Proper maintenance of your diesel engine is essential to making sure it functions properly. One important feature is the fuel injector. Fuel injectors keep track of the amount of fuel entering the engine. Without the right level of care, fuel injectors can easily wear out or fail completely, causing your engine not to start or the exhaust to smoke. While it’s not always easy to tell if the injectors are the problem, there are some symptoms to look out for and ways to check in order to determine what the issue may be.

 

What Are the Symptoms of a Bad Injector Pump?

Here are a few telltale symptoms of a faulty or blocked diesel injector.

– Trouble starting and/or accelerating

– Rough idle

– Exhaust smoke

– Poor or failed emissions

– Increase in fuel usage

– Lit check engine light

If your engine is experiencing any of these faulty diesel injector symptoms, it’s a good idea to check the injectors yourself.

 

How Can I Check the Injectors?

So how can you check the diesel injectors to diagnose the issue? Here are four methods you can try:

1. Listen to your engine: When an injector is working properly, it will make a clicking noise. This clicking noise is caused by the proper opening and closing of the valve. If you don’t hear that clicking noise, then that’s an indicator that the injectors may have gone bad. In order to listen for the clicking, you can try using a stethoscope. If you don’t have a stethoscope, you can use a screwdriver or metal rod instead. To do this, place the tip of the rod or screwdriver on the fuel injector while the engine is running. Then place your ear on the other end so that sound is transmitted. This method is a good way to avoid getting your face too close to the running engine.

2. Try a light test: Switch off the engine but leave the battery running so that the electronic features such as the lights and radio are still active. Clip your test light to the negative battery terminal. Then place the pointed tip of the test light on a small section of the exposed wire of the injector. The test light should light up when you do this.

3. Check for leaks: Place a paper towel under the fuel injectors and turn the ignition to the on position but do not start the engine. If you find fuel on the paper towels, then the injector is leaking.

4. Get the engine checked for emissions: If there is a change in your emissions, then that means there is a change in your engine, which could be a sign of an injector issue.

Shop Replacement Injectors at Diesel Pro Power!

If you’ve determined that your injectors need to be replaced, buy new replacement injectors at Diesel Pro Power. We proudly carry parts from marine engine brands such as Detroit Diesel, Cummins, and more. Our easy-to-use website will help you find exactly what you need for your engine.