At Westerville Automotive in Westerville, OH, we see our fair share of damage that could’ve been prevented. Leaking injectors are one of the main ways a diesel engine can meet its demise - but the good news is, engine failure can be avoided, as long as the problem is taken care of.
What causes a leaky injector? - As the nozzle and other components wear out, the seal keeping fuel inside the injector can become worn. Fuel contamination will exacerbate the issue, but even perfectly clean fuel will eventually wear an injector. If a water jet can cut through inches of steel, it’s no surprise that thousands of gallons of highly pressurized fuel passing through a tiny nozzle will eventually wear one out.
What are the hazards of a leaky injector? - A leaking injector can wreak havoc on an engine. At first, an injector leaking fuel will have minimal consequences - poor running conditions that go away as the engine warms up, for example. Slightly worse fuel mileage is another. Unfortunately, these issues are easy to ignore; you’re busy, and small problems have to wait. However, if allowed to persist, a condition called “fuel wash” will occur - the excessive fuel leaks past rings, removing oil from the cylinder wall, which causes the piston to scour the cylinder wall. In short, that cylinder doesn’t lubricate correctly, and you’ll end up with an engine that has to be replaced.
What are the symptoms of a leaky injector? - It’s important to catch a bad injector before it makes matters much worse. The first symptom you’ll probably notice is a hard starting condition. Since that cylinder is flooded after sitting overnight, the engine is hard to start first thing in the morning. Once it does start, you’ll probably notice excessive smoke coming from the tailpipe, and the engine will take longer to warm up and run correctly than it should. Loss of power, strong diesel odor, and poor fuel mileage are also concerns.
Fortunately, injectors aren’t typically difficult to swap out. No matter your repair or maintenance needs, our experienced technicians have you covered. For the best fleet and diesel service shop in Westerville, OH call or stop by Westerville Automotive today.
