Injectors

[Featherman]

I took my truck to the dealer for my winter oil change, went with 10-30. Service manager said I was due for an injector cleaning at 36 thousand kilometers(converted 30 thousand miles)



Question: Rather than clean, would this be a good time to replace with new injectors? If so what does the group recommend. I'm looking at good towing performance, good street performance and most of all durability. In other words, nothing wild.



As usual, I await your replies.



Thanks.

 

[DocDetonancour]

[Is the cleaning of the injectors really required? I know many CTD with over 100. 000 and no injector maintainence?????QUOTE=RMissyabit]I took my truck to the dealer for my winter oil change, went with 10-30. Service manager said I was due for an injector cleaning at 36 thousand kilometers(converted 30 thousand miles)



Question: Rather than clean, would this be a good time to replace with new injectors? If so what does the group recommend. I'm looking at good towing performance, good street performance and most of all durability. In other words, nothing wild.



As usual, I await your replies.



Thanks. [/QUOTE]

 

[Buffalo]

I don't mean for this to scare You, but You might want to check into the use of 10w/30 oil. First off, I'm not a mechanic or technical guy. The 10w/30 caught my eye because a guy in my neighborhood, who is a mechanic, is having his Ford Powerstroke 6. 0 is having his engine replaced because the dealer accidently put 10w/30 in it. He had 2 oil samples done before taking it back to the dealer. He burned it up while pulling his trailer and barely got it back home. It was aparently making horrible noises and had a distinct loss of power. Maybe 10w/30 is OK to use. I don't know. But after this guy's experience, I would sure check it out. And then double check! I hope this doesn't start a war for You. Hope it helps. Joe F. (Buffalo).

 

[jwilliams3]

Why 10-30? You should be using 15w40 or 5w40.

Are you in a cold climate?



Injector cleaning? is this a joke?



Your injectors are fine and do not need cleaned at any time.

Sounds like the dealer is trying to make some good money off of you for doing nothing.



I can see the dealer taking some steel wool or a steel brush to the tips!! :-laf :-laf

 

[SRadke]

He probably thought you had a gasser...



-Scott

 

[Tony T.]

My 03 manual says 15w-40 oil down to 0*F below that if I was in a colder climate I would use the 5w-40.



The injector cleaning at 30K is first I heard of, maybe they just simply add some sort of fuel additive that would end up costing you some serious bucks.



Check with another dealership or Cummins an just ask them what they charge for a routine 30K fuel injector cleaning an there procedure of doing it to see what they say.



Tony

 

[JHardwick]

I took my truck to the dealer for my winter oil change, went with 10-30.

I have a buddy who put 10W-30 non-diesel rated in his '99 on the first oil change



It was his first diesel and he didn't know, truck is still running fine with 150 and change ... ... ... . i figure if anything he broke it in quicker :-laf

 

[Featherman]

It does get pretty cold where I'm from and I went with the diesel oil that comes from Chrysler. I couldn't see running 15/40 when temps dip below -10 to-40.



I was a little unsure about the injector cleaning though I thought I should have been okay, hence my reason for posting.



Also wanted the fuel filter changed and they said I was okay for another 15km.

 

[rbattelle]

It annoys me when dealers do this.

I think this dealer is either completely brainless (quite possible) or is trying to scam you.



First of all, if your winter temps ever drop below 0 then you need to run a 5w-40 synthetic oil. Ask your dealer if the 10w-30 they put in it is CI-4 rated. If they give you a deer-in-headlights look then run (don't walk) somewhere else. I checked Mobil 1 and their 10w-30 oil doesn't meet the CI-4 specification. These guys claim they meet the CI-4 spec. I think Amsoil series 3000 is 5w-30 and rated CI-4 (by Amsoil, not API). Royal Purple also makes a 10w-30 that's API CI-4 rated.



Second, there is no procedure for "cleaning" the injectors on your engine. Ask the dealer to show you a step-by-step procedure called for by DC for cleaning the injectors.



I urge you to go somewhere else for service before these guys tell you your plug wires need to be replaced.



-Ryan

 

[Jengle]

I haven't heard of injector cleaning, it's not in my maintenance manual. There is an item that says you should replace the fuel filter every 15k miles. If you're at 30k, this should be your second filter change, according to my Dodge manual. Doesn't matter who the oil comes from, if its the wrong grade, its still the wrong grade. Your owners manual should have a recommended viscosity rating for the temps you have there. I would go with that.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Better change your blinker fluid too.



Seriously. Run away from this dealer. Not much can survive inside of one of these injectors. They are designed to smash, pulverise, atomise fuel. Something heavy diesel does not like to do. They are good at breaking stuff apart.



