Fuel System Cleaner Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product Type (Additives, Fuel System Cleaner), By Application (Vehicles, Engines), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 3.88 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	5.92%
Fastest Growing Segment	Additives
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 5.48 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Fuel System Cleaner Market is projected to grow from USD 3.88 Billion in 2025 to USD 5.48 Billion by 2031 at a 5.92% CAGR. Fuel system cleaners are specialized chemical additives formulated to eliminate carbon deposits, gums, and varnishes from critical engine components such as fuel injectors, intake valves, and combustion chambers. The market is primarily supported by the expanding global fleet of internal combustion engine vehicles and the necessity for optimal fuel efficiency to comply with stringent government emission regulations. Furthermore, the increasing longevity of automobiles necessitates frequent maintenance to restore engine performance, acting as a fundamental driver for aftermarket fluid sales. According to the Auto Care Association, in 2025, the average age of light vehicles in the United States reached a record 12.8 years, significantly bolstering the demand for maintenance products designed for older engines.

Despite these positive underlying factors, the market encounters a substantial impediment regarding the global transition toward electrification. The accelerating adoption of battery electric vehicles, which operate without traditional fuel injection systems, presents a significant long-term challenge that could limit the expansion of the internal combustion engine additives sector.

Key Market Drivers

The implementation of stringent global environmental and emission regulations stands as a primary catalyst for the fuel system cleaner market. Governments worldwide are enforcing rigorous mandates to curb pollutants, compelling automotive manufacturers and consumers to prioritize engine efficiency and cleanliness. Fuel system cleaners play a critical role in this ecosystem by removing carbon deposits that disrupt combustion and increase exhaust output, ensuring vehicles remain compliant with legislative standards. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, March 2024, in the 'Final Rule: Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles', the new standards target a 50 percent reduction in fleet-wide average greenhouse gas emissions for light-duty vehicles by model year 2032 compared to 2026. This regulatory pressure directly incentivizes the regular use of chemical additives to maintain optimal engine performance and adherence to emission caps.

Concurrent with regulatory pressures, the rising average age of the global passenger vehicle fleet and the associated expansion of the independent automotive aftermarket significantly propel market growth. As vehicles remain in operation longer, internal components such as fuel injectors and intake valves accumulate performance-degrading deposits, creating a sustained necessity for aftermarket cleaning solutions and preventative maintenance. According to LKQ Corporation, February 2024, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results' report, the company achieved an annual revenue of $13.9 billion, driven by robust demand for repair and maintenance products. This highlights the increasing consumer investment in sustaining older vehicles. Furthermore, the market is buoyed by the sheer volume of new internal combustion engines entering the fleet. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, in 2024, global motor vehicle production reached 93.5 million units in the preceding year, ensuring a continuous future demand for fuel system maintenance products.

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Key Market Challenges

The global transition toward electrification represents a fundamental challenge restricting the expansion of the Global Fuel System Cleaner Market. Battery electric vehicles operate using electric motors and rechargeable battery packs, a design that completely eliminates the internal combustion engine and its associated fuel delivery components. Consequently, these vehicles do not possess fuel injectors, intake valves, or combustion chambers, rendering fuel system cleaners entirely obsolete for this growing segment of the automotive fleet. As the market share of electric vehicles increases, the total addressable market for fuel additives inevitably contracts, creating a structural decline in demand that cannot be offset by traditional aftermarket sales strategies.

This shift is directly eroding the potential customer base for maintenance fluids, particularly in major automotive hubs where adoption rates are accelerating. The rapid displacement of traditional gasoline and diesel engines by electric alternatives creates a void in demand that effectively removes a significant portion of new vehicles from the fuel additive ecosystem. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, in 2025, New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) accounted for 47.9% of total vehicle sales in the country. This substantial market penetration demonstrates that nearly half of the new vehicles sold in the world's largest auto market now require no fuel system maintenance, highlighting the severity of the threat to the additive industry's long-term growth.

Key Market Trends

The development of fuel stabilizers specifically for Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) systems represents a pivotal shift in additive technology. Unlike conventional vehicles, hybrids frequently operate in electric-only modes, causing fuel to remain stagnant in the tank for extended durations, which leads to phase separation and moisture accumulation. This technical challenge has spurred the formulation of specialized additives designed to retard oxidation and prevent corrosion in pressurized fuel systems, directly addressing a growing segment of the car parc. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, December 2025, in the 'New car registrations: +1.4% in November 2025 year-to-date' report, hybrid-electric vehicles solidified their market dominance by capturing a 34.6% share, creating a substantial install base for these targeted solutions.

