What are bad injector symptoms???

[SHyans]

I am the third guy who read the "Injector Poll" below who wants to know what the symtoms are. WHAT ARE THEY!?

I have Sh*** gas mileage and a knocking sound at about 30-40 mph.

Being that I am a first time diesel owner I thought the knocking sound was a characteristic of a deisel. After reading the posts in the poll, I am wondering if I too have an injector issue since my mpg SUCKS.

I am at 6k on the odometer now.

 

[J&LRam]

SHYans

my '03 had cackle- clack just off idle [800-900 rpm] as the clutch was being let out. Dealer replaced number six injector. Now its as quiet as new... ... ... . JIM

 

[JVolpe]

Mine started with a little rought idle about 7000 miles. Then progressed to rougher idle, white smoke and spit/sputter after it sat all night. At first just a slight tick, then louder tick then a real knock. Before 7000 miles you could not tell it was a diesel, you could not smell diesel in the truck exhaust, it was quiet and idled smooth enough to balance quarters on the valve cover. Since then it sounds and smells like a diesel and shakes the antenna at idle like in a gail wind.



Dealer diagnosed #6 injector bad and replaced. They believe that the injector was just leaking after engine was shut down. This of course caused the spit/sputter and white smoke on cold startup. Replacing #6 injector stop most of the cold startup symptoms and it sounds better at idle.



I believe that I have at least one more injector that is not quite right. I still have rough idle (though not as bad) and some white smoke and some knocking. After the truck is completely warmed up it runs fine.



My mpg has never been good (12. 5-13. 5 city) and is not getting better at 15000 miles. I am just not very happy overall with this Cummins.

 

[JCleary]

My mpg has never been good (12. 5-13. 5 city) and is not getting better at 15000 miles. I am just not very happy overall with this Cummins.

With my 305/555, six speed, 3. 73's and 35" tires my city mileage isn't all that great either. In fact, it's the same as yours, and the 555's are supposed to get better economy than the 600's. It was great before my lift.



Seems like the AFE and Banks exhaust took away some mileage, too. Maybe it's just my driving? I do like the noises my truck makes.



I am not surprised at your mileage with your overall setup.



As far as being unsatisfied with your Cummins, be comfortable with the fact that it *is* much better than your alternatives at the moment. I have two PSD's at work, both of which have had several injector issues (I think 4 total replaced) and even a failed turbo, all before 25,000 miles. One is a F250, the other a F450, both purchased in December '03/Jan '04.



As for the Chevys, we all know they're just used to go to the grocery store :-laf

 

[thames1948]

Have you guys with the lousy mpg's 04. 5's had the reflash done yet? Sure helped mine.

 

[JVolpe]

I had TSB 18-037-04 done about 8000 miles or so. Did not really change actual mpg, just the accuracy of the OverHead Computer readout. Instead of being lower than hand calculated now it is higher.

 

[Buffalo]

I have an '03, HO, 6-sp, 3. 73 LSD, with 32,000 miles, on it. I live in Phoenix, AZ (elev. 1100').

Last week, I drove up to Flagstaff, AZ, to see the snow. When I got into town and started stop and go driving, I noticed the engine would sound like my old '91 12v Dodge. It sounds like the pilot injection isn't working but, just at low rpm's (800-1000). When you get over about 1000 rpm's, it quiets down like the pilot injection starts working, again. The temperature was 43 deg's. and the elevation is about 7200'.

I had a similar situation, last summer, in the White Mtn's. AZ. In the morning, when it was cool, the engine sounded like an older Cummins.

Frankly, I like the sound of the older, louder, Cummins engines but, I'm a bit concerned that there might be something wrong with mine.

I'm going to have to take the truck in soon for warranty work on the engine heater cord and would like to have the injector issue looked at, also.

I would like to have as much information as possible about this issue before I talk to the dealership.

Any information or thoughts you guys may have would be very much appreciated.

Thank You. Joe F. (Buffalo)