CarCareTruth Score
Decent, but it's tough on the environment.
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Prices may varyThe manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet classifies this product with one or more GHS Category 1 health hazards — the most severe tier. The hazard statements in quotes below are the verbatim GHS language from the SDS, as required by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. The line under each statement translates the GHS classification into plain language.
GHS Category 1 aspiration toxicity — thin, oily liquids can slip into the lungs if swallowed, causing chemical pneumonia.
If swallowed:
The aspiration hazard (H304) is about the liquid being swallowed and reaching the airway, not about breathing fumes during normal use.
Call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 (US, 24/7, free) and have the product container with you. Poison Control's standing guidance is to not induce vomiting after chemical exposure; they will direct first-aid steps based on the specific product.
About this product's hazards. This product's Safety Data Sheet uses signal word DANGER.Read the manufacturer's SDS and follow all safety instructions before use. CarCareTruth ratings translate the manufacturer's safety sheet. They do not replace the SDS or substitute for a hazard assessment specific to your task.
Health score is for adult use as intended, per the manufacturer's SDS. It does not model child ingestion, accidental spill cleanup, or off-label use. See the safety panel below for full hazard classification, and /disclaimer for the full editorial scope.
GHS hazard codes are quoted from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet. PPE tiers below translate those codes and the listed ingredient chemistry; they are not CarCareTruth recommendations.
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Translated from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 2
SDS §2 classifies H319 (causes serious eye irritation, Cat 2). Standard consumer bottle poured into a narrow fuel-tank fill neck makes drip-back and splash realistic · safety glasses recommended for the pour.
U.S. regulatory standard
29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1)
“The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from… liquid chemicals…”
ANSI Z87.1 (incorporated via §1910.6)
OSHA standards apply to workplaces. Cited here as the U.S. reference threshold for the underlying hazard class.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
Only when: splash risk
Translated from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 2
SDS §2 classifies H315 (skin irritation Cat 2). Brief accidental drip contact during a standard tank pour is the realistic exposure scenario · nitrile gloves are appropriate if prolonged contact is likely.
U.S. regulatory standard
29 CFR 1910.138(a)
“appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from… chemicals which produce an adverse effect on the skin or eyes…”
OSHA standards apply to workplaces. Cited here as the U.S. reference threshold for the underlying hazard class.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
Only when: in enclosed space
Beyond SDS: translated from the ingredient chemistry
No inhalation H-code (H331, H335, H332) appears in SDS §2 at mixture level. H336 (narcotic STOT SE 3) is present at mixture level · this is a narcotic-vapor code, not a respiratory irritation code. Flash point 24°C confirms a volatile carrier; brief outdoor pour in fresh air presents minimal lung risk, but an enclosed space (indoor garage, covered parking) concentrates vapors · adequate ventilation is appropriate.
U.S. regulatory standard
29 CFR 1910.134; 1910.138; 1910.1000
“the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination…”
OSHA standards apply to workplaces. Cited here as the U.S. reference threshold for the underlying hazard class.
UN GHS hazard statement
H373“May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure”
UN GHS Rev. 9 (2021)
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
The published Safety Data Sheet for this product does not specify ventilation protection for consumer use.
Workplace context
29 CFR 1910.134(a); 1910.1000
“the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination [via] accepted engineering control measures (for example, enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation…).”
Triggered by GHS H336 on the SDS.
OSHA standards apply to workplaces. Cited here as the U.S. reference threshold for the underlying hazard class.
PPE tiers translate the manufacturer’s SDS and U.S. regulatory standards. Not professional safety advice. How we report safety.
Scope of these PPE tiers. The tiers on this page translate the product's Safety Data Sheet where one is published, plus its ingredient chemistry, into a comparable rating. They describe a formulation, not a situation: a tier is not a safety determination for any specific user, task, quantity, or environment. The manufacturer's label and use instructions govern how the product is handled. Where the product is used at work, the employer's PPE program and hazard assessment under 29 CFR 1910.132 decide what protection is selected, not this page.
No warranties. CarCareTruth makes no warranties, express or implied, and expressly disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
This product ranks #11 of 16 in Fuel Injector Cleaner.Three above it ↓
Last reviewed July 31, 2026
TL;DR A solvent-based (not PEA-class) fuel and exhaust system cleaner best known for catalytic converter maintenance and pre-emissions-test treatment. Health score 5.0 (Hazardous): DANGER signal word, Prop 65 warning from ethylbenzene and naphthalene, 825 g/L VOC concentrate.
Cataclean uses a concentrated aromatic solvent blend · xylene at 30-50% with acetone and IPA co-solvents, not the PEA-class detergent chemistry typical in this category. In the fuel zone it dissolves varnish and injector deposits via direct solvent contact. The catalytic converter claim operates through the combustion pathway: the formula combusts in the cylinder and byproducts interact with the converter substrate. The brand states this reduces hydrocarbon emissions; independent corroboration is absent, and community results are mixed. Pour one bottle into a low-fuel tank quarterly or before an emissions test.
Best for owners with borderline catalytic converter performance, mild O2 sensor codes, or upcoming emissions tests. Works across gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and flex-fuel vehicles. Skip it for a physically damaged converter · solvent treatment cannot restore a failed substrate. Skip it if you consistently use Top Tier gasoline. For misfires, rough idle, or injector failure beyond typical fouling, professional service is the right call.
SDS §2 classification is DANGER (H304 aspiration Cat 1), with H315 (skin irritation), H319 (eye irritation), and H336 (narcotic vapor effects). Do not induce vomiting if ingested · seek medical attention. The Prop 65 warning covers ethylbenzene and naphthalene. The product combusts in the engine · exhaust byproducts are the environmental endpoint; the 825 g/L VOC and category ceiling cap environment at 3/10.
The label states compatibility with gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and flex-fuel vehicles. Not for use in 2-stroke engines or oil/gas mix engines. Catalytic converter and DPF filter compatibility is explicitly claimed on the label.
The manufacturer recommends one bottle per quarter (four times per year) for maintenance. One bottle treats the full fuel system per the stated protocol · pour into a low-fuel tank and drive normally.
The brand claims it reduces hydrocarbon emissions by up to 50%. Community results are mixed · some users report check engine lights clearing and emissions tests passing; others report temporary improvement only. It may help borderline catalytic converter performance but is not a substitute for a damaged converter.
The listing for Cataclean Fuel & Exhaust System Cleaner carries a California Prop 65 warning. Cataclean Fuel & Exhaust System Cleaner is a working automotive fluid rather than a passive part, so the warning points at the formulation itself. The manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet is the primary source for what is in it: the hazard classification and the PPE tiers on this page are translated from that sheet, and the full SDS is linked from the safety panel. California requires the warning whenever exposure to any of roughly 900 listed substances is possible. It does not name which substance applies to a given product, and it states no dose or risk level, so it is not on its own a measure of how hazardous this fluid is in normal use.
Marketing copy from Cataclean, via Amazon. Not editorial.
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