Concurrently, the market is witnessing robust growth in Do-It-Yourself (DIY) vehicle maintenance products, distinct from professional repair channels. This trend is reshaping retail dynamics, as consumers increasingly opt for cost-effective, pour-in chemical solutions to restore engine performance rather than visiting service centers. Aftermarket retailers are responding by expanding their inventory of high-performance fuel system cleaners to cater to this price-sensitive demographic. The financial resilience of this segment is evident in recent major retail performance. According to O'Reilly Automotive, Inc., October 2025, in the 'Third Quarter 2025 Results' report, the company recorded an 8% increase in sales to $4.71 billion, highlighting the sustained and robust consumer demand for automotive maintenance merchandise.

Segmental Insights

The additives segment currently represents the fastest-growing category within the global fuel system cleaner market, driven primarily by stringent environmental regulations and the increasing demand for vehicle efficiency. Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency enforce rigorous emission standards, compelling the adoption of fuel additives to minimize harmful exhaust output and ensure engine compliance. Additionally, the prevalence of modern fuel injection systems necessitates the regular removal of carbon deposits to prevent performance loss. This specific focus on preventative maintenance and improved fuel economy establishes additives as the primary driver of market expansion.

Regional Insights

North America dominates the Global Fuel System Cleaner Market, driven by a mature automotive sector and stringent environmental frameworks. The region benefits from high consumer awareness regarding preventive vehicle maintenance, which fuels the consistent demand for products that enhance engine longevity and efficiency. Crucially, regulatory bodies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforce rigorous emission standards, necessitating the widespread use of high-quality fuel additives and system cleaners to ensure compliance. This combination of regulatory pressure and a strong culture of vehicle care secures North America’s position as the leading regional market.

Recent Developments

• In August 2025, Afton Chemical Corporation launched the HiTEC 65522 Gasoline Performance Additive series, which was approved for use in TOP TIER+ gasoline. This new additive series was developed to meet the evolving needs of modern engine technologies, particularly Gasoline Direct Injection engines. The formulation addressed specific challenges such as injector fouling and stochastic pre-ignition, which can lead to engine failure in downsized engines. The company stated that this innovative chemistry met the stringent requirements of the revised industry standards, ensuring cleaner and more efficient fuel options for the global automotive market.
• In February 2025, Lucas Oil introduced a new product titled Lucas Emissions Clear Fuel and Exhaust System Cleaner to its performance product lineup. This additive was engineered to remove harmful deposits from the entire fuel delivery system and reduce particulate matter before it reaches the catalytic converter. Independent third-party testing confirmed that the product could cut harmful emissions, including nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, by up to 90%. The company designed this one-tank treatment to be compatible with any gasoline engine, aiming to extend the lifespan of exhaust systems and help vehicle owners meet strict emissions regulations.
• In September 2024, BG Products, Inc. announced a strategic partnership with Motorcraft to launch the Motorcraft BG Enhanced Chemical Maintenance Program. This collaboration introduced two new co-branded fuel system cleaning products specifically designed for Ford and Lincoln vehicles. The program aimed to diminish the adverse effects of lost combustion chamber efficiency and restore fuel economy, power, and performance. These new offerings were made available at dealerships across the United States and were recommended for use at oil change intervals to keep fuel injectors and intake systems clean, ensuring optimal engine operation for customers.
• In January 2024, BASF launched the next generation of its Keropur gasoline additive in the Taiwanese automotive aftermarket to address the needs of modern engine technologies. The new product featured an advanced formulation designed to meet the technical requirements of direct injection spark ignition engines while maintaining effectiveness for conventional port fuel injection systems. This launch introduced improved engine cleaning capabilities that help reduce emissions and enhance fuel economy. The company highlighted that the upgraded formula was developed to prevent carbon build-up that leads to rough idling, supporting the region's goals for cleaner mobility and net-zero carbon emissions.

Key Market Players

• BASF SE
• Chevron Corporation
• Evonik Industries AG
• The Lubrizol Corporation
• Infineum International Limited
• TotalEnergies SE
• Croda International Plc
• Clariant AG

By Product Type	By Application	By Region
Additives Fuel System Cleaner	Vehicles Engines	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Fuel System Cleaner Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Fuel System Cleaner Market, By Product Type:

• Additives
• Fuel System Cleaner

• Fuel System Cleaner Market, By Application:

• Vehicles
• Engines

• Fuel System Cleaner Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE