How To Check Diesel Injectors with Scan Tools? Our Instruction

You can check diesel injectors by using an OBD2 scan tool that's compatible with the vehicle to get real-time data on the status of the units. Although there are cars that are too old to have onboard computers that can monitor their fuel injectors.

Checking injectors with the scanner highlights

• Difficulty level:Medium
• Needed scan tools:Basic will do well
• Additional equipment:Tools for car repair
• Timeneeded:Several minutes
• Price in a shop:$150 - $250
• DIY repair:Possible but quite complicated

How Do Diesel Injectors Work?

Diesel fuel injectors are small electrical units that are utilized in the distribution of fuel in a diesel engine. They're different from those of petrol engines in the sense that the latter involves the combination of fuel and air way before the mixture is sent to the cylinder.

On the other hand, diesel injectors combine air and fuel just before the mixture gets into the cylinder or after it enters. Your car's engine will then have adequate power to move. Simply put, the car can't take you anywhere without the injection system working optimally.

Symptoms of Diesel Injector Wear

Diesel injector symptoms may be mechanical, electrical, or other categories. The following are some of the signs that will be noticeable when there's significant wear, contamination, blockage, or damage in a diesel injection system:

1) Reduction in Fuel Economy

An unusual increase in the amount of fuel that your car utilizes may be because of injector wear. Worn injectors use more fuel to meet up with your performance demands. There's poor fuel efficiency in this situation.

2) Engine Misfire

Is your car misfiring when you turn on the ignition? This could be a sign that you need to clean the fuel injector or there's a fault in the opening mechanism. You'll be cleaning out any blockage that may have accumulated over time.

3) Power Fluctuation

Another sign to look out for is your RPM gauge acting unstable (going up and down) or an inconsistency when revving your car. This may be pointing towards the need to clean the injectors or swap them out as a result of contamination or wear. The inconsistency shows that the injectors are supplying diesel irregularly.

4) Abnormal Smell of Diesel

This is one symptom that poses great danger and should be addressed ASAP. There may be a leak when you're getting an unusual smell of diesel. It could be a valve that isn't closing properly or an injector seal that got damaged or cracked.

5) Engine Failure

One of the worst things that can happen when there's a faulty fuel injector is engine failure. A piston can sustain permanent damage because the injector was spraying fuel in the wrong direction. You'd be lucky to find out about this problem on time so that you can avoid the heavy losses and costs that will come after.

Hopefully, you won't be in a situation where there are two or more problems to worry about at a time. This is very possible, especially when early warning signs were neglected. Other symptoms of diesel injector wear are listed below.

• Rough idle
• Production of toxic emissions
• Injector rattle
• Inability of the fuel injector to close or open
• Bad throttle response
• Poor engine performance

How To Use a Scan Tool To Check Your Diesel Injectors

Your engine is only rightly due for an injector swap when the time has come for a precautionary routine replacement or when there's an actual fault. A mechanic shouldn't just tell you to change an injector without showing proof that it's necessary.

An injector test with a scan tool can save you thousands of dollars. This is because of the high cost of replacing the unit. A diesel injector can cost $1,000 or more. And it could possibly surpass the $6,000 mark depending on your vehicle's specs. The scan results can help you avoid such hefty bills.

1) Scanning Procedure with a Scan Tool

Follow the steps below to scan your diesel fuel injector with a diagnostic scanner and spend smartly for repairs:

Step 1: Buy a Scan Tool

Ensure that it is a compatible OBD2 scanner for the vehicle.

Step 2: Plug the Adapter into the Vehicle

Plug your scanner's adapter into your car's diagnostic link connecter (DLC) or OBD2 port. Read the vehicle owner's manual if it's not easy to locate the DLC/OBD2 port or it's not on the driver-side below the steering wheel.

Step 3: Connect to the Vehicle via Bluetooth

Launch the scanner's app on your PC or smartphone and use it to connect to the vehicle via Bluetooth and the scanner's adapter. Your car should be in idle mode or you can start the ignition.

Input your vehicle identification number (VIN) and any other information on the app to register. VINs are typically stated on a sticker next to the driver-side door.

Step 4: Start the Scan

Select the right vehicle system on the scanner's app and begin to scan. The scan tool will show you the pending codes as well as active codes. You'll be looking for a code that starts with a "P".

"P" codes represent powertrain faults like emissions, ignition, fuel, and transmission systems. "B" codes are for the body, "C" codes are for the chassis, and "U" codes mean "undefined".

Step 5: Note the Code

Write the code/codes down and find out what it means online. The scan results may show you something else apart from a code related to the fuel injector or it may show you multiple codes. Deal with the issue if it's simple or call a mechanic to resolve it.

2) Balance Testing with a Scan Tool

It's possible to conduct a cylinder balance test in some cars with a scan tool. This examination will disable a fuel injector so that idle quality change or misfires from a snapped throttle can be observed. It's a good test for injector blockage and firing issues.

Don't perform this assessment by pulling the connector for an injector. It can produce confusing outcomes due to the engine module doing the following:

• Sensing a circuit change
• Potentially altering the timing
• Altering other related parameters

Quick Injector Fix Tips

Undergo the necessary cleaning or replacement procedure once you can pinpoint the problematic part. DIY cleaning and swaps should only be done if you have the necessary expertise for such fixes.

Spray the injector with an undiluted fuel system cleaner to get rid of any residue that's obstructing the unit. Ensure that you buy the best quality injector cleaner that you can afford.

Cleaning is a fix that doesn't require swapping out any of the units. You can re-install the unit provided that all it needs is cleaning. Then you should re-install it and test the injection system. Also, troubleshoot with a scan tool.

Diesel Fuel Injector Lifespan and Maintenance

The life expectancy of diesel fuel injectors is around 100,000-150,000 miles. And the time yours will last is dependent on a variety of factors like engine type, engine age, working conditions, quality of fuel, etc.

You don't even have to wait till the injectors do 100,000 miles before you have the units swapped out. It could even be 80,000-mile interval just to be on the safer side.

Avoid premature damage (wear or tear) by ensuring that any early warning fuel injector symptoms are quickly dealt with. Keep the signs mentioned in the previous section in mind as regards this. Regular use of your scan tool for diagnosing the unit will go a long way in pushing next the date for repairs further.

Replacement parts bought must be of high quality because your fuel injection system isn't an area that you can compromise on. If not, you'd only have yourself to blame for premature malfunctions and replacements. That means you'll be spending money on issues that could have been wisely avoided.

Only high-quality fuel should be utilized as a safety precaution. Fuel lubricants and additives can be strategically applied to ensure engine stability when the need arises.

Lastly, don't take routine injection system checks by a qualified mechanic for granted. You should also talk to the auto repairer after every repair or maintenance examination to understand all you can about the faults. This will help you plan for preventive approaches in the future.

Conclusion

Getting a negative result after using the first three methods isn't an assurance that the injectors are working 100% fine. It could be a dirty component, return spring damage, or valve wear that's making the unit leak or block. Such problems may be difficult to diagnose without specialized equipment.

However, the real-time data from an OBD2 scan tool may give you the insight you seek. Call a professional mechanic when all the DIY methods fail. Don't take risks in trying troubleshooting tricks to avoid complicating the issue. A professional auto repairer will have all it will take to discover the culprit.