What You Should Do If Your Diesel Fuel Injectors Start to Play Up
A variety of different parts work together in harmony in order to make your diesel engine work efficiently. All of these parts are relevant, but some are much more important than others. In particular, the fuel injectors are crucial if your engine is going to run smoothly and you're going to get good fuel economy. What do you need to know in order to keep your injectors in good shape?
How Injectors Work
Fuel injectors, when working properly, convert the diesel into a very fine "atomised" mist. It's only when the fuel is converted into this very precise condition that it burns optimally and brings you the best value for money. When the system is new and set up properly it will work as intended, but over time it will gradually deteriorate due to the buildup of deposits in the base of the injectors.
When Trouble Begins
You may wonder how deposits get into the system in this way. Basically, this is due to tiny droplets of fuel being left in the base of the injector tips immediately after the engine is shut off. Due to the heat in this area, this fuel will then "cook" and solidify, turning into miniature deposits. With time, these deposits start to interfere with the conversion of fuel into the atomised spray.
How to Address Deposits
Periodically, you will need to get rid of those deposits or efficiency and operation will suffer. It's certainly possible for a vehicle owner with some dexterity to do this at home, but it is a fiddly and quite lengthy job. You will need to remove the injectors, take them apart and then clean them using wire brushes and an acetone bath. Remember, that these injectors are very finely engineered components and you risk damaging them if you're not very careful.
What the Cleaning Options Are
It may alternatively be possible to add a concentrated detergent, specially formulated, to the fuel. This can remove some of the deposits, but if not, it it'll be necessary to take the vehicle to a professional where a special ultrasonic machine can be used instead. Under no circumstances should you try to add some gasoline to the diesel fuel because somebody told you that this would work as well. This approach could damage some of the other diesel parts in the engine.
When Replacement Is Necessary
Bear in mind that fuel injectors do wear down over time as well. If this happens, no amount of cleaning is going to bring them back to their original state. In this case, professionals will have to change them for you instead.
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