What causes fuel injectors to fail?

Fuel injectors typically fail due to a buildup of contaminants such as carbon. Carbon build-up can cause a clogged or partially clogged injector, preventing the injector from closing all the way. This results in a drip that creates a misfire.

How long should fuel injectors last?

The fuel injectors on your car will typically last between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. The length of time that the injector lasts has a lot to do with the type of gas that is used in the car and how often the various fuel filters are changed.

What are the three most common problems with fuel injectors?

Can a bad fuel injector damage the engine?

Left too long, a faulty fuel injector can cause serious engine damage that requires major repair. Avoid the cost and hassle by using Rislone Gasoline Fuel System Treatment or Diesel Fuel System Treatment every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, depending on the type of driving you do.

What happens when fuel injectors go bad?

When a fuel injector is failing, it usually will create the symptom of either too much or too little fuel going into the engine (sometimes no fuel at all). The engine control unit (ECU) can detect any fluctuations in the fuel injected into the motor, and consequently, can trigger the check engine light to come on.

Bad Fuel Injector Symptoms

What are the signs of injector failure?

An abrupt loss of engine power is a somewhat obvious sign of a fuel injector failure. If the fuel injector is clogged, the fuel supply will be irregular too. When the fuel level fluctuates drastically, the high and low rpm's will cause the engine to move in surges rather than slow and gradual movements.

Can fuel injectors be repaired?

Dead fuel injectors cannot be repaired and should be replaced with the exact same unit.

What is the average cost to replace a fuel injector?

On average, you can expect to pay between $350 and $850 to replace your fuel injectors. The range of costs depends on a number of factors. Smaller vehicles with fewer cylinders requiring less expensive parts will come in at the lower end of the spectrum. Larger, high-performance engines will command a higher price tag.

How long can I drive with bad fuel injectors?

How long can you drive with a bad fuel injector? You can drive at least 5,000 miles or more with a bad fuel injector. But you should avoid driving with a bad fuel injector as it can damage other parts of the fuel system. You should not ignore bad fuel injector symptoms.

Can fuel injectors be cleaned?

With your fuel injectors safely removed, you can now clean them individually. Using a soft-bristled brush, you can apply your carburetor cleaner to the outside. Use a fuel injector jumper in order to open up the fuel injector, then spray your cleaner through each side of the fuel injector.

How do you prevent injector problems?

“You can definitely delay the degradation process by buying high-quality fuel and changing your filters regularly to prevent debris from getting into the system,” Milne said. “That will prevent the injectors from corrosion or getting worn out faster in high mileage situations.”

Is it better to clean or replace fuel injectors?

If you are running into trouble codes that point to misfires that are diagnosed as clogged fuel injectors, then this service might be beneficial. But in the end, the proper way to clean any fuel injector is to remove it and even then you might still have to replace it if cleaning fails.

Are fuel injectors expensive?

While the price varies for every vehicle, the bad news is that in all cases, it's expensive. New fuel injectors range from several hundred dollars for basic vehicles up to over $1,000 for high-end vehicles and performance vehicles that require high fuel delivery rates.

Do you have to replace all fuel injectors at once?

Some fuel injectors are rated to last one billion cycles or approximately the lifetime of the vehicle. But when you factor in the adverse conditions experienced in real-world driving coupled with a lack of proper maintenance, most fuel injectors might need to be replaced every 50,000 to 100,000 miles.

How do I know if my fuel injectors are clogged?

Can a bad fuel injector damage the spark plugs?

Can a bad fuel injector foul a spark plug? - Quora. Yes it can. Instead of a fine spray the gas can be dripping and not fully burning; a carbon foul or it is not spraying enough at all and oil is getting on the plug; oil foul. Yes, it can inject enough fuel to wet the plug and cause it to misfire.

Does bad fuel injector sound like?

You should hear a clicking sound as the injector is in use. If the injector lacks the clicking sound, it's dead and in need of replacement.

Why would fuel injectors need to be replaced?

A faulty fuel injector will either prevent fuel from being sprayed into the engine all together or it will mess up the intervals at which it is supposed to be sprayed. Either way, your vehicle won't run the way it's supposed to or even be undriveable.

Why are fuel injectors so expensive?

Injectors have a tolerance of 1 micron, the finest tolerance of any mechanical component on the engine. To be able to manufacture at such precise standards and to afford the exacting quality checks along with it also helps to explain part of the costs of quality fuel injectors.

Will a bad fuel injector throw a code?

Diagnosing a Clogged Fuel Injector

One of the obvious symptoms of a clogged fuel injector is the lighting up of the "Check Engine" light in your dashboard. The fault codes usually associated with a clogged fuel injector can range from misfire codes to lean codes.

How can I test my fuel injectors at home?

Keep the engine running and touch the end of a long metal screwdriver against the fuel injector. Put your ear on the opposite end of the screwdriver. A clicking sound means the injector's working. Silence means the injector may need to be cleaned or replaced.

What fuel injector cleaner is best?

Can AutoZone test fuel injectors?

If you suspect that the pressure in your fuel line may be off, come to AutoZone. We have everything you need to make sure your fuel injector is working right. If it isn¿t, we sell fuel injectors too.