1996 12 valve stock injector suggestions?

[Solar1]

hello folks, while my truck front clip is off for other work, i plan to do my overdue injector replacement.

i have read that new Bosch injectors are a good bet. cost is important.

i have come across this brand of reman units...
https://puredieselpower.com/dodge-p...-5.9L-12V-Cummins-VCO-5x.011-INJECTORS?page=2

any thoughts or comments?
anyone use these?

what about CARQUEST injectors? i can get discounts on those.

 

[GAmes]

Rock Auto usually has new Bosch injectors for a good price. Use remans at your own risk. I've got to ask, what do you consider "overdue"? My original injectors pop tested in spec with a little over 400,000 miles on them. I only replaced them because so much fuel had been pumped through them that the holes had eroded and I had lost mileage with corrosponding black smoke. Every set since then has easily exceeded 300,000 miles.

 

[SSage]

I've always ran the NEW not reman Bosch marine injectors. I got mine locally, but TST has 370's for $420 here: http://www.tstproducts.com/browseproducts/370-Marine-Injectors.html

I don't know if thats a decent price theses days, the last set I bought was probably 10 years ago maybe. I paid around $300 for mine from City Diesel here in Alabama..

 

[GAmes]

370s have the wrong spray angle for the standard pistons found in stock Dodge trucks. That's why they crearte so much smoke.

 

[Solar1]

Hi Guys, Thanks for the replies.
Regarding my "overdue" comment, first i must say i don't have any experience to know that they actually are overdue. As with most things internet, I have read many guys saying at 250K they should be changed.

The truck starts great, just the normal startup smoke for less than a minute in cold weather.
Runs great. Summer startups are pretty clean. No smoke running normal down the road.

Believe me, I would rather not change them. I'm at 430K miles on the engine.

Except that my mileage is down, I would say the engine is fine.
But again, I know very little about what I should expect.
I am original owner that changed engine oil religiously every 3500 miles the first 150K miles or so. These days, I change it every 6-7K miles or once a year, as I dont drive it as much.

I have read that not changing the injectors soon enough can cause other engine wear. Don't know if that is true. Of course that is my first concern, with improved mileage the second concern. Improved power is not an issue, but it appears most replacement injectors seem to rate them with added HP, 30 hp and up.

I do not wish to adjust/modify the injector pump or turbo as some seem to suggest doing. I have pulled a trailer from time to time with no issues, so at this point in my life added power is not required. I just want the truck to last the few years I have left.

Rock Auto has not shown the Bosch units for awhile now.
Any experience or comment regarding the Carquest units?
They have new and reman units

 

[GAmes]

First off, how much is the mileage down? It would take a lot of fuel to offset the cost of a set of injectors. Even at Rockauto prices you are looking at $450 or so. I've never ran anything other than stock Bosch, so I can't comment on the Carquest ones. There are many fuel mileage influencers. Altitude, temp, wind, traffic, humidity, tires, air cleaner, brake adjustment, and more.

I'm doing extened oil drains. The current oil is at about 35,000 miles. I'll send in a sample for analysis at 45,000.

I'm sure a bad injector that leaks could cause engine problems. Oil analysis will tell you if fuel dilution is an issue.

 

[SSage]

I have enough turbo on mine to keep it at a haze most of the time. My 1995 3500 auto has the little 160 hp pump with the 370's, the high flow delivery valves, GOV springs and TST #6 plate I think. They are smokey at idle and low rpm though, I over did the high flow DV's. Thats all I could find at the time. I average around 16 pulling moderate sized trailers if they are not too tall, 19 mpg solo. Pulling the 5th wheel RV is another story, I plan for 10 mpg with the tall trailer. I need to change the DV's to something less aggressive, just haven't gotten around to it.

 

[Solar1]

normal mixed freeway (65/70mph) and city (no heavy footed driving) Im getting 16-18mpg. 10-12mpg pulling a flatbed trailer lightly loaded.
The same driving when the first few years or two yielded 20-23. (without trailer)

maybe im expecting too much from a 25 year old truck
could you give me a rough idea of what the oil analysis cost? (link?)
it think it would be interesting to know that if not to costly.

im getting the impression from you that my injectors may not need replacing for awhile yet?
like i said, im no expert. The engine has served me so well I kind of have taken it for granted, Im afraid to say. Just normal maintenance, valve adjustment etc. I want to do right for the old gal, but money is quite an issue at this stage of life...Im struggling. Maybe the lack of fuel efficiency is turbo related. I have not trying to do any testing of that kind because the truck is somewhat dismantled right now as I have been working on other mechanical issues.

 

[GAmes]

https://www.genosgarage.com/category/s?keyword=oil+sample plus another $5 or so to mail it to the lab.

This one is a little more in depth. https://www.genosgarage.com/product/fleetguard-oil-analysis-kit-cc2543/oil-filters

 

[Solar1]

cool, thanks, i wasn't aware Genos offered a kit service like that!

 

[GAmes]

Assuming a new set of injectors would give you back the 4 miles per gallon, at $3.20 a gallon you would have to go through 11,250 gallons to break even. At 20 miles per gallon that would be 225,000 miles.

Genos just sells the kit, they don't do the analysis. I send mine to the lab in Houston but there are several scattered around the country.

 

[Solar1]

i get your point with the math, thanks, makes good sense.
i still like the idea of the oil analysis either way.
i do still have the question regarding injector condition affecting the engine in other ways...so nothing to concern myself with regards to other engine issues other than mileage? Sorry to ask, I just have no practical diesel knowledge regarding this.

 

[GAmes]

The only thing I'm aware of is either they could leak which would put fuel in the oil or lose pop pressure which could decrease fuel mileage due to poor atomization. Fuel in the oil is what would cause damage but it isn't common with 12 valve injectors. The report should also give you a soot level which would be indicative of a poor burn in the cylinder.

 

[Solar1]

thanks for the info, i will order the kit to do the oil analysis

 

[BigPapa]

I agree with Gary, 12-Valve injectors seem to last forever. I replaced my original stock injectors in my’95 at @ 200K with a set of lower mileage 215 injectors just for the fueling increase. I’ve put @ 275K on them. I’m currently running a set of DD III’s that had @ 150K on them when I sent them to Infinite Performance to be freshened up.

They do get tired as Gary said, losing pop pressure, leading to poor atomization.

 

[Cummins12V98]

For a bit more power and economy I like the Bosch 215’s. Piers Harry put a set of matched 215’s in my 98 12V that had 300k on them and still performed well when my Son thought he needed more power.