Frequently Asked Questions

Is Revive just another fuel additive?

No, unlike additives that get poured into the fuel tank, Revive is injected into the engine air intake when the vehicle is running.

Why do I need to clean my engine?

Despite recent improvements in engine efficiency,  fuel is still not 100% burnt, this can be seen as soot deposits in the end of your exhaust pipe. This same soot also collects in various hidden places around the engine's system.

Modern engine designs need more parts to deal with environmental and fuel economy demands put on vehicles. These same parts are prone to failure due to the build-up of deposits. Once they get stuck or blocked the part can not operate as it was designed to and can cause various different symptoms.

How can Revive Turbo Cleaner save me money?

Revive Turbo Cleaner PREVENTS damage and out of control costs BEFORE they occur!

Below are retails costs from a Chev/GMC dealer in Alberta for the following Duramax turbo diesel replacement parts:

• P2563 - turbo vane position sensor $622.00
• P003A - turbo vane position control $430.00
• New turbo $3500.00

What symptoms will I see?

As a driver you may see any combination of the following: smoking exhaust, engine warning lights and 'Check Engine' messages, increased fuel usage, failed smog emissions test, poor performance / pickup, limp home mode.

(Limp home mode - the computers that control the engine can restrict how fast it runs and how much power you get from it, often occurring whilst overtaking. This lets you get your car to a garage without causing more damage. You will also see the 'Check Engine' light.)

Will Revive fix the problem?

Yes, but it does depend on the cause of the problem, If it is soot build-up related then Revive has a very good record of helping. Your shop may recommend trying Revive first, rather than going down a more expensive repair route.  If the build-up is very bad, you may need to apply two treatments. Prior to making a purchase please carry out some basic diagnostic tests first. Using suitable equipment, check for vacuum leaks in related solenoids and actuators. Scan for diagnostic trouble codes to identify the fault area.  If you are unsure seek advice from an ASE certified technician. Revive is extremely effective at removing sooty carbon deposits from variable geometry turbochargers, however, it cannot compensate for split vacuum pipes, mechanically worn or seized components.

Can I prevent soot build-up?

Yes! Using Revive maintenance clean at each service will help prevent oil and soot building up in the first place and may stop the need for costly repair work in the future.

Are diesel engines worse than gasoline engines?

Yes. Diesel engines produce more soot particles than a gasoline engine which increases the chance of your engine suffering carbon/soot buildup.

Does the size or type of my engine require different applications of Revive?

Yes. Engines under 7.0 ltrs of displacement should typically require only one treatment (unless soot buildup is extreme).

Engines over 7.0 ltrs of displacement will require two treatments for which we offer the T Kit. These applications are typically Commercial or Heavy Duty vehicles and Stationary Power Generation Systems.

What are variable geometry turbochargers?

More and more diesel vehicles have very efficient turbochargers fitted to them called Variable Geometry / Nozzle / Vane turbochargers. These change how the dirty exhaust gas gets directed inside the turbocharger as you drive. These moveable parts are very prone to getting clogged up and stuff, then failing to work properly, causing reduced power, poor drivability / pickup and 'Check Engine' warnings on the dashboard. Diesel turbocharger cleaning performed with Revive can help prevent and cure these problems.

Why are turbocharger problems so expensive?

Turbochargers are high precision parts and are often put in hard to reach places, this takes the mechanic more time to remove and reinstall and makes replacing an already expensive turbocharger a very costly job. This is why a Revive clean is often the first thing recommended to try and solve the problem without the expense.

What are Revive service cleans?

Preventative Revive cleans are performed each time you have your vehicle services by your shop or mechanic. These help keep your engine running as it was designed, fuel economy and performance up and may prevent the inconvenience of an expensive repair.

Will Revive harm any part of my engine?

The short answer is "No" ...

The quality is rigorously controlled, with each and every batch of fluid being put through a series of tests to ensure that the mixture is correct and that nothing has gotten into the batch that could potentially harm any of the metals or seals within the engine. The tests conducted include pH level, alkaline metal content, chlorides, specific gravity and freeze point. 

The fluid is non flammable, has no oxidizing properties and is neither acid or alkali. It is also non-toxic.

The product is a variant of a cleaning fluid that is used for Rolls Royce and other aero engines. It is also used in the gas turbines that drive some of the world's largest power stations, and as such is manufactured to the very highest standards.

Since the product was first used in 1987 there have never been any reports of it causing any damage to an engine.

What makes Revive different from ALL other Turbocharger cleaners currently on the market?

1. Revive is a water based surfactant, not a caustic or corrosive cleaner.  As described above, Revive DOES NOT have the potential to harm your engine.  The other benefit of being non-caustic is that unlike other cleaners, Revive is a single stage process that does not have to be rinsed out of the system in order to prevent potential damage to the seals or metallurgy of your engine.
2. Cleaners that base their abilities on the caustic and chemical scouring of a turbocharger typically have the added negative side effect of causing 'hot edge' corrosion on the leading edges of the internal veins of the turbocharger as the chemicals rapidly liquefy the carbon and soot buildup. Once this liquefied carbon is set free within the engine, it travels downstream as 'sludge' and will quite often collect within, and sometimes plug, the DPF systems or the Catalytic Converters that are immediately downstream of the turbocharger. Revive atomizes the carbon and soot buildup thereby allowing it to be passed through the entire exhaust system without the fear of plugging DPF's and Catalytic Converters with the sludge that other chemical cleaners can produce.
3. Revive is used on a running turbocharger.  This means that there is no need for a costly removal of the turbocharger itself, no disassembly and therefore no downtime!  In fact, this point is so important to us that we even state that Revive is NOT designed and will NOT work to clean a disassembled and non running turbocharger.
4. Revive is NOT a fuel additive that acts after dilution throughout the course of a vehicle's normal every day driving.  Revive is a 3 step cleaning process using our fully concentrated cleaning fluid that specifically and precisely targets and attacks buildup within the turbocharger itself ... nothing more & nothing less.
5. We are EASY to use ... so easy in fact that you can conduct a Revive service on your engine yourself with only the most basic of tools.  However, it must be noted that Revive was NEVER originally designed as a 'Do It Yourself' product like some others on the market.  It was designed as a professional grade product whose usage was to be carried out by a licensed and serviced technician.  However it is so safe, easy & effective to use that the average person can accomplish this service themselves.