Tech Tips: Don't Rebuild Your Own Diesel Fuel Injectors! 3 Reasons Not To Rebuild

Do your fuel injectors need a rebuild? Have you thought about just doing it yourself? Master Diesel Mechanic Mike Schrems told us why you might not want to tackle this yourself.

Read on to find out what he recommends!

3 REASONS NOT TO REBUILD YOUR OWN INJECTORS

As you probably know, fuel injectors literally inject fuel into your cylinders during combustion.

There are different types of injectors, depending on your engine. These operate differently, but the end result is the same.

And, the reasons you might not want to rebuild your own injectors are the same for most engines.

Here are some of the most important things to consider:

1. CLEANLINESS

Your injector is a highly precise device that measures and injects fuel into the combustion chamber in your diesel engine.

Because it is such a highly machined component in the engine, we don't recommend taking this on at home. It needs to be done in a well-established, environment-controlled clean room.

These clean rooms are almost as sterile as an operating room in a hospital, and the temperature of the room and air cleanliness are key components to maintaining this environment.

That's why when you visit one of these injector or fuel pump rebuilding sites, you'll see warnings and cautions to stay clear of the rooms. They don't want to introduce foreign materials that could be airborne—you could do this even by just walking through the room.

If you walk something in on the floor, it could get dried out and suspended in the air as they're trying to calibrate these precise components for your diesel engine.

These foreign contaminants could spell disaster for your injectors later on, and there really isn't a way for you to re-create this sterile environment.

2. COMPONENTS

Besides the need for extreme cleanliness when working on injectors, you also face the added difficulty of the complicated nature of the components.

There is a metered amount of fuel injected into the combustion chamber through the orifices.

These orifices are located on the nozzle end of the injector. They're put in at a certain angle.

In other words, there is a precise degree the fuel needs to be angled at into the combustion chamber. It could prove difficult to recreate this precise angle in your garage at home.

Similarly, some of the pistons have a bowl designed into it. Fuel enters into that cup or bowl at the top of the piston at a certain angle for efficiency, smoke reduction, and burning capability, or its ability to produce powerstroke.

Again, the required precision could prove difficult to achieve at home, leading to injectors that do not function properly.

3. COST

If you're still thinking about rebuilding your own injectors, you should realize that it will probably end up costing you more.

Say for instance you want to replace the cups on it. You might be able to get the cups for the injector, put a new cup in it, and think, "Well, I'm good, I restored the original angle for fuel injection and it reduced the orifice size back to its original state."

And while that might be true, it still has to be metered and the metering will change.

To accomplish this, there's an orifice under the screens. That orifice is selected so that it measures the correct amount of fuel to be injected into the combustion chamber.

The necessary components to do the job right would end up costing you quite a bit of money, and you'd be better off purchasing different injectors or having the job done professionally.

Highway & Heavy Parts Can Help With Your Fuel Injector Needs!

In the end, we don't recommend trying this job at home. It's a better investment to have a reputable supplier or repair facility doing it for you, to ensure your injectors will be operating at their best!

If you're looking to purchase fuel injectors for your diesel engine, Highway & Heavy Parts can help! When you shop with us, you'll be getting:

ASE Certified Technicians to help diagnose your diesel engine problems
Fast and accurate quotes
A huge inventory of replacement parts
Fast and easy ordering—call or shop online!
Fast shipping
Industry leading warranties

From diagnosis through delivery, we're Highway & Heavy Parts!

Fuel Injectors & Fuel Systems Resources

ADJUSTING DIESEL INJECTION TIMING: BASICS AND ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES

DETROIT DIESEL DD15 FUEL INJECTOR: FAILURES, INSTALL TIPS, AND PART OPTIONS

DIAGNOSE COMMON RAIL INJECTOR SYMPTOMS AND FAILURES IN DIESEL ENGINES

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