Fuel injectors – check and replacement

Check

1. A leaking fuel injector could cause various symptoms, depending on the severity of the leak. Fuel knock, poor acceleration and performance, low fuel economy and rough engine idle can be caused by pintle-valve leaks. Defective needle valve operation might cause the engine to misfire.
Note: A leak in the high-pressure fuel line (s) can cause many of the same problems and symptoms. Check for fuel line leaks before proceeding (see Fuel lines and fittings – general information). Any checks on diesel fuel injectors should be performed by a dealer service department or other qualified diesel repair facility. Injector tests require special high-pressure testing equipment and adapt­ers for accurate results.

Replacement

2. Because of the expensive special tools needed to remove and install the connector tubes to the injectors and the injectors them­selves, we don’t recommend attempting this job at home. The injectors used by these engines generally provide a long and trouble-free ser­vice life. By the time that you round up all the special tools necessary to remove and install the injector connector tubes and the injectors, you will have spent as much, if not more, than it will cost to have this job done by a dealer ser­vice department. And even if you’re willing to spend the money on the tools you’ll need for this job, you’ll probably never use them again! So we recommend having this job done by a diesel specialist if the need ever arises.