You’ve just been told that you need to replace your diesel engine fuel injectors.
But what exactly caused the failure that led to this point?
There are several things that could cause problems with your diesel engine common rail fuel injectors, including poor fuel filtration, fuel contamination, improper installation, and the use of non-OEM quality remanufactured parts.
We’re taking you through each of these problems so you can better understand what’s going on in your engine, and so that you can better prevent these problems in the future.
One of the main problems you might be having with your common rail fuel injectors is poor fuel filtration.
A common issue you’ll see with these systems is ball seat erosion. This can occur when the small ball that seals the passage of the magnetic valve at the heart of the common rail injector is not sealing properly. A correct seal is vital for proper function, so when abrasive contaminants erode and damage that ball seat, you won’t be getting proper injection.
If this happens in your diesel engine, you might notice:
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To help ensure that your common rail fuel injection system functions properly, use filters that have the same micron rating as the OE filters. Be sure to follow the oil change interval recommended by the OE.
Did you know that a large number of diesel engine problems are caused by contaminated fuel? This is true of fuel injectors as well. Another major problem you can have with your common rail fuel injectors is corrosion caused by water contaminating the fuel.
This contamination can be the result of water entering a fuel storage tank. These tanks have a vented cap that allows air to enter, equalizing pressure as fuel is removed. This air is obviously from the outside, and contains moisture. So, as this air enters the tank, the moisture condenses into water inside the tank.
Fuel contamination symptoms include:
To help prevent this problem, make sure you’re purchasing fuel from a reputable provider. Using the correct fuel/water separator can also help prevent contaminated fuel from damaging your diesel engine.
Installation problems can also cause a failure in your common rail injectors. This can range from missing sealing rings, to incorrect tightening torque, to incorrect cleaning of the nozzle. Improper installation techniques can cause:
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Problems from incorrect installation can be avoided by always following your engine manufacturer’s maintenance instructions.
As we’ve mentioned before, not all remanned parts are created equal. Some will give you more problems than they’re worth. The quality of the injector depends on the remanufacturing process and the components that are replaced in it.
Sometimes, an injector will be marketed as rebuilt, but really it was only refurbished.
You’ll probably get a good deal on these parts, but they won’t keep your engine running in peak condition.
To avoid this problem, make sure you’re buying OEM quality remanufactured injectors. Here at DFI, we’re proud to carry Bosch common rail fuel injectors. These injectors are the same as OE in design, engineering, materials, manufacturing, and quality control. They meet all the latest emission requirements and include all the OE updates, so they might even be better than the ones you’re replacing.
Are you looking for the highest quality diesel engine replacement parts? Our ASE Certified Technicians can help you get the right parts for your engine! Call us at (855) 212-3022, or you can pick it up yourself.
Our service is located at 1800 South Wenona St., Bay City, MI 48706. It can be easily reached from Bay City, Midland, Saginaw, Flint, Michigan, Mid-Michigan, Central Michigan, and the Great Lakes Bay Region.
