Have you noticed problems with your common rail fuel injectors lately? Does it seem like your engine is not as powerful as it once was? One of the first things to look at should be the fuel injectors. Once the source of the problem has been found, we can start looking at why it happened in the first place.
DFI is committed to providing you with both, the knowledge and the parts needed to get your diesel engine back up and running quickly. In this post, we are going to be taking a closer look at the common signs of fuel injector failure, what causes them, and what can be done about it.
Check out the video below detailing common rail fuel injector issues:
Here are some of the most common fuel injector problems. Keep in mind that there are not the only ones, rather just the most common ones.
Does your diesel engine have how any of the symptoms listed above? It may be time to change your common rail fuel injectors. Reading this post on choosing the right injectors from Highway & Heavy Parts may also help get to the bottom of your problems.
There are a few issues related to defective common rail fuel injectors. Certain problems produce certain failure indicators. For example, fuel injectors will get stuck open if there is water or debris present in the system.
A hard start (especially in colder climates) is your engine’s way of saying you have common rail fuel injector issues. This issue is usually accompanied by a lot of black smoke, which is also indicative of fuel injector failure.
Blue smoke at idle may immediately lead you to believe that there is oil in the combustion chamber. Oftentimes, the problem lies within the injectors. A dripping injector tip will cause incomplete combustion, with the result being a light blue smoke coming from the exhaust. This is especially common on Duramax diesel engines.
Alternatively, Cummins injectors get stuck open, resulting in hard or no start at all. This issue can also be caused by injectors that are not firing correctly. It could also be the result of a bad feed line going to the fuel pump. Loss of power is common when an injector gets stuck open or has a fueling problem.
The slow killer that most never talk about is high mileage. Over the years, as the miles begin to add up, common rail fuel injectors will see an increase in valve set failure. This is also known as ball seat erosion. It happens due to the fuel pressure making grooves inside the injector, resulting in higher than normal return rates.
Be sure to read this post on common causes and potential failure points of common rail fuel injectors from Highway & Heavy Parts.
Fuel quality and operating conditions are the top reasons that injectors fail. Choosing to go with a busy gas station can help improve the lifespan of your diesel engine. Having a high turnover rate means that the chance of moisture entering your tank is much lower.
Lastly, how “hard” or the amount of strain is being put on the engine will also impact its overall life. Reducing unnecessary wear and tear will definitely help reduce common rail fuel injector problems. Change the fuel filter regularly and odds of failure are reduced even further.
One of the first steps of identifying common rail fuel injector issues is to have the vehicle scanned. Doing so will help. An authorized shop, such as DFI, will be able to determine what (if any) problems your diesel injectors have. Error codes, as well as injector values, will easily help you know where to start.
Do you have any more questions about common rail fuel injectors? Our knowledgeable ASE-certified staff will help resolve the problem quickly and efficiently. Give us a call at (855) 212-3063.
