A fuel injector is a vital component of the fuel injection system found in almost all modern gasoline-powered cars.
A fuel injector plays the role of supplying fuel to the car’s engine, and most of the time, when the car has a faulty fuel injector, people think that the engine is not working , when in reality it is the only fuel injector that is malfunctioning .
In this guide, we will look at the basics of a fuel injector and how you can diagnose and take preventative measures to increase the life of your fuel injector.
Understanding the fuel injection system
Your car’s engine uses an internal combustion process to produce energy and uses two key elements: oxygen and fuel. Oxygen is obtained from atmospheric air, while fuel is taken from the fuel tank.
The purpose of the air inlet is to supply air to the engine and, as the oxygen supply varies, the fuel injection system must constantly vary the amount of fuel delivered depending on the oxygen supply.
What role does the fuel injector play?
The fuel injector is responsible for delivering the appropriate amount of fuel to the engine as required and also varies the amount if the requirement fluctuates. The fuel injector works like a valve and is electronically connected to the engine control unit.
The engine control unit signals the fuel injector to open the nozzle and spray the required amount of fuel for the efficient combustion process.
Common problems with the fuel injector
Like any other mechanical component, the fuel injector deteriorates over time. These are some of the common problems associated with fuel injectors:
1. Clogged fuel injector
Fuel injectors can clog if there is a large amount of residue inside the injector. This usually happens in the form of rust and it does not allow the fuel to pass through the injector.
The only way to solve this problem is to remove the fuel injector and have it cleaned by a professional.
2. Dirty fuel injector
The fuel injector becomes dirty as the hydrocarbons and additives present in the fuel combine with carbon and leave residues. These elements burn and form a crust that disrupts the flow of gasoline and, which in turn, reduces engine performance.
In the case of a dirty fuel injector, you can buy “injector cleaners” to clean a used injector instead of buying a new one.
3. The fuel injector fails to open its nozzle
A rusty or broken fuel injector may not open its valve to deliver fuel. In this case, it is recommended to replace the injector.
4. The fuel injector does not close - injector stuck on open
A problem with the fuel injector spring can cause it to remain open and allow gasoline to leak. This is due to the accumulation of rust due to additives and hydrocarbons present in the fuel.
5. The fuel injector leaks fuel into the engine - injector stuck on closed
Due to overheating or any other problem, a fuel injector also begins to leak gasoline, which in turn disrupts engine performance.
Symptoms of a faulty fuel injector
Because the fuel injector is connected directly to the engine, any problem with the fuel injector causes a disruption to the car’s performance. Here are some symptoms you may notice due to a faulty fuel injector.
1. The Check-Engine warning light flashes on board
One of the most obvious symptoms is that the “Check-Engine” indicator on the dashboard will flash. If any of the fuel injectors is clogged or dirty and does not efficiently supply fuel to the engine, an electrical signal is sent to warn the driver.
Please note that the check engine lights may also be activated for various other reasons, so we recommend that you take your car to a car repair service and scan it for error codes.
If the engine light is blinking, check the error code memory with an OBD2 code reader, it doesn’t cost that much and you can read the error code memory at home.
2. The engine vibrates
If the engine does not receive adequate fuel, it will start to vibrate after completing a single complete cycle. For turbocharged engines, a clogged or dirty fuel injector can have a dangerous impact that causes harmful engine detonations.
When the engine is in turbo mode at a higher speed, it requires more fuel and, if the fuel injector is not able to deliver this, a detonation can occur, causing turbo failure.
3. The engine fails
The engine fails when the fuel injector is dirty, clogged or does not open properly. An engine that does not work properly will cause acceleration disturbances, reduce fuel consumption and lead to loss of power.
This requires immediate attention, as your engine could also overheat and eventually stall.
4. Bad smell
This symptom occurs due to fuel injector leaks or if the fuel injector does not close properly. Excess gasoline produces an unpleasant odor that is observed while driving.
5. Increased fuel consumption
If you regularly monitor fuel consumption, you will notice a decrease in fuel efficiency due to a defective fuel injector. A defective fuel injector will deliver more fuel to the engine than necessary.
6. Slow idle
Improper fuel supply due to the defective injector will cause the RPM to decrease, generating an oscillating idle.
Steps to ensure a long life of the fuel injector
Fuel injectors don’t last a lifetime, but there are some maintenance steps you can take to make sure they stay in good condition for a longer period of time. Experts recommend that fuel injectors be cleaned every 50,000 km so that they do not clog.
Always make sure the fuel filter is replaced when scheduled service says it’s time. If you are not sure when to replace the fuel filter, check the service manual.
Another way to avoid clogging is to use high quality premium gasoline. Cheap gasoline blends have added detergents and additives that cause clogging.
In addition, if you find that the fuel injector is dirty, you must service it professionally by ultrasonic cleaning to remove all debris. This is relatively cheaper than spending 150-200 euros on a new fuel injector.
Faulty injector sound
If you drive your car every day, you will surely realize when something does not sound right. Normally the car’s engine must be very quiet, not to hit anything, not to squeak anything, especially when leaving the place and not to make strange noises when it is running.
This is where our problem arises. When the injector is defective it will make a sound. It is a sound difficult to explain in words, it is a non-metallic tick, which is heard louder and louder with the speed of the car.
At idle you can barely hear, as you start to accelerate the car you will hear a tick, a sound that will stand out. Certainly if you have a friend who is passionate about cars, he will recognize the sound by phone and so you can quickly find out if the injector of your car is broken or not.
At the end of the article we try to show you some pictures, to find out what a diesel injector looks like and what a petrol injector looks like, but also what a defective, clogged and new injector looks like.
Faulty injector: before we show you a picture we will tell you what a defective injector means. An injector is considered good when it loses a maximum of 10cc (cubic centimeters) per minute and defective when it loses between 300-400cc per minute.
Photo source: newstruths.in, shedheads.net, lifehacker.com, carmudi.com.ph, liveabout.com, johnjonescorydon.com, sdsonlinestore.com, amazon.co.uk