When to change injectors?

Injectors are important parts for atomizing fuel into the engine's combustion chambers. Your vehicle's injection system can be direct or indirect, depending on the type of diesel or gasoline engine. In this article, we will answer all your questions about replacing injectors: frequency, maintenance and signs of wear!

⚠️ What are the symptoms of used injectors?

If your injectors no longer work properly, you will be quickly informed of various manifestations such as:

• Excessive fuel consumption : the car will consume more fuel than usual, this may be due to a worn out injector, injecting too much fuel, or due to fuel leakage due to cracks or broken injectors;
• The release of black smoke from exhaust : because the combustion in the engine is incomplete or improper, thick black smoke will come out of the exhaust pipe;
• Difficult to start the car : When you insert the key into the ignition, the engine will have difficulty starting and you will have to restart several times. In the most serious cases, the car will not start at all;
• The cabin smells like fuel : a certain amount of fuel stagnates in the engine and does not burn, this creates a persistent smell;
• Loss of engine power : combustion problems cause a drop in engine power, mainly during acceleration;
• Shocks and holes occur during the acceleration phases : engine misfires occur due to clogged one or more injectors;
• Fuel leak under the car : If the injectors are leaking, a spot of fuel will appear under the vehicle.

⏱️ What is the service life of the injectors?

Despite the characteristic wear part, the injectors have a long service life. On average, they should be changed every 150 kilometer... However, with careful and regular maintenance, they can last up to 180 kilometer.

In fact, injectors can regularly wedge in buttock or get dirty calamine... This is why they need to be cleaned regularly to prolong their life and to prevent contamination from interfering with the proper functioning of other parts of the engine system.

🚗 What are the risks of driving with HS injectors?

If one or more of your injectors is completely defective, but you continue to drive, you are exposed to many risks, which are as follows:

1. Premature clogging of the engine : since all fuel burns incorrectly, the engine becomes clogged faster with soot and unburned residues that form carbon deposits;
2. Un pollution level above : The injectors deliver the optimum amount of fuel. Since they no longer work properly, you will overspend and your car will pollute more than usual;
3. Increased wear on other engine parts : This is the biggest risk because some parts will wear out and may break. These are, for example, a cylinder head gasket, a cylinder head, a throttle body ...
4. Possible failure : If the engine no longer receives fuel, it will not be able to operate normally and your car may break down at any time.

👨‍🔧 How to maintain your car's injectors?

To keep your jets performing optimally over time, you can develop several daily reflexes to maintain them:

• Use good quality fuel This will minimize engine contamination over time and increase travel performance.
• Change the oil regularly. : bleeding the engine oil and changing the oil filter to limit the clogging of the engine and injectors;
• Clean nozzles with additive : it can be poured into the fuel tank, after which it is necessary to walk about twenty minutes with the engine running at high speeds;
• Go to descaling : this service in the workshop will completely clean the engine and exhaust system from carbon deposits and accumulated residues;
• Avoid driving with an almost empty fuel tank. : This situation favors corrosion of the injectors and the fuel pump. Always try to drive with a half full tank or a quarter full of fuel.

The nozzles must be replaced at the intervals outlined in your service brochure. Indispensable for good engine combustion, wear should not be taken lightly and a quick response is needed. Use our online garage comparator to find a garage near your home and at the best price to complete this maneuver!