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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 01:59 AM
  #1  
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HYDROLOCK

F### ME!!! I had a hot no start show up about 2 weeks ago. pin pointed the issue to a top seal on injector #4 blown aswell as the oil rail seal. Replaced all 8 injectors seals. Did a clean thorough job. I replaced the o rings on both oil rails aswell as the nipples. Got it started up, it ran phenomenal, super smooth idle. injection pressure stayed within 3 psi at idle didnt shake or anything, let it warm up and took it down the road, it pulled like it never had before loads of power even at 1/4 throttle which is all i gave it trying to be easy on the new seals. made it for maybe 2 miles and then all the sudden truck lost power and started knocking extremely loud. started absolutely BILLOWING white smoke. so much to the point i pulled over because i couldnt see or breathe. it smelled awfully of diesel. engine hydrolocked when i shut it off. drained oil has no metal or shiny in it. throwing codes for glow plug circuits only. What are your guys thoughts, damaged injector tip? what am i looking at for replacing
 
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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 03:19 AM
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Didn’t make it very far

sounds like inject torque issue with inject hold down
 
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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 04:35 AM
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Agreed - a problem with torquing down an injector(s) is likely.

Now you need to remove the glow plugs and rotate by hand to identify, and then clear, the "offending" cylinder.

Once identified, then the injector needs (at a minimum) to be rebuilt and carefully re-installed, We can help with a few details and cautions when you get to that point.

Let us know what you find.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by willyt54
F### ME!!! I had a hot no start show up about 2 weeks ago. pin pointed the issue to a top seal on injector #4 blown aswell as the oil rail seal. Replaced all 8 injectors seals. Did a clean thorough job. I replaced the o rings on both oil rails aswell as the nipples. Got it started up, it ran phenomenal, super smooth idle. injection pressure stayed within 3 psi at idle didnt shake or anything, let it warm up and took it down the road, it pulled like it never had before loads of power even at 1/4 throttle which is all i gave it trying to be easy on the new seals. made it for maybe 2 miles and then all the sudden truck lost power and started knocking extremely loud. started absolutely BILLOWING white smoke. so much to the point i pulled over because i couldnt see or breathe. it smelled awfully of diesel. engine hydrolocked when i shut it off. drained oil has no metal or shiny in it. throwing codes for glow plug circuits only. What are your guys thoughts, damaged injector tip? what am i looking at for replacing
When you crank it with removed glow plugs, take care of your eyes!! You can see the lose injectors ( injector hold down clamp bolt hole not blown out with shop air)


don't forget to check the injector seat sleeve in the head for damage
 
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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 06:38 PM
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Great video Hartwig.

Sometimes I hate this HEUI system for that reason alone.

What do you think caused it:
-Bad installation?

Over-tourqued?

Faulty o-ring?

I'd be curious to know where the OP got the replacement parts.


I've only installed injectors once, I am sure you've lost count how many you've installed. I was almost surgical with this part because I did not want this to happen to me.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 08:11 PM
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Dont overlook the possibility an injector failed internally and let fuel dump in cylinder

What brand injector was installed

he wouldn’t be first bad out the box reman inject either



 
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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by joe blow
Great video Hartwig.

Sometimes I hate this HEUI system for that reason alone.

What do you think caused it:
-Bad installation?

Over-tourqued?

Faulty o-ring?

I'd be curious to know where the OP got the replacement parts.


I've only installed injectors once, I am sure you've lost count how many you've installed. I was almost surgical with this part because I did not want this to happen to me.

hello! today i pulled all 8 glow plugs, cranked it and injector 6 is blowing fuel out of the glow plug hole. gonna pull it tomorrow and replace, everything i used was from Alliant.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 10:36 PM
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Directly from Alliant?
 
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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 11:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Hartwig
When you crank it with removed glow plugs, take care of your eyes!! You can see the lose injectors ( injector hold down clamp bolt hole not blown out with shop air)

https://youtu.be/XTYZ4jmm91U?si=jc8NM9Ve5PI4syMZ

don't forget to check the injector seat sleeve in the head for damage
MAN, I need to remember to always (also) post that caution (eye protection, and keep the whole body out of the line of fire) when recommending to cranking to clear a cylinder(s)!

Great post Hartwig.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2025 | 11:02 PM
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Originally Posted by joe blow
Great video Hartwig.

Sometimes I hate this HEUI system for that reason alone.

What do you think caused it:
-Bad installation?

Over-tourqued?

Faulty o-ring?

I'd be curious to know where the OP got the replacement parts.


I've only installed injectors once, I am sure you've lost count how many you've installed. I was almost surgical with this part because I did not want this to happen to me.
It's a thing of beauty when good parts are used and it is put together with precision and meticulousness! I kind of feel the same way about the VGT system, I appreciate KCTurbo for doing so well with that technology in their products!
 
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Old Aug 16, 2025 | 01:42 AM
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Originally Posted by joe blow
Great video Hartwig.

Sometimes I hate this HEUI system for that reason alone.

What do you think caused it:
-Bad installation?

Over-tourqued?

Faulty o-ring?

I'd be curious to know where the OP got the replacement parts.


I've only installed injectors once, I am sure you've lost count how many you've installed. I was almost surgical with this part because I did not want this to happen to me.
It is always an installation issue. The oil in the threaded hole means that the injector is not firmly fixed. As a result, it “bounces” up and down and the o-rings and the copper washer are destroyed. Sometimes immediately after starting the engine, sometimes only after several hundred miles - depending on how much the injector can move.
 
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Old Aug 16, 2025 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by bismic
Directly from Alliant?
through riff raff, i had a 30 percent off code for them.
 
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Old Aug 16, 2025 | 08:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Hartwig
It is always an installation issue. The oil in the threaded hole means that the injector is not firmly fixed. As a result, it “bounces” up and down and the o-rings and the copper washer are destroyed. Sometimes immediately after starting the engine, sometimes only after several hundred miles - depending on how much the injector can move.
what are the odds the injector is okay and its just the seals?
 
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Old Aug 16, 2025 | 09:10 AM
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Originally Posted by willyt54
what are the odds the injector is okay and its just the seals?
If the injector has only been running for a short time until the hydrolock, there is a high probability that the internal components have not been damaged. For me personally, the risk would be too great in view of the damage that a not 100% functioning injector can cause.

I always replace the injectors and take a very close look at the sleeves in the head.
I always change both filters when installing new injectors and prime the systems (fuel an oil side) before let the engine fire up.
And not to forget, I change the oil + filter BEFORE I change injectors.
 
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Old Aug 16, 2025 | 09:48 AM
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willyt54,

Do yourself a favor and listen to this man.

We had a few members years ago that were techs (m-chan68, cheezit and obviously Ron) and they gave great advice. They've since moved on and @Hartwig has since taken their place as the go to tech guy IMO.

Thank you Hartwig for being such a valued advice fallback tech.

Joe
 
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