Dirty injectors tips.

[jonny d]

So I just pulled all my injectors to replace them at 375,000 miles because the #1 injector solenoid failed.

The # 1 injector tip is pretty clean, 2,3, and 5 have some build up, and #6 is covered in built up gunk, and #4 is pretty bad as well.

Did I just wait to long to replace them all? What are likely causes of that buildup? Should I be worrying about something else besides injectors?

The pic is of the 1 and 6 injectors.

 

[cerberusiam]

If it is still running good just do the injectors. The build is due to lack of EGT's and the crappy diesel. If you cannot work the engine hard periodically start an additive routine with something like Power Service. It will help keep the tips clean when it is doing a lot of DD.

 

[Buffalo]

On my '03, a number of years ago, I was having a "ticking" noise from one or more of the injectors at idle or low RPM's. I took it to the dealer and they said that everything looks good according to their testing. I asked the service Mgr. to listen to the engine and tell me if it sounded good, or not. He acknowledged hearing the sound I was concerned about but, said he couldn't fix what wasn't broke and sent me on my way. I, then, got on the TDR and found some posts regarding the same issue I was having and they said that if you were just driving the truck around town (grocery getter) carbon would build up on the tips of the injectors and displace the spray pattern of the injector and cause the knocking sound. The fix was to load a heavy trailer on the back of the truck and go find yourself a good mountain to climb. In other words, get the engine hot enough to burn off the carbon. Plan B was to start using injector cleaner in the fuel. I started running the crap out of it and hitched up the trailer and went to a diesel drag race in Palmdale, CA. and by the time I got to the race track, my engine sounded like a brand new, used one!!!! Great info. on this site. Really helpful to me numerous times and I'm grateful to those who contribute to this site with all the good info. Thanks!!!!

 

[EricViviano]

That is fairly normal from what I have seen. If your compression is good, replace the injectors and keep going. 375K on stock injectors?