Archived It finally happened...

[blacksheepdiesel]

After 3 years of owning 3rd Gens and about 600,000 miles between the 3 trucks it finally happened. Blew the #4 injector line yesterday in Canada. Fortunately I have one of those fancy-dancy little caps from Cummins that screws on the rail in place of an injector line. So now I have a "MerceDodge" 5 cylinder engine in my '06!



Obviously it runs rough but I made it back to northern Indiana. Unfortunately every Cummins or Freightliner shop I can discover on the inter-web is closed for today (Sunday). Do I go ahead and hook to a camper and limp to Indianapolis where I can stay at my brothers until tomorrow and get the part or do I wait in Goshen, IN, and try to find it there in the morning?



Although far fetched, perhaps a fellow TDR member will have the offending injector line and be willing to sell it to me today.



I'll check back throughout the morning...



Godspeed,

Trent

 

[JLandry]

Trent,



If it were my truck I'd try to wait and get the line installed before putting any more hours on the engine. Why? Because even though the fuel supply to the injector has been eliminated, the injector is still being activated but now without the benefit of fuel to lubricate it internally. That can't be good for the injector.



On the other hand, it might not matter anymore because it sounds like you've been running it this way for awhile.



It's a good thing you had that rail cap... it obviously saved the day. I must say I'm a bit shocked that you of all people weren't carrying a spare #4 line in your parts box (just kidding)!



Keep us posted and have a safe trip,



John L.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Trent,



If it were my truck I'd try to wait and get the line installed before putting any more hours on the engine. Why? Because even though the fuel supply to the injector has been eliminated, the injector is still being activated but now without the benefit of fuel to lubricate it internally. That can't be good for the injector.



On the other hand, it might not matter anymore because it sounds like you've been running it this way for awhile.



It's a good thing you had that rail cap... it obviously saved the day. I must say I'm a bit shocked that you of all people weren't carrying a spare #4 line in your parts box (just kidding)!



Keep us posted and have a safe trip,



John L.

Thanks John. And I believe you are correct that I most likely damaged that injector, didn't think to take off the valve cover and remove the wires from the injector. Won't do that again!



This truck has about 585,000 miles on it and the PO who is the only person to own the truck besides me had 3 injectors replaced before I purchased it. I have been wanting to remove the injectors, have them rebuilt at Scheid's and 50 hp nozzles installed so now is the time to do it.



And yep, shoulda' had one of those #4 lines in my toolbox...



Godspeed,

Trent

 

[GCroyle]

Guys,



How common is the #4 line failure? Is it related to high mileage with the loose blue line clamp or something else like real bad luck? I had a loose line clamp a couple of years back, repaired with robust washer, been fine AFAIK since then.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Guys,



How common is the #4 line failure? Is it related to high mileage with the loose blue line clamp or something else like real bad luck? I had a loose line clamp a couple of years back, repaired with robust washer, been fine AFAIK since then.

Hey Gary!



Good question, one I don't know the answer to. The only info I have is from these forums where it has been posted several times that the #4 line breaks way more frequently than any other line. In fact, I really don't remember seeing anything about other lines breaking. I wonder if a bad batch of #4 lines was made at one time or if the bends on that line are not quite right and when it is tightened down it stresses part of the line where it eventually breaks. I wonder if the replacement #4 lines have also had issues with breakage?



It amazes me that 5 of the injector lines have a clamp somewhere in the middle of the line as have all injector lines on every other diesel I have ever seen. The one exception is the #1 line on our 5. 9 Cummins CR, no clamp and it doesn't seem to break.



Godspeed,

Trent