Fuel injector problems can eventually lead to a breakdown, or in extreme cases, an accident if your engine fails while traveling at speed on the highway. Be sure to treat the problem before that happens.
A clogged injector is not a safety concern, but it does starve the vehicle causing it to run poorly. Prolonged fuel starvation can lead to internal engine damage or damage to the catalytic converter. Fuel injectors can be inspected and tested to determine if they should be replaced or cleaned.
If you've noticed symptoms of injector failure while driving, don't delay! While the risk of severe engine damage is relatively low, it's not impossible. More importantly, replacing a bad fuel injector will improve the fuel economy, engine power, and overall drivability of your vehicle.
The fuel injectors on your car will typically last between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. The length of time that the injector lasts has a lot to do with the type of gas that is used in the car and how often the various fuel filters are changed.
Dirty fuel injectors may cause your vehicle's engine to misfire. This problem makes the motor feel as though it is sputtering — sending vibrations through the car. Such misfires can happen when a fuel injector problem mixes up the delicate balance between fuel and air entering the engine.
On average, you can expect to pay between $350 and $850 to replace your fuel injectors. The range of costs depends on a number of factors. Smaller vehicles with fewer cylinders requiring less expensive parts will come in at the lower end of the spectrum. Larger, high-performance engines will command a higher price tag.
Generally, replacing fuel injectors can cost anywhere from $800 to $1500 depending on the repairs and labor costs. New fuel injector parts can cost anywhere between $600-$1200. To that, expect to pay about $200-$250 in labor charges. However, note that you don't always need to replace the fuel injector.
Ignoring a clogged or failing fuel injector can lead to more serious engine damage and potentially costly repairs.
If you happen to hear a rough idling voice, then it is a sign that the fuel injector is bad and it is not delivering the necessary fuel to the engine. Also, a fuel injector normally makes a ticking sound when it works, if you fail to hear that sound, you might have a bad fuel injector.
An abrupt loss of engine power is a somewhat obvious sign of a fuel injector failure. If the fuel injector is clogged, the fuel supply will be irregular too. When the fuel level fluctuates drastically, the high and low rpm's will cause the engine to move in surges rather than slow and gradual movements.
If you do have a bad fuel injector the most likely symptom you will notice is a rough idle and an engine code for a misfire. A fuel injector is simply a electronic valve that opens and closes at the demands of your engine's fuel management computer.
Common causes of injector failure
While many things can cause breakdowns, the most likely cause of premature failure is fuel contamination. Fuel contamination occurs when debris in the fuel gets past the filtration, destroying the sealing surfaces.
Injectors are prone to clogging due to the hydrocarbons that fuel contains. The injectors' nozzles become eventually clogged or blocked because of hardened deposits. Leaks can also happen and cause trouble.
One you may not have considered is a damaged or worn out fuel injector – it's a massively common issue, and we talk to customers all the time about it.
If you have one or more faulty fuel injectors — due to wear or mechanical or electrical issues, driving for a long time can cause several problems: Stalling or failure for your car to start. Flooding of your engine. Pre-ignition of your fuel.
Smell of Fuel
Another symptom of a failing or leaking fuel injector is a fuel odor.
It's never going to be easy to replace a bad injector on your own, so hire a professional at all times.
Yes, it's true that replacing old, worn fuel injectors is an easy way to improve an engine's efficiency. If you have an older vehicle with a set of worn fuel injectors, replacing them will help your engine run like new. You may even notice that your vehicle accelerates better.
Fuel injectors should be cleaned at least once every 36 months, or 45,000 miles. Replacing weak or worn-out engine parts without improving performance is not a good idea in general. However, cleaning out dirty injectors may gain a different perspective on engine health.
Replacing a fuel injector seems like a daunting project, but with a little skill you can do the job yourself and save serious money. Shops charge a huge amount for fuel injection work. If you know that you have a bad injector, the job can be done at home.
Replacement Schedule for Fuel Injectors
The Injectors ought to be replaced every 50-100,000 miles, in normal conditions. That is according to some published studies, but the true replacement interval may be very different, based on several factors.
Although there are many products such as injection cleaning additives that claim it can clean or unclog a clogged fuel injector while it is in the engine, they cannot. For any of these products to work they actually have to get inside the injector.
With good, quality fuel injectors, you can expect them to last a long time. So, how long do fuel injectors last exactly? Some can be expected to last between 80,000 and 100,000 miles, while the best fuel injectors can last as long as you have your vehicle.
"After installing new injectors, the only way the aeriated fuel can escape the system is through the nozzle," Durrell says. "So, starting the engine and letting it idle for a minimum of 20 minutes is the best thing to do after installing new injectors. This will push the aeriated fuel out of the injector nozzle.