If you’re a diesel engine owner, then it’s important to be aware of the top signs of failing diesel fuel injectors. As Australia’s Toyota diesel performance enhancement experts, we at Just Autos know that the key to a well-performing engine is healthy interior components.
When your diesel fuel injectors fail, it will not only impact the level of performance your engine can deliver but also negatively interfere with fuel efficiency, power outputs, responsiveness, and more. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the most common symptoms of failing diesel fuel injectors so that you know what to look out for and can be proactive in keeping your engine running smoothly.
Why Healthy Fuel Injectors are Important for Any Diesel Engine
Before we dive into the top signs of failing diesel fuel injectors you should keep an eye out for, let’s briefly touch on why having healthy fuel injectors is so important for any diesel engine.
The fuel injection system is a critical component of every diesel engine. This system pressurises and injects the fuel into the air that has been compressed in the combustion chamber. The functions of a fuel injection system include feeding fuel to the injectors, adjusting the injection timing, and atomising the fuel. When one or more aspects of this system aren’t functioning properly, it can have serious consequences for your engine’s performance.
Read More: How the Quality of Diesel You Use Affects Your Engine
5 Common Signs Your Diesel Fuel Injectors are Failing
Now that we’ve discussed why healthy fuel injectors are so important, let’s get into the signs that failing diesel fuel injectors typically display. If you notice any of the following issues with your engine, it’s a good idea to take it in for a check-up as soon as possible.
Read More: 5 Common Signs of a Failing Turbocharger
Decreased Fuel Efficiency
One of the most common symptoms of failing diesel fuel injectors is decreased fuel efficiency. Diesels are known to offer better economy when it comes to fuel than their petrol counterparts, so an increase in fuel consumption is often a tell-tale sign that something is amiss in your engine.
If you notice that your vehicle is consuming more fuel than usual, it’s worth investigating whether failing diesel fuel injectors might be to blame.
Read More: Top 3 Toyota Upgrades for Improved Fuel Economy
Engine Misfires
Another common symptom of failing diesel fuel injectors is engine misfires. If you notice that your engine is misfiring, sputtering, or hesitating when you try to accelerate, it could be a sign that one or more of your fuel injectors are failing and not delivering the right amount of fuel to your engine.
This can cause all sorts of performance issues, so if you notice any signs of engine misfires it’s important to take your vehicle in for a check-up as soon as possible.
Read More: Taking Care of Your Toyota: Top Maintenance Tips
Rough Idling
If you notice that your engine is idling roughly or unevenly, it could be a sign that failing diesel fuel injectors are to blame. This is often accompanied by other symptoms on this list, such as decreased fuel efficiency and engine misfires.
If you notice that your engine is idling roughly, it’s important to take it in for a check-up before the problem gets worse.
Loss of Power
A loss of power is another common symptom of failing diesel fuel injectors. If you notice that your engine doesn’t have the same zip as it used to or isn’t able to reach high speeds as easily, failing diesel fuel injectors may be the culprit.
A loss of power is often accompanied by a decline in responsiveness. This is most noticeable when driving – when putting your foot flat on the accelerator no longer provides the same response it used to, and is usually one of the first signs a diesel owner will take note of. So, if you notice that your engine is struggling to keep up with your accelerator inputs, it’s a good idea to take it in for a check-up.
Increased Exhaust Emissions
Finally, failing diesel fuel injectors often lead to increased emissions from the exhaust. Although diesel engines are more eco-friendly than petrol engines, a sure sign that something is wrong in your engine is the plumes of dark grey or black smoke diesel engines are known to produce when an internal component – such as your fuel injectors – is failing.
Read More: 3 Benefits of Diesel Intake Manifold Cleaning
What to Expect When Your Fuel Injectors Fail
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s likely that your fuel injectors are failing. The good news is that failing fuel injectors can be replaced relatively easily – and here at Just Autos, we can help.
When you bring your vehicle in, our team of experts will be able to quickly diagnose whether your fuel injectors are failing and advise you on the best course of action. We’ll then get to work replacing your failed injectors with new ones so you can get back on the road as soon as possible. Just Autos has a wide range of injector upgrades including full injector replacements. As Denso injector upgrade specialists, we also offer an in-house designed upgraded injector nozzle.
We can carry out a pre-dyno inspection and comprehensive diesel health check to confirm if your Toyota’s injectors require replacement, as well as to get an idea of the condition your engine and its components are in. This information helps us advise you on the best upgrades or tuning opportunities for your Toyota.
