Easy lifehacks

Why do fuel injectors crack?

Why do fuel injectors crack?

So, the most common cause of leaky injectors is; the failure of the O-ring, where the injector meets the fuel rail. The O-ring can become, hard and brittle, from the heat of the engine. If it breaks, then fuel can leak out, over the engine. The other way an injector will leak is if, the injector body or nozzle cracks.

Can a cracked fuel injector cause an engine fire?

Any external fuel injector leaks such as a cracked fuel injector body or bad fuel injector O-rings can cause an engine fire at any given time. At engine shutdown the fuel pressure should maintain operating pressure or just below that for a substantial period of time.

What causes the injector to leak when the engine is shut down?

When the engine is shut down, the crack in the injector’s body will often cause fuel to drain back from the fuel lines and rails back to the tank. When the leak down occurs, the engine has to spin over for an excessive period of time in order to re-prime the injection system.

Can a cracked injector cause an oil leak?

Although the injector body can be cracked, the engine may run fine but take an extended period of time to crank. In addition, the customer may notice some fuel dilution in the oil by seeing that the oil level is rising on the dipstick.

Can a clogged fuel injector be repaired quickly?

Clogged injectors can usually be repaired, if you catch the problem quickly. Sometimes a fuel injector is completely clogged, because of years of neglect or a lack of regular engine servicing. If this is the case then a refurbished replacement, may be the only option.

When the engine is shut down, the crack in the injector’s body will often cause fuel to drain back from the fuel lines and rails back to the tank. When the leak down occurs, the engine has to spin over for an excessive period of time in order to re-prime the injection system.

What to do if your fuel injector is cracked?

If the injector body; nozzle or internal components are cracked; then a new or refurbished injector is your only option. Replacement fuel injector seals and washers are cheap and are, fairly easy to install. This can often fix the problem, and if you are handy with a wrench, it’s not that difficult to do.

What causes a wisp of smoke from a fuel injector?

Sometimes, if the injector body is cracked externally, you may be able to notice a small wisp of smoke from the injector. The wisp of smoke that can sometimes be seen is actually the atomization of fuel being released from the crack. But this wisp should not be confused with blowby, which will be seen also.

How can I tell if my Cummins injector is leaking?

First remove the valve cover, then crank the engine and let it idle. With a light, study the injector body of each cylinder. Sometimes, if the injector body is cracked externally, you may be able to notice a small wisp of smoke from the injector.

Author Image
Ruth Doyle