Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Is it worth pulling injectors to clean them?

[AMink]

I was reading the thread on Seafoam and got to wondering about cleaning my injectors. I'm not planning on putting in new ones, at least not any time soon. Should injectors be pulled and cleaned occasionally or is a good cleaner in the tank or fuel filter at change time good enough? I don't know if they're dirty or not; the truck seems to run fine with no unusual smoke or poor idle. Thanks.

 

[JFaughn]

Cleaner in the tank , make sure its for diesel , some people go every tankfull and the other is a couple times a yr.
Do you have a prob. or maintance ?
If your tring to fix , take out and find a shop that has a popet tester , for check spray pattern and that they spray at the right pressure and go from there.

 

[AMink]

No problems, just wondering if they gunk up slowly. I put some Seafoam in the tank. I'll see if anything changes.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Judging how rapidly the injector tips build up with deposits on my '96 I would do it every 50k at the latest (remove & clean tips). I just pulled my 300s after being in there only about 8k and they had a lot on them already. It seems 12-valves injector tips crud up dramatically faster than 24v (at least the cheap injectors like 300s & 370s) but I am curious if anyone can kind of corroborate that.



When I pulled my stockers at 353k they had huge globs of crusties on the end, so big most broke off when pulling them out. . . the glob was bigger than the injector hole in the head! I was naughty and pulled my head with the injectors in, that's how I know.



Vaughn

 

[Smokin_Monster]

I found the same thing on my stock injectors after about 240,000 miles. I had run gallons of injector cleaner in the tank over a few months but when I pulled them they were seriously gummed up. i wouold definately pull them out every once in a while and clean them up.

 

[AMink]

Thanks for the thoughts. I kind of figured that if it happened slowly enough, I wouldn't really realize it was happening. So the next question is... do you recommend the prybar method or the piece of pipe and a nut method? And is it very hard to do or easy to screw up?

 

[Smokin_Monster]

Shoot a little PB Blaster on them first wait a little while then pull them up. Mine came out like butter with a pry bar.

 

[Johnstra]

How do you clean them? Soak the tips in anything special or just wipe them clean? How do you make sure the holes are clear of any debris?

Thanks,

-john

 

[The patriot]

I'd only use a brass wirebrush.

When I pulled the stock injectors at about 75K miles, they were very clean.

I dont think the 370's will be as clean running as the stockers.

Eric

 

[GAmes]

I had run gallons of injector cleaner in the tank over a few months but when I pulled them they were seriously gummed up.

Maybe it's the additive. When I replaced my head gasket at about 195k there was no build-up on my injectors and now that I'm over 400k on the originals I still see no loss in mileage or power. The only time I add anything to the tank is when I refuel where it's warm and I am going to a place that is very cold.

 

[Mhannink]

well one way to clean it is pour mmo in the fuel along w/ a double dose of powerservice or some other additive go out on some back road and run the **** out of the truck get it so hot it burns all the crap off. i don't know if that really works but every time ive had my truck up over about 1250 (melting point) or at least a good flame out the stack. it always seems to run better especilly if ive been driving easy for a while.



the other option is run mmo in the fuel and oil and then take a wire brush brass like the one guy said and clean em that way.



i say use marvel mystery oil(mmo) because ive heard that the avitation industry uses it because it softens the carbon in the engine and makes it easier to clean. was told they can take it off w/ a wire brush much easier then a chisel.

 

[Johnstra]

I would think biodiesel should help too. I run a tank of B20 through ever 3-5 thanks. My truck loves the stuff.

-john

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I think a wire brush on a drill or bench grinder would work great. The tip is such hard metal it won't hurt it and any small debris that gets in the holes will shoot out when you crank the engine.



I have used additive on mine, since using additive on my '01 kept mine clean. Maybe it doesn't work the same on the 12-valves?



Vaughn

 

[keimmmo]

I pulled the original injectors on the '92 at 248k when I replaced the original injection pump. They didn't look bad at all! 4 of them were fine. One had a slightly low pop-off pressure. One sprayed a little funny. That truck had swallowed gallons and gallons of waste motor oil and ATF! I put in a set of rebuilt stock injectors. I saw no performance improvement and a slight improvement in fuel economy... honestly not enough to justify the cost of the injectors.



I haven't touched the ones in the 01. 5. The truck has 135k on it. I have run used oil in the fuel since it was new. I am presently running a gallon of oil to 10 gallons of fuel. It gets better economy than when new and runs great! I have no plans to pull them any time soon.



Most of my driving is highway miles. I do not drive hard, but I "keep the cobwebs blown out".



Steve Keim

 

[fox]

I feel that any injector larger than stock needs to get pulled hard every once in a while.

I'd say add a can of your choice of cleaner and go pull a decent load for 100 miles. you may be surprised, if you don't pull anything normally.

 

[Mhannink]

just so ya'll know i saw someone mentioned they run atf thro it and it sounded like it was bad but its actually good it really cleans the injectors or at least thats what i was told by several old school mechanics