Common Fuel Injector Problems' Causes and Solutions

Fuel injectors deliver the fuel mixture to the engine cylinders of cars. Problems with these devices can cause several noticeable decreases in car performance. Get familiar with the potential problems and their causes may help you diagnose faulty fuel injectors early and return your car to good working situation quickly.

 

A fuel injector delivers gasoline to the combustion chamber by using an electrical solenoid valve. When the car is started, an electrical current is sent to the injector coil, which causes the coil to form a magnet. The magnet pulls a pintle from the front of the valve, allowing gasoline to flow through. When the current is shut off, the magnetic field ceases to exist and the pintle goes back to its resting place to block the fuel flow.

 

Symptoms that a car's fuel injection system is having problems may include rough idling, misfiring, hesitation when attempting to accelerate, and a noticeable loss of power and decreased fuel economy. In many cases where strict emissions testing is required, a fuel injector problem can make your vehicle produce considerably more emissions.

 

Fuel restriction is the most common reason for reduced performance. 8 to 10 percent restriction in fuel injected system can cause a misfire.A misfire causes unburned oxygen to force a lean reading in the sensor. This reading will cause the other injectors to compensate by staying open too long, which will cause too rich of a fuel mixture in other cylinders. This can damage the engine in some cases.

 

Heat soak is a usual cause of fuel restriction. Heat soak happens when an engine is shut off. The residual heat from the engine evaporates the fuel that remains in the injector, leaving behind oil fins. Since the engine is off, nothing will flow through the injectors to wash away the oil fins and they harden and form deposits that restrict the fuel flow through the injector.

 

Some producers attempt to save costs by reducing detergent levels. Detergents control deposits the gas leaves behind in the system. The less effective detergents tend to leave behind more buildup that may cause clogging in the fuel injector system. 

 

Injector cleaning procedures to clear out deposits and reverse fuel restriction can vary from a fuel injector cleaner solution bought from the store and poured into the tank to the removal of the injectors for cleaning. More involved cleaning procedures are classified as on-car or off-car cleaning. On-car cleaning takes place without the removal of the fuel injectors. Using pressurized equipment, a solvent is run through the fuel line while the engine is running. The solvent will remove any deposits in the injectors and valves and inside the combustion chamber in many cases. For the worst problems with dirty injectors, a mechanic will remove the injection system and give them a more thorough cleaning. This process may include the use of an ultrasonic bath.