common rail trucks

[DonFitzwater]

I've owned 6 Common rail trucks since 2004 and have had injectors replaced in 5 of the trucks. All of the trucks had less than 10,000 miles on the odometer and all suffered from the same issue. I would notice that the oil level was creeping up the dipstick and it smelled like diesel fuel. Trip to the dealer and 1 or 2 injectors would get replaced because they were leaking by and washing the cylinders. My latest truck (#6) has gotten an injector due to missing on cylinder #2 missing at idle. I've also got an intermittent injector in cylinder #5 that is going but I have to wait until it drops off at idle permanently before the dealer will give me another one to replace it with. Most of my problems most likely stem from my excessive high idle times, however, I never had an injector go like these on 12 or 24 valve engines.

 

[Regcabguy]

New injectors.

Change your injectors out for new/upgraded ones and compare. I'll bet it's not "good as new" anymore.



My opinion on these CR trucks is that they use $500/ea "throw away" injectors. Better than the ones used in the 6. 5L GM, but not much.

Ditto on that. My buddy's '91 was smoking so bad@140,000 miles that I convinced him to install uprated new ones. Even with the slightly uprated injectors,the truck runs 75% cleaner. Try it,you'll like it. Cheap improvement on the 12-valves.

 

[Mrudolph]

Mine is still running great, probably cuz it's never been back to the dealer.

 

[JJPage]

Third Gen Injectors are garbage. For those of you who have not pulled your injectors for tips or whatever go ahead and swap a couple around to different cylinders. That "fuzzy" memory in the ecm will show a bad injector with a rough idle or in my case the gear shift was shaking like crazy. A contribution test doesn't prove anything. Its good to find a used set like the member above and have someone like Don or DDP put them on a flow machine. If you think you may have an injector problem pull ALL of them not just a couple. You'll be surprised... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . I've had to replace 6injectors this year.

Maybe it is the fuel? no

 

[LFarmer]

My 06 got 2 injectors at 16000 miles due to rough idle and fuel in oil. Its my third dodge diesel since 98. 5. I run the Baldwin 5 micron and Diesel Power Supplement. I am gunshy now and undecided on what to do.

 

[steved]

6 injectors at $500 a piece!!!!



One VP44 = $1,200 and 6 injectors = $3,000.





Ron

Actually, CR injectors are $1057/each from Dodge... $432/each from Cummins, and $387/each from the cheapest place I found online. These are all new injectors (not rebuilt)...



If you read my thread (about losing an injector last week), injectors cause a lot of "symptoms" of other parts as I found out... rough intermittent idle being one, surging cruise being another, a bucking start being yet another, a mild to violent loping high idle yet another.



steved

 

[BothellDiesel]

It's not the fuel or filters. I use Schaeffers Diesel Treat in every tank. I actually called my Schaeffer dealer and they know about the common rail injector problems. He said their tech dept in St. Louis have narrowed it down to Fretting corrosion which is a defect in the alloy in certain batches of injectors. He said some guys have no problems and some guys have to replace all their injectors. The tiny check ball inside the injectors gets slowly torn apart(microscopic) from occilating electronic vibrations . Basically even if you get clean, fresh fuel and use additives it won't matter. Wow... ... ..... Thats terrific !

 

[Slow Six]

I had all my injectors and crossover tubes changed about 10 days ago It was expensive but the results were unbelievable. This engine has never started so quickly or ran so quiet since new plus a major improvement in driveablility. I need to check a few more fillups but it looks like mileage may have improved. Not sure if the problems were from eroded/loose crossover tubes or injectors or a combination of both. Once it was apart I opted for a complete change out as I felt that in the long run it would be money saved.

 

[steved]

It's not the fuel or filters.

No, its dirt and water in the fuel... dirt causes the erosion, from what I was told.



steved

 

[BJMarshall]

quickserve shows a part number of 3972887 for 243 each. i looked this up with an 05 esn, but all 325 engines have the same injectors.

 

[steved]

I'd be curious as to whether they would agree to that price... the one's I listed were new, not remanufactured units.

steved

 

[BothellDiesel]

Dude !... ... ... ... Dirt and water ? I already told you what it is look at my sig, 5micron in stock housing and 2 micron glacier setup. I fill up at Pacific pride that showed me their fuel is dry and guarantees it. Their 12,000 gallon tanks get refilled once sometimes twice a day, and they have separaters on the pumps.



It's a defect in the ALLOY when they build the injectors.

 

[steved]

Dude !... ... ... ... Dirt and water ? I already told you what it is look at my sig, 5micron in stock housing and 2 micron glacier setup. I fill up at Pacific pride that showed me their fuel is dry and guarantees it. Their 12,000 gallon tanks get refilled once sometimes twice a day, and they have separaters on the pumps.



