The injector is a sensitive part but essential to ensure the good performance of a car. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that it is in a good condition to prevent future malfunctions.
Injectors must always be clean to ensure good engine performance and fuel consumption. Being dirty results in worse performance and higher fuel consumption due to the obstruction produced by fuel impurities.
Cleaning the injectors contributes to the proper functioning of the car. You want to know how to do it? Keep reading.
What is an injector?
The injector is the main responsible for injecting fuel into the engine cylinders
This system is responsible for spraying the engine in the fuel, making the explosion possible allowing your car to work properly. Inside the injector are electromagnetic valves that, when activated, allow the passage of fuel to the engine in a gradual and controlled manner.
Types of fuel injectors
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Mechanical injector
This type of injector is the most rudimentary. Always present in diesel engines, mechanical injectors operate through a feeding system with the function of controlling only the amount of fuel and the time to spray in a mechanical way.
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Electronic injectors
Electronic injectors are the most common in today’s diesel cars and have several sensors that send information to the control unit to assess the amount of fuel injected and when it should be released to the cylinder. Despite being activated electronically, these injectors are closed by an internal spring.
Cleaning of fuel injectors
After a few tens of thousands of kilometers, the vehicle engine can accumulate in the injectors some waste that are harmful to the longevity of the vehicle. It is advisable to clean the injectors, whether diesel or petrol, according to the manufacturer recommendations.
5 Advantages of injectors cleaning
- Fuel consumption and reduced emissions required in periodic inspections.
- Smooth engine operation.
- Increased of engine and injectors life expectancy.
- Reduction of waste formation around injectors.
- Power up.
How to clean the injectors
There are 3 different ways to clean the injectors:
- Ultrasound.
- Liquids with additives;
- Scan.
All these options are effective. Next, we will explain each of them in detail.
Ultrasound cleaning
This method is the most delicate and the one that requires more work. In an ultrasonic cleaning, the mechanic must remove the injectors and place them into a test stand where various elements such as flow, resistance, spray pattern and tightening will be checked. The mechanic will proceed as well as the injector cleaning
Cleaning through liquids with additives
This type of cleaning is the simplest of them all. It is only necessary to purchase a specific liquid for cleaning injectors adding it in the fuel tank.
In this method should pay particular attention if the vehicle manufacturer advises this practice, since there are some manufacturers who do not advise due to the possibility of engine corrosion.
Scan cleaning
Scanning cleaning is quite common in a workshop environment. To do this type of cleaning, the mechanic must have a specific injector cleaning kit for the different types of cars. As a rule, in these kits are present drains and extractors of injectors.
Symptoms of damaged fuel injector
- Difficulty in starting up the engine;
- Engine failures in accelerations or decelerations;
- Increased fuel consumption;
- Black smoke coming out of the exhaust;
- Power loss.
- Strong fuel odor.
Injector cleaning price
The price of cleaning the injectors starts at 40 euros, and may reach higher values, depending on the time spent cleaning and the condition of the car.
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