As a diesel owner (or aspiring diesel owner!) it’s important to understand the differences between the two primary types of injection systems modern diesel engines use: common rail injection and mechanical injection. Understanding how each system works will help you make the right choice when it comes to purchasing your next – or first – diesel vehicle.
As Australia’s top diesel performance specialists for Toyota diesels, Just Autos has worked extensively on mechanical injection and common rail diesel engines – and we believe that common rail injection is the better injection system to opt for due to the technological advancements it offers over its predecessor.
In this blog post, our team takes a closer look at the common rail and mechanical injection diesel systems and explores why common rail injection systems are the future of the diesel industry. Find out how these injection systems differ and how their function impacts the performance of a diesel engine below…
What is the Difference Between a Common Rail and a Mechanical injection System?
A common rail diesel injection system is a modern fuel injection system that feeds pressurised fuel to the engine’s injectors. This type of system uses a centralised rail with individual electronic valves controlling each injector.
In contrast, mechanical injection systems use mechanical pumps to send fuel directly into the combustion chamber where it mixes and combusts with air. By design, common rail systems are quieter and more efficient than mechanical injection systems.
Read More: Why You Should Drive Diesel in Australia
How Common Rail Diesel Engines Work
Common rail diesel engines use a centralised high-pressure fuel pump, known as the ‘rail’, to provide pressurised fuel to the injectors. The injectors are electronically-controlled valves that meter out precise amounts of fuel into each cylinder in response to inputs from an engine management system.
These systems also employ solenoid valves or piezo elements which open and close very quickly, allowing for efficient ignition timing and better combustion. They tend to be quieter than mechanical injection systems, making them ideal for passenger cars and utility (UTE) vehicles.
Read More: How to Tell if Your Diesel Fuel Injectors Need Replacing
How Mechanical injection Systems Work
Mechanical injection diesel engines utilise a mechanical pump to deliver fuel directly into the combustion chamber via individual injector nozzles. This type of system is often found in heavier-duty applications such as trucks, buses and agricultural equipment.
Unlike common rail systems, mechanical injection systems don’t use electronically-controlled valves; instead, they rely on the movement of the engine pistons to provide accurate ignition timing. This helps improve fuel efficiency and power output but can result in greater maintenance costs due to the higher wear of components.
Read More: Top Signs of Failing Diesel Fuel Injectors
Why We Think Common Rail Injection is the Better Choice
At Just Autos, we believe that common rail injection is the superior choice for most diesel applications. Not only do they offer improved efficiency and performance, but they also tend to be quieter and more reliable than mechanical injection systems.
Common rail engines, like those used in the Toyota models we specialise in, are built with precision parts and have sophisticated engine management systems which improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and provide a smoother driving experience compared to other types of injection systems. They’re also easier to maintain which helps lower overall ownership costs!
Common Rail Diesels Are Great for Performance Enthusiasts!
Common rail injection diesels are not only technologically superior and more efficient than their mechanical predecessor, but they’re also great for diesel performance enthusiasts. By upgrading key components such as the injectors, turbocharger and intercooler, you can easily unlock increased power and torque from your engine – something that’s not always possible with a mechanical injection system.
At Just Autos, we offer an extensive range of performance parts and accessories to help take your Toyota diesel engine to the next level.
Performance Upgrades & Tuning for Common Rail Toyota Diesels
Whether you’re looking to increase power, reduce emissions or just improve overall drivability, our experienced diesel performance experts can help. We offer a range of performance upgrades and packages for common rail Toyota diesels, including:
- Injector upgrades
- 3-4″ Performance exhaust systems
- Bolt-on turbos from G Turbo
- Intercoolers and fan kits, as well as airbox upgrades
- Transmission lock-up kits to enhance towing capabilities
Unlock Your Engine’s True Potential with Customised ECU Tuning
The nature of a common rail injection engine makes it the perfect candidate for our fully customisable ECU remapping and tuning services. By altering fuel pressure, injection timing and boost levels, we can help improve the performance of your engine without compromising reliability or efficiency.
Our experienced technicians use the latest tuning tools and software and develop our own maps in-house to ensure the best possible results. We were the first diesel performance workshop in Australia to get our hands on the new Toyota 300 Series Land Cruiser’s ECU and have since then developed a unique ECU map for the model that transforms its performance capabilities!
We’ve also got maps for other popular LCs like the 70 and 200 Series models, as well as every tradie’s favourite, the Toyota Hilux. Our team has developed unique multi-maps for the VDJ70 and VDJ200 platforms – we’ll will fit a multi-mapping or rotary switch in your vehicle, the position of which will vary, which will allow you to rotate the dial to the desired, pre-mapped setting. Easy as!
Read More: 3 Advantages to Remapping Your 4WD Toyota
Book Your Common Rail in at Our Workshop
Our range of performance upgrades and tuning solutions for Toyota diesels can help take your UTE or SUV to the next level. With decades of experience in the field, Just Autos is one of Australia’s leading diesel performance workshops.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your common rail diesel engine, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today!