It's a defect in the ALLOY when they build the injectors.

\





Look at my sig... 1 micron filter, injector seats badly worn on all six injectors from dirt.



steved

 

[TCDiesel]

The hammering effect that is created in CR cannot be avoided, couple this with dirty fuel Poor diving Habits will only compound the problem. .

Some tips to soften this and extend Injector Life.



1st, and foremost, Never shut down vehicle while it is in Motion, This Very Important for Manual Owners.

2nd, upgrade your foot ,Learn not too release the Peddle quickly. Learn to feather the Peddle, Up and Down motion (Raving) should be avoided.

3rd,Fuel everyone Here at the TDR, Knows how I feel on filter ratings(Manufacture Ratings).

4th,Modded rail will help with this,But will not eliminate it. Modded rails will prolong Injector Life,But again they will also make Weak Injector(s) life extreme short. You won't be guessing weather you have weak Injector(s) with properly Modded rail.

5th,I would agree with Most ,Re-mans are Not worth the Risk,If your factory Injectors are Healthy I would Mod them. .

 

[seafish]

Can anyone explain for me how having the stock injectors honed etc. will result in a more robust injector that is less prone to the problems being discussed here. Also, I am wondering how it will effect fuel economy, power, EGT's and even warranty issues (I would have to guess that if a modded injector went bad, then DC would most definitely not pay for a replacement--yet if modding them makes them less prone to failing, then maybe it is worth it??) Thanks for any input.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Actually, CR injectors are $1057/each from Dodge... $432/each from Cummins, and $387/each from the cheapest place I found online. These are all new injectors (not rebuilt)...



If you read my thread (about losing an injector last week), injectors cause a lot of "symptoms" of other parts as I found out... rough intermittent idle being one, surging cruise being another, a bucking start being yet another, a mild to violent loping high idle yet another.



steved

Define "intermittent" please. once a week? every day?



Every now and again maybe once a month, no consistency after what "do", but always after warmed up the truck will have a slight miss. More rough then a miss per say above 1100rpm the miss goes a way, If I shut down after egts get under 300 for 20 minutes and fire the truck back up. it runs perfect.



I've considered sending the injectors to Don to get the first level of upgrade done and all balanced out before I get a turbo. This might be wise cuz a busted turbo should be cheaper then an injector going

 

[steved]

Define "intermittent" please. once a week? every day?

It started off once in a great while, then it was down to several times a day... almost acted like the grid heaters were cycling if that makes any sense (you know, how the truck runs rougher when the grid heaters are pulling amperage from the rest of the system?)



steved

 

[JasonCzerak]

It started off once in a great while, then it was down to several times a day... almost acted like the grid heaters were cycling if that makes any sense (you know, how the truck runs rougher when the grid heaters are pulling amperage from the rest of the system?)



steved

ahhh ok. good. I'm not that bad yet



I need to drop some CC dept. so hopefully soon.

 

[radar doctor]

Thanks Rb For Your Input On Here. . i've Got 30 K Miles On A 03 ,,4x2standard From The Factory Truck,,,,,i Drive Slow Compared To Most On This Site. . 60 Average On The Hi Way Lug Around Town Etc, Looks Like I Should Have More Trouble Than Most Since I Don't Get The Thing Hot Very Often... also Slow Warm Ups, Maybe Never Gets Up To Operating Temperature,,,use 4 Ozs Outboard Motor Oil In A Full Tank Of Fuel, So Far No Problems . . truck Starts Good Radar Doctor... ... .

 

[RHestand]

The hammering effect that is created in CR cannot be avoided, couple this with dirty fuel Poor diving Habits will only compound the problem. .

Some tips to soften this and extend Injector Life.



1st, and foremost, Never shut down vehicle while it is in Motion, This Very Important for Manual Owners.

2nd, upgrade your foot ,Learn not too release the Peddle quickly. Learn to feather the Peddle, Up and Down motion (Raving) should be avoided.

3rd,Fuel everyone Here at the TDR, Knows how I feel on filter ratings(Manufacture Ratings).

4th,Modded rail will help with this,But will not eliminate it. Modded rails will prolong Injector Life,But again they will also make Weak Injector(s) life extreme short. You won't be guessing weather you have weak Injector(s) with properly Modded rail.

5th,I would agree with Most ,Re-mans are Not worth the Risk,If your factory Injectors are Healthy I would Mod them. .

You have stirred my curiosity about "1st, and foremost"

With all due respect, how does shutting eng. off in motion effect injectors?

I see the logic in your other suggestions,but this one stumps me.

Any reply would be appreciated.

Thanks, Ray