Do injectors wear out?????????

[fixithud]

Truck in sig is about to turn 300k miles. Paid for, looks good, I can go on a job or on a quote and have a good showing to the customer.

My question is, with as many miles as I have on the engine, should I consider an injector swap. If I swap it will probably be for some 1's. Truck runs very well now, but I was thinking I could gain some power/economy even if I went with new stock sticks.

Yes or No???????

Thanks a lot
Hud

[bosefes]

I would say Yes. They do definitely wear out over time. You can either have your original ones rebuilt to stage 1 specs or simply buy some already rebuilt stage 1's from Swamps Diesel or Beans Diesel.

Dave

[AlaskaRedneK]

Wow, 300 on originals. Thats good.

I am willing to bet that you have a few broken nozzle springs in there and that you would see a smoother idle and some economy gains w/ newer ones. If you have time/money I would definitely consider a swap. If you dont have much time you can get a set of "pre-made" injectors from any vendor; however if you feel inclined you could get a DIY kit. I would just look around and see what your options are.

Best of luck,
-Matt

[91diesel]

Im rebuilding mine right now to stage ones. Ill be grinding the intensifier piston down tomorrow hopefully. I had a somewhat rough idle, and 15 mpg, thats with super conservative driving and shutting off engine and coasting half a mil e when I could and then popping clutch. (ohio flatlands here) I also had an injector knock in what i though were #7 and #5 injectors. Maybe both of them were the ones with broken springs!!??

I had 4 injectors clogged, not spraying in some of the holes. I had two broken springs! The rough idle was enough to shake the truck after about 5 seconds of idling, not a big shake but very noticable.

I followed the instructions provided with a DIY kit after I had them out and after the first one, I had it memorized what to do and where all the orings were. It was painfully easy and methodical after that, just took some time to break them all down. I have two nozzles soaking in offroad diesel right now to try and get them opened up.

anyways, thats the story of my life last night at 10:00.

[Garbage_Mechanic]

Hud,

For exactly the reasons your asking, I put brand new AC code injectors which are factory stage 1's in my wife's truck. My experience (see my sig) tells me injectors wear slowly over time and eat away at effecientcy. They have been less than optimal a long tme before they fail. So I have stage one's with all brand new parts at about $280 each. Not that having Beans or Rose do yours is a bad choice, in fact Beans may come out matched better than brand new ones. Just another option if, like me you are fastidious. ( Or just nuts as some say about me)

[fixithud]

I appreciate the replies.

My truck starts, idles and runs well. A little blue smoke at startup but that is about it.

I can still get 19 mpg out of it and usually do better than 16.

I guess I will just start putting away the pennies for some 1's.

Off the subject a little...

Even with the price of diesel, I can't justify a gasser yet. Understand though, if I get another truck it will be new, not new to me or a little new, brand new. Taxes, insurance, and a payment just don't make it worth while. To be honest, I see this truck going in the shop in a couple of years for a full body makeover.

Hud

[AlaskaRedneK]

Originally Posted by fixithud

To be honest, I see this truck going in the shop in a couple of years for a full body makeover.

You and me both

-Matt

[DZLJIM]

Mileage is a terrible way to guess injector condition.
It's all about maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.
I've seen injectors that I was told had well over 300k miles several times and they were in great shape and needed nothing other than a simple overhaul and Stage-1 upgrade. When I inquired to the owner, they always comment oil changes at 2500 - 3000 miles, and fuel filter changes at 5k miles with regular water draining from the bowl.

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance...

Frequent oil changes prolongs Poppet valve wear, and frequent fuel filter changes and not burning garbage fuels helps prevent damage to Plunger & Barrels and nozzles.

Having said that, these things do wear out and won't last forever. Regular overhaul/rebuild is needed for proper operation and efficiency.

[Macnasty]

TTT for a question.

I have researched and understand that I really need a 17*HPOP, D66, and intercooler to run stage 2's. I hardly ever tow, in fact I still haven't, but I would like to participate in some sled pulling. The trans has an upgraded TC, valve body, and internals. I just recently bought the truck but it has 275K on it, so it probably needs injectors anyway.

It runs decent with just the dp tuner but seems to run out of fuel on the "6" setting. I will be doing a diy-injectors kit, in the near future I will be doing the supporting mods so I can't justify getting stage 1's. Will stage 2's be okay to run if I watch my egt's or do I just need to skip the local pulls this year? I have read that some guys run them without the supporting mods and some throw a CEL, some don't.

[Justin C.]

Stage 2's will be fine to run. You don't have to worry too much about your EGTs at a truck pull because it's a short duration spike in temperature. My truck has Stage 2's and a 15* pump and doesn't throw a CEL. I'm sure my pressure is a little low, but just not low enough to throw a code. My truck runs really good, and without a CEL, I've never gotten too worked up about getting big oil yet.

Justin

[bockhold]

Whats the difference between stage 1 and 2. My engine has 326k and runs smoothly and no smoke. Was rebuilt at 260k and had rebuild the heads again less than 500mi ago due to an overheat. Re-oringed them while the heads were off. If an injector goes out, does it trip the engine light?

[91diesel]

It wont trip a light if its something mechanical thats bad. Stage twos are stage ones with larger hole nozzles installed. Will he have trouble with not enough oil pressure with stage two? I thought the 15* pump from the SD's was larger than the OBS??

[bockhold]

Originally Posted by 91diesel

It wont trip a light if its something mechanical thats bad. Stage twos are stage ones with larger hole nozzles installed. Will he have trouble with not enough oil pressure with stage two? I thought the 15* pump from the SD's was larger than the OBS??

Are these stage 2 injectors. They are stock.

[Macnasty]

Now, if you'll notice, I am a newb here so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I thought that the SD had split injectors (as well as the 97 obs california model) and therefore had a 17*hpop.

Bockhold, if your injectors are stock they are not stage 2's. Your truck probably idles well because the previous owner had good maintenance habits. Stock injectors flow around 92cc's fuel, stage 2's are in the 160cc range. Diy-injectors.com is where I'll be purchasing mine, you may be able to get a little information on that site.

[Justin C.]

The early 99's still had a 15* pump I believe, but from about 99.5 on they had the 17. And yes they all had Split shots.

Justin