Understanding Automotive Brake Parts and Services

Old Car Giving You Allergies? Clean Your Fuel System to Get Rid of Them

A number of people experience allergy problems when they drive new cars. The new car smell contains various chemicals that irritate the lungs, nasal passages and other respiratory tissues. But if you own an older car and experience allergy symptoms every time you drive it, you need to take action now. Your car could have problems with the fuel injection system that can make you ill. Get rid of your allergies and keep them away by cleaning your fuel system.

What Happens to Your Fuel Injection System When it's Dirty?

Your car's fuel injection system builds up with dirt, grime and old oil over time, especially if you drive on busy highways, dirty roads or in areas with lots of construction work. These types of contaminants leave the engine and travel to the car's fuel lines and hoses.

Because your car's fuel lines and hoses are made of steel and rubber tubing, the contaminants can rust or damage them easily, which eventually leads to clogs and blockages in the fuel system. The fumes and gases produced by your fuel system may not have a way to leave your car if there are too many clogs and blockages stopping them.

Sometimes, contaminants stick to the inner lining of the gas tank and keep fresh air from controlling how well it releases fumes out of the car through your exhaust system. If you don't clean out your car's injection system, the contaminants in the gas tank can produce strong gases and fumes that permeate the inside of your vehicle. If you breathe in the gases and fumes all the time, you develop allergy symptoms, such as nasal congestion, headaches and ear pain.

How Can You Clean Your Fuel Injection System?

Simply filling your fuel tank with new gas won't solve your problems. They can make your allergies worse, especially if the new gas mixes with the contaminants of the old gas. Old gas can release chemical gases and compounds that dilute its strength. If you tend to keep your gas tank full so that it never runs low on gas, you're most likely placing new gas over old gas every time you fill up.

Instead, you can clean out your fuel injection system with the steps below:

  1. Purchase one bottle of fuel injection cleaner from your local auto store.
  2. Park the car in a shady place and give it at least two hours to cool off. You don't want to pour cool liquids into a hot gas tank to avoid splashes and burns on your face and skin.
  3. Pour the fuel cleaner into the gas tank after the car cools down, then turn on the engine.
  4. Allow the car to run for 10 minutes without idling or revving the engine. You want the cleaner to travel through the fuel lines and hoses to the engine naturally. You don't want to force the cleaner through the lines, because it can push the contaminants into your engine, transmission and other car parts and damage them.
  5. Turn off the engine and let the car rest for another 15 minutes. The cleaner will soak into the clogs and blockages so that they're easier for your exhaust system to remove later.
  6. Restart your car's engine, then take it for a test drive around the block. The drive will help the old fumes and gases leave your car's exhaust system.

After you complete the steps above, cool the car down for another two hours, then clean it with a wet or damp cloth. You want to remove as much grime, dirt and old oil as you can to keep the contaminants from entering your fuel system again.

If you still have allergy problems after following the tips above, take your car to an auto repair shop like Steven & Francine's Complete Automotive Repair Inc for assistance.


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