We love our engines
It was a humid Saturday morning in July when a guy rolled into my bay with a gorgeous 1972 Chevelle SS. Beautiful car—factory Cranberry Red, original trim, the works. But she was running like absolute garbage. The owner had just bought it from an estate sale, and the previous owner had slapped a cheap Edelbrock … Read more
As an ASE-certified master technician with over 15 years of turning wrenches and diagnosing everything from clogged injectors to failing fuel pumps, I’ve seen one truth hold constant: a clean, well-maintained fuel system is the lifeblood of your engine’s performance, efficiency, and longevity. Neglect it, and you’ll pay the price in poor mileage, rough idling, … Read more
Quick Answer: DIY fuel injector cleaning can restore performance and fuel economy if the injectors are mildly clogged. The three methods that actually work are: using a quality fuel injector cleaner additive, performing on-car pressurized fuel rail cleaning, and off-car manual injector cleaning. The right method depends on mileage, symptoms, and how dirty … Read more
![How Much Does Fuel Injector Cleaning Cost? [DIY vs Pro]](https://vehiclebar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/engine-repair-bg-04.webp)
Quick Answer: The average fuel injector cleaning cost ranges from $15–$40 for a DIY fuel additive, $40–$90 for an at-home pressurized cleaning kit, and $150–$350+ for professional on-car or ultrasonic injector cleaning. The right option depends on drivability symptoms, mileage, and how comfortable you are turning wrenches. That Cold Morning Misfire I’ll Never Forget It … Read more
Opening: The Day Bad Gas Ruined a Perfectly Good Engine It was a sweltering Tuesday afternoon in July, the kind of heat that makes the pavement shimmer and turns your shop into a sauna. I was elbow-deep in a 2018 Toyota Camry’s fuel system when the phone rang. On the other end was a panicked … Read more
Last Tuesday at 7:15 AM—pouring rain, 42°F—Sarah rolled into my bay in her 2013 Ford Escape, windows fogged, engine cranking like a zombie with bronchitis. “It just died halfway to my kid’s soccer practice,” she said, voice shaking. “I replaced the battery last month!” I popped the hood, smelled that telltale odor of unburned fuel, … Read more
![Fuel Filter Location by Make and Model [200+ Vehicles]](https://vehiclebar.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Yanmar_Fuel_Filter.jpg)
Quick Answer: The fuel filter location depends on your vehicle’s design. Older vehicles (pre-2005) often use an inline fuel filter mounted along the frame rail or firewall. Most modern cars (2005+) use an in-tank fuel filter integrated into the fuel pump assembly, requiring access through the rear seat, trunk, or fuel tank removal. From the … Read more
Last Tuesday afternoon, a regular customer rolled into my bay with her 2016 Honda CR-V—158,000 miles on the odometer. “It’s doing that thing again,” she said, looking worried. I knew exactly what “that thing” meant because I’d cleared the same check engine light three weeks prior. The engine would stumble and hesitate during highway merges, … Read more
Quick Answer: Fuel Filter Replacement Replace your fuel filter every 30,000-50,000 miles for most vehicles, or 15,000 miles if you frequently drive on dusty roads or use lower-quality fuel. DIY cost: $15-60 for parts. Professional service: $80-180 depending on location and vehicle type. It’s a humid Tuesday morning in July, and Mr. Rodriguez’s 2012 Silverado … Read more
Quick Answer: A clogged fuel filter typically causes poor acceleration, engine hesitation, stalling, and difficulty starting. Most vehicles need fuel filter replacement every 30,000-60,000 miles. DIY replacement costs $15-50 for parts, while professional service ranges from $80-200. A Tuesday Morning That Almost Went Wrong It was 7:45 AM on a chilly Tuesday in November when Mrs. … Read more