficial to use it in stored fuel, it is also not a fuel stabilizer by itself.

We recommend 1 fl. oz per gallon every third tank during regular vehicle use.

The most active fuel stabilizer Berryman® offers is the Total Engine Tune-Up for Gas and Diesel (part #0316), which stabilizes gasoline and diesel fuels for one year.

Berryman® Total Engine Tune-Up for Gas and Diesel — Use in all 2-stroke and 4-stroke gasoline and diesel engines in any season.

For use in any season, #0316 disperses moisture in the fuel tank, cleaning both fuel injectors and carburetors. In the crankcase, our Total Engine Tune-Up also dissolves and disperses sludge for better lubrication and longer oil life!

Looking for more ways to keep your fuel system in tip-top shape? Check out these related blogs you may also be interested in:

Keep your Ride Running Smooth this Winter [6 Preparation Tips]

November 5, 2021

The first signs of winter are beginning to make an appearance in parts of the United States. And no matter where you live, even a small drop in temperature can cause your car to become temperamental.

So with chilly mornings knocking at your door, we’re sending this reminder to prepare your car for the harsh weather that may be coming your way!

If you live in an area with severe winter cold, road conditions can be dangerous. The last thing you want is to be stranded in a storm from failing to properly winterize your car.

Our team has put together a checklist of maintenance tasks to better prepare your daily driver for the unpredictable road ahead:

Check your tire tread.

This might be the easiest task you can do to potentially save your life.
Especially after the hot summer months, it’s important to check the tread on your tires.

What am I looking for, exactly?

To see that they’re not beginning to bald.

Why?

Bald tires can cause you to slip and lose control of your vehicle on icy, wet roads.

A DIY test you can use to accurately check your tire tread is the “Penny Test.”

Simply grab a penny and insert the penny into one of the first grooves in your tire’s tread.

If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, this means your tires are worn and dangerous to be driven in wet and icy conditions, and you should get them replaced as soon as possible.
If part of Lincoln’s head is still covered, then you are good to go. This means your tires have at least 2/32 of an inch of tread remaining, and they are safe to drive on.

However, even if your tires are safe to drive on now, you should continue to check your tread every couple of months, making sure to replace your tires as soon as the tread wears out.

Fill up those tires.

After you make sure your tire’s tread is good to go, you will want to make sure they are filled with the appropriate PSI (Pounds per Square Inch).

If you’re not sure how much PSI to fill your tires, check the sticker placed on the inside of your driver’s side door frame. This should give you the manufacturer-recommended PSI for your tires.

Got snow tires?

If you live in an area with large quantities of snowfall, you might want to consider getting snow tires put on your vehicle. Snow tires are temporary, providing great traction in deep snow or slippery/icy roads.

So much safer to drive with these in volatile conditions!

Clean your combustion chamber and intake valves.

Cleaning your combustion chamber and intake valves is always a good idea, no matter what time of year it is.

Just like getting squeaky clean in a bath from time to time, your combustion chamber and intake valves need a good rub-down, too.

From improving throttle response to enhancing overall drivability, there are products designed to dissolve stubborn carbon buildup and dramatically increase vehicle performance. We recommend using our Intake Valve & Combustion Cleaner — professionally formulated for use in all fuel-injected gasoline engines.

→ Check out this video to learn all about and how to use our Intake Valve & Combustion Cleaner.

Change your oil and antifreeze.

The oil will often heat up in the summer months and this will make it evaporate quicker. So after the heat has passed, it’s always a good rule of thumb to get your oil checked and/or changed.

If your car does not have the appropriate amount of oil, you can risk burning out your engine…a very pricey mistake!

As another good general-principle, you might also change your anti-freeze before every winter. Old antifreeze can become acidic if not changed out regularly. Too much acidity can break down rubber and aluminum parts in your engine, potentially leading to some significant complications.

Inspect your battery.

Last but not least, it is important to check your battery before winter to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. Cold weather can lessen the capacity of your battery, so making sure it is in optimal condition is crucial before the cold hits!

Just as below-freezing temperatures can be tough on our bodies, it can also be tough on our vehicles. Maintenance is key to preventing any unexpected car tragedies from happening!

Why use fuel conditioners?

When should I use fuel conditioners?

Winterize your vehicle.

Throttle Body Cleaning

Intake Manifold Cleaning

Fuel Injector Cleaning

Total Fuel System Clean-Up

First, check the condition of the gasoline.

Next, remove the old fuel from the tank.

Now it’s time to add a Berryman® fuel additive.

Finally, inspect and clean your carburetor.

All done!

Fuel is a perishable commodity.

There are a different types of fuel stabilizers for different applications.

How much fuel stabilizer should I use?

Help maintain performance and long-term functionality with fuel additives.

FAQ: Can you leave a car in storage with a full tank of gas that has Berryman® B-12 Chemtool® Carburetor, Fuel System and Injector Cleaner mixed in it?

Check your tire tread.

Fill up those tires.

Got snow tires?

Clean your combustion chamber and intake valves.

Change your oil and antifreeze.

Inspect your battery.

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