Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Additive for Your Car

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Additive for Your Car

Fuel and oil additives (improvers & cleaners) are not a luxury, but one of the most economical ways to protect your engine, avoid costly repairs at the workshop, and keep fuel consumption low.

With such a wide variety of products, choosing can seem difficult. Follow the simple guide below to find exactly what your vehicle needs

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Additive for Your Car

1. Start with your engine type

Every engine has different requirements. Using the wrong additive may not deliver the expected results or may even cause damage:

Diesel: Diesel engines often suffer from carbon deposits on injectors and clogging of the particulate filter (DPF), especially if you drive frequently in the city. Look for special DPF cleaners, diesel injector cleaners, and anti-freeze additives for winter.

Petrol: Petrol engines (especially newer direct-injection Turbo/GDI engines) build up deposits on the valves and injectors. Choose octane boosters and petrol system cleaners.

LPG / CNG: LPG burns at higher temperatures and provides less lubrication to the valves. Here, special valve protectors are essential (lead substitutes / Valve Protectors).


Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Additive for Your Car

2. Where will you apply the additive?

Depending on the problem or maintenance you want to carry out, the liquid is added at a specific point:

In the Fuel Tank: Includes all injector cleaners, DPF, catalytic converter, octane/cetane boosters, and anti-freeze additives. They are poured directly into the fuel filler cap, ideally before refueling.

In the Engine / Oil: Includes anti-friction additives (such as Motorkote, Ceratec), viscosity enhancers, internal engine cleaners (Engine Flush), and oil leak sealants.

In the Radiator: Includes circuit cleaners (Radiator Flush) and coolant micro-leak sealants.

In the Gearbox & Power Steering: Special gear oil additives for smoother gear changes and leak sealants for the seals.


Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Additive for Your Car

3. Which symptom or need do you want to solve?

“The car is hesitating, has lost power, or is consuming more fuel”

What you need: Injector Cleaner & Fuel System Cleaner.

What it does: Dissolves fuel deposits in the injectors (injector nozzles), restoring proper engine operation.

“The DPF warning light came on the dashboard (for Diesel)”

What you need: DPF Cleaner

What it does: Lowers the temperature at which soot burns in the filter, helping the DPF self-clean even on short city trips.

“I want to protect the engine from wear and noise”

What you need: Oil Anti-Friction Additive (Anti-friction).

What it does: Creates an extremely durable protective film on metals, reducing friction, operating temperature, and noise.

“I am about to change the oil”

What you need: Engine Cleaner (Engine Flush).

What it does: You add it to the old oil 10–15 minutes before the change. It removes sludge and deposits so the new oil goes into a spotless engine.

“I see a small fluid leak (oil or coolant)”

What you need: Radiator Leak Sealer or  Oil Leak Sealer.

What it does: Revives dried seals and seals small cracks, saving you from expensive repairs.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Additive for Your Car

3. Golden rules for proper use

Always follow the dosage: More product does not mean better results. If a 250ml bottle states that it covers up to 60 liters of fuel, use it with a full tank.

Correct timing in the tank: Pour the additive into the tank just before refueling at the station. This way, the hose flow will mix the additive perfectly with the gasoline or diesel.

Prevention is cheaper than cure: A fuel injector or DPF cleaner every 5,000–10,000 km helps prevent repairs costing hundreds of euros.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Additive for Your Car

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How often should I use injector cleaner?

For preventive maintenance, it is recommended to use a quality cleaner every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers or before a long trip.

Can an additive damage my engine?

No, as long as you use branded, certified products and strictly follow the instructions for use and the manufacturer's recommended dosage.

What is the difference between 150ml, 250ml and 1L?

The smaller bottles (150ml - 300ml) are designed for a single use in passenger cars. The 1 liter or larger packages are intended either for professionals (workshops/fleets), or they include a special measuring cap for multiple uses.

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