7 Signs That You May Have A Bad Diesel Fuel Injector

Fuel injectors in your diesel engine are crucial because they supply fuel for your vehicle’s optimal performance. The fuel injector's functions include adjusting the fuel quantity and injection timing and also atomizing the fuel. Diesel fuel injectors provide the right amount of fuel needed and at the right time for the combustion process. With that, the combustion system gets sufficient fuel that takes care of the entire process.

Diesel fuel injectors help improve fuel efficiency, reduce the need for fuel maintenance work and keep emissions cleaner. A typical fuel injector consists of two main components, the nozzle, and injector body. If any of these two parts get damaged or clogged, it compromises the overall performance of your vehicle.

So what are the typical signs that you may have a bad fuel injector? In this article, we will discuss the signs of faulty injectors that will help you understand the right time to get a new one. This will ensure you avoid engine problems and enjoy a smooth ride all through.

1. Engine misfiring or vibrating

Does your vehicle often misfire, or maybe there’s a slight delay after you press the accelerator pedal? A faulty fuel injector could cause these signs, most likely a blockage or clogging on the nozzle.

If the diesel fuel injector can’t provide the dose of fuel collected by the ECU, then the fuel/air mix in the engine's combustion chamber will be off, which leads to misfiring or a sudden drop in acceleration. That’s why it’s vital to keep your vehicle's fuel injectors clean and free from any blockages.

2. Check engine warning light.

The most common sign that you have a lousy diesel fuel injector is the check engine warning light that appears on your car's dashboard. As soon as an injector isn’t doing its work, the check engine light will go on.

Although there could be other issues with the engine that would make the check engine light go on, one of them is the fuel injector, and you should have your engine checked as soon as possible. The ECU triggers the warning light if the injector is delivering too little or too much fuel.

Scan your ECU to determine the exact reason why the light is on. If you notice any codes related to engine misfire, you should first check your glow plugs and try to see if they are in working condition before proceeding to check the fuel injectors.

3. Rough idle

If your vehicle's idle noise has changed and sounds rougher, the fuel injectors may not be delivering the right amount of fuel as they should. Like engine misfiring, rough idle is also due to the fuel injector nozzles being clogged or blocked by particles that interfere with the spray and atomization of the fuel.

Other issues that may cause the rough idle noise includes bad spark plugs or dirty air filters, but the most common reason for this is clogged injectors.

4. Engine stalling

Does your engine typically cut out or stall without you doing anything to cause that? This could be the result of a lack of enough fuel reaching the engine from the injectors. If there is less fuel reaching the combustion chamber, the ECU will stop the engine, and it will stall.

Engine stalling resulting from a faulty injector usually occurs when the nozzles are badly clogged or a fuel leak where the injector is connected to the fuel lines.

5. Diesel fuel smell

If you notice the smell of diesel in the compartment of your vehicle, then it signifies you have a faulty injector that is leaking. Your car needs the right amount of diesel for proper functioning, and the fuel injector needs to deliver the right amount of fuel at the right time to the combustion chamber. If the injectors are leaking, you will have that diesel smell, and it's best to have that issue taken care of immediately.

A leaking fuel injector will cause a hard start for the engine, especially when it is warm. This is because the fuel rail pressure drops, and the fuel is leaking to the manifold, causing the spark plugs to be flooded. This creates a fire hazard and may cause severe damage to your engine if not taken care of immediately.

6. Poor fuel economy

A bad fuel injector can lead to a massive drop in fuel economy. This is because the ECU uses more fuel from the injector but not receiving the fuel in the combustion chamber. The less fuel reaches the engine, the lower your fuel economy, which is usually a result of leaking or clogged fuel injectors.

7. Bad emissions

With hundreds of cars failing the MOT for emissions, you need to do all you can to ensure you reduce the volume of harmful emissions your vehicle is producing. To achieve this, ensure your fuel injectors are well maintained and cleaned.

If your fuel injectors are not delivering the right amount of fuel at the right time, this interferes with the fuel/air mix in the combustion chamber. This results in some fuel not burning, which results in harmful emissions being emitted from the exhaust system. If you notice white smoke from the exhaust pipe, you could have a faulty fuel injector.

Maintaining your diesel fuel injectors.

The simplest way to maintain and clean your fuel injectors is by using cleaning fuel system cleaners. It would be best if you cleaned your fuel injectors after clocking 30,000 miles. The cleaning kit will remove grime and particles that may have accumulated on the nozzle, thus causing blockage and clogging.

Driving your vehicle with a faulty fuel injector may not be safe and may even damage your engine. If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, it is advisable to take your car to the mechanic to check for faulty fuel injectors. It may need cleaning or a new one. And if you are looking to sell any of your diesel engine cores, you can sell them at https://goldfarbinc.com/blogs/news/we-are-looking-for-cores.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the management of EconoTimes