Symptoms of damaged injectors – what indicates that injectors need replacing?

Injectors, regardless of the type of fuel a vehicle is designed to use, play a crucial role in the fuel system. Their proper functioning is essential for starting and operating a vehicle, and any malfunctions can lead to serious problems, preventing further driving. But how can you tell if something is wrong with your injectors? What are the symptoms of faulty injectors? Read on to find out more.

Injectors – the heart of the fuel system

Injectors undoubtedly perform an important function in every vehicle. They determine how much and when fuel is delivered to the engine. In short, upon receiving signals from the onboard computer, they supply the correct amount of fuel to the combustion chamber. Therefore, their proper functioning is crucial for the entire vehicle. However, over time, injectors can wear out or become damaged. Do warn injectors show symptoms?

Injector damage – symptoms can vary

Damaged injectors can manifest in many ways, which can be challenging for drivers. One of the first signs of a problem may be difficulty starting the engine, both on colder days, and after it has warmed up. In the first case, the issue may stem from incorrect injection parameters, while in the second, it may be due to leaks in its structure. Another symptom of worn injectors can be irregular engine performance, such as jerking or stuttering. This could suggest that the injector nozzle is clogged, or the injector is overheated. It is also important to pay attention to situations where the car suddenly stalls while idling. This can be a sign of injector wear in diesels, where the control unit cannot adjust to the injectors' parameters, leading to emergency ignition shutdown.

There are more typical symptoms of damaged injectors

Whether the engine fails to start or stalls while idling is just the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, there are more symptoms of faulty injectors. Typical signs include:

• Excessive smoking (either white or black); the color of the smoke depends on the source of the problem,
• Drops in engine power (switching to limp mode),
• Increased fuel consumption,
• Knocking (a specific noise under the hood often described as "knocking"),
• Uneven engine operation,
• The smell of fuel coming from the engine oil.

Symptoms of damaged injectors and the type of engine

It's important to understand that symptoms of a damaged injector can differ between diesel engines and gasoline engines.

Symptoms of damaged diesel injectors – black smoke is no longer the norm

While diesel engines were once known for their characteristic "smoking," advancements in technology mean that this is no longer considered normal. Intense black smoke from the exhaust can be a symptom of injector damage. When fuel does not burn completely, it's often due to insufficient oxygen during engine operation. As a result, instead of carbon dioxide, soot is produced, giving the exhaust a black color. The most common cause of such smoking is an excessive amount of fuel delivered by damaged injectors.

Symptoms of damaged common rail injectors – do not ignore the signs!

If you notice symptoms indicating a problem with diesel engine injectors, do not delay taking action. A damaged injector that allows too much fuel can lead to piston melting due to excessively high temperatures in the combustion chamber. Such an event can result in serious and costly engine damage.

Injectors – signs of wear in gasoline engines

We are familiar with the typical symptoms of damaged injectors in diesel engines, but what about gasoline engines? Although injectors in gasoline engines are generally more durable (being less precise and less stressed), they are not immune to damage. Symptoms indicating issues with injectors in gasoline engines include difficulty starting the engine and irregular engine operation, including misfires.

How to Maintain Good Condition of Injectors?

There are many symptoms of injector damage, and none should be ignored. If you notice something amiss with your vehicle (such as starting problems, power loss, knocking, or excessive smoking), it's crucial to take action early. How can you do this? You have three options: regeneration, replacement, or cleaning of injectors. The first two options tend to be more costly, so it's often wise to consider flushing them with a special chemical cleaning agent first.

TEC 2000 Diesel Injector Cleaner is a professional solution for cleaning the tips and nozzles of injectors in diesel-powered vehicles. This product is based on a mixture of very strong lubricants, which allows it to remove contaminants thoroughly, including carbon buildup. Regular use of TEC 2000 Diesel Injector Cleaner can help prevent injectors from becoming blocked and save on many costly repairs. The product also has properties that reduce the emission of harmful exhaust gases and decrease black smoke from the exhaust system. However, before reaching for a can of this cleaner, it's necessary to diagnose the fault (using a flow test and computer analysis). In cases of more serious damage, flushing will not save the injectors, and you may need to consider their regeneration or replacement.