Fuel injector service worth it?

this came up regarding my wife's Camry but it should be a universal question...dealer recommended fuel injector service at 40,800 miles. now I'm kind of an old dog...what I'd typically do with my old Chevys is what dad called the Italian Tune Up...dump a bottle of Techron in the tank and go zoom down the highway for about an hour. Of course these newer vehicles are more sophisticated and refined (right?). So, should I come off a few bucks and pay the dealer to do this, or just head to Oreillys for a bottle....?

 

Well, my first question would be: does Toyota's official maintenance schedule recommend this? If yes, then I'd do it. But I doubt it does. Dealers often make up their own maintenance schedules to try to suck money out of people.

If the Toyota maintenance schedule does not recommend it, my second question would be: is there a known issue with the injectors that leads honest people to recommend this service even though the manufacturer does not? If you don't see evidence of that on the forums etc, then the answer is likely no. So I wouldn't waste money on it.

As for "Italian tune ups," I couldn't prove it but personally am inclined to be in favor. I don't think it's good for engines to run only at low RPMs. Sometimes you need to wind them out to loosen carbon deposits etc. This is actually a known technique on the classic NA BMW straight six engines. They were known to develop valve issues if only driven gently for long periods. I wind out all my engines once in awhile. Have for many years.

I always also make sure to create episodes of significant back pressure during engine break in periods. I'm bad about keeping cars a long time so am not a great example, but I can tell you I had zero measurable oil consumption on my recent Subaru, VW and BMW engines.

 

Thanks. I'll do a little digging on known issues and factory recommendations. Both our vehicles get on the highway pretty regularly, and my wife likes to dent the firewall with the gas pedal, so the injectors should be pretty well cleaned out if that's all it takes.

 

I like your wife

 

Showing my age here, but I call her the Shirley Muldowney of the 21st Century. I always wanted to be a Navy fighter pilot but riding with her is the closest I ever got to a catapult shot.

 

I say get it done.... carbon deposit build up is not good for your 4Runner

 

I tend to agree even if it is sort of old school "to blow the dust out of the carbs"

 

Unless you are having issues, it is a waste of money.