Need info about Injectors

[viper700]

I have about 92k on my 04. 5. We are getting ready for our annual trip to Yuma for the winter,about 4k each way plus driving around down there. About 73k the lift pump went out and it was replaced by the intank pump at that time. So far OK on the pump. About 3k later we were on our trip south and in Provo Utah we had an major failure in an injector and it filled the crankcase with diesel fuel. They replaced the bad injector and new oil and filter ,sent us on our way. They did not remove inspect and test the other injectors as far as I know. Should I at this time before more possible failures have them removed and tested? Or just upgrade to a good aftermarket set(suggestions on this, DDP)? Every thing is running fine at this time but to get standed on the Alcan in the middle of nowhere in the winter is NOT a good option.



Joe B

 

[p-Bar]

Most reports showed they would replace all the injectors if one showed bad but up to Chrysler on that one. I have about the same miles as you do and before I hit 100k I will pay Dodge to check them all out. DDP are good aftermarket units that's what I would probably go with. Also had the intank pump done too

 

[Diesel Power]

The nozzels are not the issue's, debris sticking the nozzel IS the issue 99% of the time.



The body can crack and the solonoid can fail but that rare on a stock truck.



Unless the truck currently runs bad,(shakes,bad idle quality, smokes at idle, knocking. ect) testing will not show a needed replacement



Best defense's are a fass, or airdog fuel system with fiters, and injector cleaner and lubricity additive, every tank!Oo.

 

[RKerner]

Most reports showed they would replace all the injectors if one showed bad but up to Chrysler on that one. I have about the same miles as you do and before I hit 100k I will pay Dodge to check them all out. DDP are good aftermarket units that's what I would probably go with. Also had the intank pump done too

Injectors under warranty are like prescription pain killers; highly regulated and not indiscriminately handed out. I once got two at a time but that took a significant discussion between the STAR powers and the technician. Since I joined in 2004, I've never heard of a full set of injectors being replaced at one time but I suppose it might have happened. If it was a dirtymax, though, an eight pack was standard replacement procedure.



In Joe's case, having a set of nozzles might not be a bad idea. A 2 micron fuel filter is a good idea but the big dollars for the mentioned systems are something to consider and may be necessary for Joe. The dealer technician probably did do an injector balance to check for gross injector issues. I had one replaced for being 10% different than the rest so just maybe they did do a little more diagnosis than finding the leaker. Maybe a phone call back to the dealership to talk to the technician would help shed some light on what all was looked at. Anyway, I see Joe's point as his 100,000 mile warranty will expire somewhere in bumf#@k canada so being prepared for the trip should prevent a major breakdown.

 

[viper700]

Thanks for the ideas and comments. A nozzle did not breakoff. What I was told on the injector was a failure occured in the upper part of the assembly where an o ring let go and it flooded the crankcase from the upper end inside the valve cover. I have under the bed an enclosed aluminum box where I mounted a fuel switch, raccor filter assy, and it went through a Holly red pump. When I discovered that the Holly red would not push diesel below freezing I replaced it with an P4601HP pump and did not reconnect the RACOR filter. It pumps great now way below freezing, maybe time to rehook up the filter with a 2 micron element before the trip though. I have a 65 gallon transfer tank in the bed. Every 25 gallons of duel pumped onboard gets 16 oz. of 2 stroke oil also. The truck is stock. The day before the injector went I was coming southbound into Pocatello ID and the engine stuttered couple of times the next morning was Saturday and I was at the Dodge dealer when he opened. They ran a check and said a high pressure check valve in the commen rail system was leaking down and that caused the stutter. They replaced that and 250 miles later the injector went.

 

[jelag]

When we went to ULSD we decided to do 2 things... . 1 - install extra filters to protect the fuel system... 2 - use a fuel treatment to add lubricity to the fuel... we were really comforted with this move after the introduction of the 6. 7 and all the claims by the dealer of bad fuel... .

We installed an aftermarket fuel filter system on all our trucks... .

10 micron primary with water trap, and 2 micron secondary... we change these filters once a year. . and average about 40K per year per truck with our 08 seeing 50K a year...

We don't bother with the factory filter after the move to the aftermarket system... we've not had a problem... . our experience has been that for us and our operation once a year is good enough... . we tend to get fuel at high volume locations and have not had problems...

All our trucks are stock... so we don't use aftermarket pumps... we do test the fuel pressure every 6 months or so... and haven't seen a decrease. .

Hope this helps... .

BTW - we spend time at Sunny Sands in Oct in Yuma... . with my sister and BIL... . this year we hope to hit the balloon fest first... .