Nowadays, all cars have injectors. They allow your vehicle to be more efficient not only in terms of consumption, but also in terms of air pollution management. It is, therefore, an essential part of the proper functioning of your vehicle. However, it happens that your injectors are out of order or even defective.
Summary
- The injector is an essential part of your vehicle’s engine. This is a fuel pump located at the inlet of the cylinders. This is why, to avoid a breakdown, it is important to report it to a mechanic as soon as you notice wear on the engine or that your car is slowing down when starting.
- A damaged injector interferes with engine operation, i.e. the exhaust, combustion and circulation of coolant in your vehicle’s engine. It can also radically increase your fuel consumption.
- It is important to know the type of engine your vehicle uses (diesel, diesel or other engines). Indeed, your car has a diesel engine, you will have to adapt.
- If your engine is too damaged, it may need to be dismantled. To avoid dismantling your engine or seeing all kinds of smoke escaping from your exhaust, you must maintain your injectors, but also the spark plugs, gaskets, catalyst and air filter.
What does a fuel injector do
The injector is an essential part of your vehicle’s engine. This is a fuel pump located at the inlet of the cylinder. The injector will then be responsible for sending the pressurized fuel into a common rail where the injectors are attached.
In other words, the injectors will help you start your vehicle. To do this, these parts will spray the fuel in the form of an atomized jet at the end of the compression cycle.
Being connected to the engine, it is important to adopt good reflexes to make your injectors last longer. Here are a few tips:
- Change oil regularly.
- Choose quality fuel.
- Filter, bleed and check the engine oil level regularly and be sure to use quality oil. This will allow your engine to stay clean longer and your injectors to clean themselves naturally.
- Be careful not to leave your tank empty. This could create corrosion on the pump and injectors.
- It is also recommended to cover a few dozen kilometers at a good pace, which will allow your engine to free itself of impurities and clean itself more easily.
Good to know:
When you take care of your injector, you will be able to travel nearly 250,000 km without experiencing the slightest breakdown. However, it is recommended to change your injectors every 150,000 km.
What are the risks of driving with faulty injectors?
If one or more of your injectors are damaged but you continue your journey, you risk:
- Pollute more: as the injectors are no longer there to regulate the optimal quantity of fuel, your vehicle risks overconsuming and therefore polluting more.
- Damage parts of your engine: like the cylinder head gasket or the throttle body for example.
- Clog your engine more quickly: with soot and unburned fuel residues which form calamine.
- Break down: because your engine will no longer receive fuel and will not work properly.
Causes and Signs of Bad Fuel Injectors
The causes of a malfunction in the injectors can be numerous, which is why you must be attentive to the symptoms of the latter. If while traveling by car you recognize any of the symptoms below, your injectors may be damaged:
- Difficulties starting: either there is a problem starting, or the engine is no longer running and this is a breakdown.
- Excess fuel consumption: generated by a leak or too much fuel in the engine. It is also possible that the orange engine light will come on on your dashboard.
- Black smoke escaping from your car: if there is smoke or a burning smell, consult your mechanic.
- A strong smell of fuel coming from the cabin: this means that the fuel has not burned properly inside your car.
- The engine loses power: a loss of power may be noted during the acceleration phase; the engine struggles to move the vehicle.
- Injector chattering: fuel dosing or vaporization is not carried out correctly.
Importance of Cleaning your injectors
If you want to ensure the lifespan of your engine, or even extend it, it is important to maintain your injectors on a daily basis:
- I recommend that you clean your injectors yourself by adding a gasoline or diesel injector cleaner to your vehicle’s engine.
- You can also call a professional with a pressurized tank cleaning system.
- You can contact a mechanic to carry out ultrasonic cleaning.
- Finally, you can have your injectors tested by a mechanic who will carry out maintenance and a complete test of your parts.
When should I replace the injectors in my car?
The injectors have optimal longevity. In fact, on average they must be changed every 150,000 kilometers. On the other hand, if you take care of them regularly, they can last up to 180,000 kilometers.
This is why I recommend that you use quality fuel and clean your vehicle regularly so as not to harm the proper functioning of your engine and to avoid clogging. In addition to cleaning, I also advise you to change the injectors to avoid any disruption to the balance of your vehicle.
It is also possible that your engine light indicates this to you on your dashboard.
In all cases, it is important to remain attentive to the symptoms of your injectors and to go to the auto center of your choice ( Norauto , Feu vert , etc.) so that they can carry out a service or technical inspection of your vehicle. . Some car parts will surely need to be changed, do it quickly to avoid dumping pollutants on the road.
How much does it cost to repair an injector?
The cost of repairing an injector may vary depending on the origin of the failure. It is possible that the source of the problem is a broken turbocharger or a seized injection pump or even a leak in the engine. In these cases, it is up to the mechanic to decide whether to repair or replace your injectors.
For a repair, count on average between $150 and $200. If your injector is simply clogged, the mechanic can opt for a complete cleaning of it.
To replace your injectors, count on around $500. However, the price may vary depending on the model of your vehicle and its type of engine. The price of this intervention is made up of labor and the price of the auto part.
Why change the 4 injectors?
It is not obligatory to change the four injectors. However, some professionals prefer to opt for this option to prevent the breakdown from repeating itself.
Is it dangerous to drive with a defective injector?
Driving with a defective injector can cause excessive fuel consumption and disrupt the operation of your engine. For your safety, I recommend that you consult a professional as soon as possible.
How do injectors break?
If your engine is poorly maintained, the injection can be modified and therefore become defective very quickly.
Conclusion
Your vehicle’s injectors are essential to its proper functioning. Failure to maintain them could put you in danger. In the event of a fault with the injectors, you must act quickly. This is why I recommend that you consult a professional at the slightest inconvenience.