DIY Lean Burn Gas Solution

Fuel injectors and spark plugs often cause lean burning problems.

Car engines run on a mixture of air and gasoline, which requires a spark to engage the combustion process. When the engine doesn't receive enough gas or there's insufficient combustion, the engine can hesitate or even stall. This problem is often referred to as "lean burning" and usually originates from a fuel injector or spark plug problem. Inspect your spark plugs and fuel injectors to determine if any parts need cleaning or replacement to get your engine running again at an optimal level.

Things You'll Need

• Goggles
• Gloves
• Funnel
• Fuel injector cleaner
• Spark plug socket
• Spark plugs
• Spark plug wire boots

Instructions

1. Open up the gas tank while your car is turned off and insert a funnel into the opening. Next, pour fuel injector cleaner directly into the tank according to the directions on the back of the cleaner's bottle.

2. Turn on the car and allow the engine to run for several minutes. This circulates the fuel injector cleaner through the engine which, in turn, removes lean burn-inducing deposits.

3. Inspect the spark plugs if problems continue after filling the tank with fuel injector cleaning fluid. Any visible buildup or corrosion can prevent the spark plugs from effectively starting the combustion process.

4. Remove the spark plug wire boots, located on the engine, with your hands. These boots rest directly over the spark plugs and must be removed to replace any broken spark plugs. Pull up on the wire boots to detach.

5. Remove damaged and broken spark plugs with a spark plug socket. Grab from the head of the plug and begin twisting in a counterclockwise position to remove.

6. Insert new spark plugs by twisting in replacement plugs with your hands. Wear gloves during the process to protect your hands from sharp edges and burns.

7. Insert new spark plug wire boots to help aid the combustion process. Like the removal process, you can install new wire boots by hand by snapping both ends into position.

References

• Auto MD: How to Replace Spark Plugs
• How To Clean Stuff: How to Clean Fuel Injectors
• AA1 Car: Problem Engine Hesitation