injector isssues?
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 427
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From: New York
injector isssues?
i've been having a strange issue the past few weeks now that weather is starting to get colder. Although it may not be that strange. first start of the day when it's below around 65 degrees the truck will be down a cylinder, sometimes two. i get in it, make it two the end of my driveway and it'll pick them up. it seems if i go out and cycle the glow plugs two or three times it starts fine. it may be my imagination though. i usually use a remote starter and it waits thirty seconds before starting. i just replaced all four glow plugs on the left bank a few months ago. i plan on putting some stage 1 injectors in anyway within the next few months but i just wanted to make sure this issue couldnt be anything else. any thoughts?
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Grand Bay, Al
my injectors were doing the same thing. you need to pull the vc and start the truck cold and watch the oil discharge from the injectors. they should all flow the same. in my case 2 were not flowing when first started but after running for a few minutes they would pick up. you can also pull the plug on the injectors while its running. you will hear the difference in the motor if the injector is working
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: New York
I thought it may be a glow plug issue as well, well i was leaning more towards it anyway. But i cant be sure yet. How probable is it that a cylinder, or two wouldnt fire due to a bad glow plug in fifty five degree weather? Now that i sit and stew about it it seems like thats exactly whats happening. I know for a fact that two glow plugs are bad on the right bank , i ohmed them out and figured i'd wait till i installed injectors to pull the other valve cover. I did a buzz test on the injectors, the solenoids tested out fine. The one in the back on the right was a little quieter but still in my opinion was good. No codes are being thrown so i dont suspect the valve cover harnesses are related. The pins look fine on both of them anyway. As well as the other 42 pin harness, no rubbing through or shorting out either. I guess i'll just get four new glow plugs coming and replace them. Im only out fourty bucks for new plugs and some labor.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: New York
If it turns out to be the injectors, will it harm the engine only running on six cylinders till i get to the end of my driveway for a few weeks? Well a hundred feet i guess i should say. It will pick them right up and go like hell as soon as it hits that spot though. I plan on getting some new injectors in a month but cant swing the cost ordering them right now.
Molon Labe
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,272
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From: Alaska
I don't think its a glowplug issue. When I installed my injectors last Sat I discovered two glowplugs unplugged under the pass side vc. ( not sure why?) But my truck was starting fine at freezing temps. It did puff some white smoke for a few seconds, but it was hitting on all cylinders.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: New York
Interesting. That makes me nervous. Well, i'll pull the valve covers and put in the new glow plugs. And check the ones i previously did. What could (or does) happen in the injector when it sits overnight? It sits for 9 hours at work and starts fine everytime. I dont know exactly how the injector works so i can only speculate as to what fails in them and could cause the problem im having. Saturday is when i hope to put the new glow plugs in. I 'll pull the valve covers friday night and let it sit overnight and install them before i fire it up and watch to see what happens with the covers off.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2009
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From: Pea Ridge, AR
Interesting. That makes me nervous. Well, i'll pull the valve covers and put in the new glow plugs. And check the ones i previously did. What could (or does) happen in the injector when it sits overnight? It sits for 9 hours at work and starts fine everytime. I dont know exactly how the injector works so i can only speculate as to what fails in them and could cause the problem im having. Saturday is when i hope to put the new glow plugs in. I 'll pull the valve covers friday night and let it sit overnight and install them before i fire it up and watch to see what happens with the covers off.
What happens when is sits overnight, is that the oil is thicker and the poppet seat inside the injector has worn over time. With a reduced clearance high viscosity oil(due to colder oil temps) will begin to cause a suction effect between the armature and adapter housing. This suction is what causes inoperative injectors at start up. Performing a BUZZ test can help isolate these injectors when cold by listening for a quiet or muted injector, if you have access to diagnostic tools. As engine oil heats up the viscosity lowers and suction acting on the armature is reduce and the injector begins to operate normally.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 427
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From: New York
If you are going to pull the VC's then when you have the Valve Covers off, with cold oil, start the truck, and watch the oil discharge from the injector spouts. It should be even and all should be discharging.
What happens when is sits overnight, is that the oil is thicker and the poppet seat inside the injector has worn over time. With a reduced clearance high viscosity oil(due to colder oil temps) will begin to cause a suction effect between the armature and adapter housing. This suction is what causes inoperative injectors at start up. Performing a BUZZ test can help isolate these injectors when cold by listening for a quiet or muted injector, if you have access to diagnostic tools. As engine oil heats up the viscosity lowers and suction acting on the armature is reduce and the injector begins to operate normally.
What happens when is sits overnight, is that the oil is thicker and the poppet seat inside the injector has worn over time. With a reduced clearance high viscosity oil(due to colder oil temps) will begin to cause a suction effect between the armature and adapter housing. This suction is what causes inoperative injectors at start up. Performing a BUZZ test can help isolate these injectors when cold by listening for a quiet or muted injector, if you have access to diagnostic tools. As engine oil heats up the viscosity lowers and suction acting on the armature is reduce and the injector begins to operate normally.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,470
Likes: 3
From: Pea Ridge, AR
Thats a great piece of information and seems to be precisely whats happening. Well my last question is will it harm the engine only running on six or seven cylinders for two or three minutes just about every morning now that temperatures are getting colder now. 40 to 55 here in new york. It will only be for two or three weeks or is that ill advised?
Personally I wouldn't push it, but I can't confirm whether it will hurt anything or not. If something was going to happen is would be without the solenoid being able to lift the poppet, to actuate the injector, you are essentially running a cylinder dry(diesel is actually doing a lot of lubing) Too long dry and I would think you would wear things quickly. That's my theory anyway, and I may be completely wrong, as there still may be some diesel that comes out, just not intensified for good atomization. I will have to defer to someone with more injection operation than me for the definitive answer.
If you can plug it in, and it helps(as it usually will), then I wouldn't worry about it until the time is available.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: New York
i changed the oil last night and plugged it in last night as it was already 43 when i walked out of the shop last night and it fired up absolutely perfect this morning. i'll take your advice and plug it in each morning regardless of temperature. i'd rather not run anything, or take the chance of running anything dry. especially with it being down two cylinders sometimes, one is more then enough already. it's taken care of me for alot of miles so it's only fair i return the favor. within the next three weeks she'll have a new set of stage ones in her. the f6 dp tuner should be here within a week or so. as always, thank you guys very much for your time and advice. the 7.3 rolls on because of this forum, thats for sure.
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