The powerstrokes on the north slope run 0w-30 synthetic. I believe there is a recommendation in your owners manual for oil weights. Read it and memorize it. I believe there is a 0-30 recomendation for -15 through -60. Not that these 24v jobbers can survive long in those temps. Why dont we have an aic.

 

[nickleinonen]

shell rotella 10w30 is CI-4 rated. so rated oil is avalable... i ran 10w30 CI-4 rotella last winter. come spring, i changed to 15w40. now i am on 5w40 syn and that's what it will most likely get for the rest of the engine life

 

[EB]

I think you need to look for another dealer for service. When I farmed, I had tractors and combines with 5000 to 10,000 hours on the engine and the injectors were never changed, cleaned or anything else and I can guarantee the fuel was dirtier than anything you will put in your truck. My 03 has over 174,000 miles on it and nothing has been cleaned. A can of Powerservice about every 50k is all I've done. (of course, changing the filters also)

 

[Featherman]

I hate being a newbie... ... ... ... ... ... ... heck if you can't trust the damn (pardon my language) dealer that sold you the truck, who can you trust. I was caught off guard by the service manager's injector cleaning comment and when I asked him to change the fuel filter he tell's me I'm okay for another 15k!!!!!!!!!!! :-{}



I'd run, but not sure where I'd get to would be any better.



Thanks for the comments.

 

[rbattelle]

I hate being a newbie... ... ... ... ... ... ... heck if you can't trust the damn (pardon my language) dealer that sold you the truck, who can you trust. I was caught off guard by the service manager's injector cleaning comment and when I asked him to change the fuel filter he tell's me I'm okay for another 15k!!!!!!!!!!! :-{}



I'd run, but not sure where I'd get to would be any better.

Hey, every one of us was a "newbie" at one time. That's why we're all here... to learn as a community.



As for where to run, why not do the work yourself? Oil changes and fuel filter changes are really pretty easy, even if you've got little or no mechanical experience. If you really don't feel confident tinkering with your baby just yet, you could also try your local Cummins service center. I would say that in general they're pretty good, and they could certainly change your oil and filters (although it *might* be a little more expensive than the dealer). There should be a Cummins service center somewhere near you... they're all over the Earth.



Always remember this: no one knows more about your vehicle than you do. NEVER let someone (dealer, mechanic, the king of England) make you believe anything that doesn't quite sound right because they don't care AT ALL about your vehicle... only you do. Heck, I don't believe most of what I hear from anyone until I've researched it myself.



-Ryan

 

[Jengle]

Check the local events section of the site, you might find a wrench session close by to sit in on, and get some guidance from some experienced guys. Get the 4/2/1 filter set from Genos, best price going. Has all the filters you need for 30k of running.

 

[Graphite 6]

What rbattle said twice!!!. Ask them to show you where in any manual or service schedule it says that. I can relate to bebibg a diesel newbie, but I'm sure you didn't get off the turnip truck that just went by. You didn't say where you are, but 15W40 should do just fine.

 

[KYLE4]

Hey Dealerships make more money on service than on selling cars service writers no one thing and that is sell something anything even if it isn't right I have a customer who delivers fifth wheel traveltrailers for a living this guy has 500,000 miles on 97 no injector service just throws in a bottle of cleaner now and then in fuel tank

 

[MichaelWright]

Rmissy,



Where are you located? Maybe someone here can recommend a good place to have your truck serviced. Sounds like this dealer either does not have a clue, or they are taking you for a sucker.



As far as cleaning injectors, they are "not" removed for cleaning. An additive is all you need, like "Power Service". Pour it into the fuel tank when you fill up. You can get it at Wally World, NAPA or most any truck stop. Lucas makes a good product also, and NAPA has an in house brand that I found works well in our trucks.



As far as the fuel filter, I change mine every other oil change before my FASS was installed. Ask the dealer how much they will charge you for the filter change. It is a 10 minute job, but some dealers like to rape us. They make it out to be some incredible feat. The filter is around $6, and $100 for labor at some dealers. Been there, done that. I change my own.



If you are looking for a bit more zip, you might want to look at the Edge EZ fueling box. Easy to install, and works well with our motors. As far as upgrading injectors, prices start at $700 up to 1400. 00+, depending on what you are looking for. They aren't real hard to install, I got it down to about 3 hours. This was after much trial and error, LOOOOOOOOONG story. Pay someone to do it, that is, if you plan to ever upgrade the injectors. Doesn't sound like you will, but I thought I would throw it at you anyway.



Good luck! And let us know where you are at, so we can get you to someone that knows about diesels, and won't take advantage of you.



Mike

 

[Schicken bone]

i was told yesterday that you couldnt put bigger injectors in a 4. 5. i dont know how true this is. this person said you could only get more fuel through the computer. if you can get bigger injectors where would i get a set