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Why HEUI?

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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 06:42 PM
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Why HEUI?

I've been really curious- why does the powerstroke use a HEUI injection system, like, with an HPOP and all? Why not just Piezo injectors or whatever other technology is out there? Not that I've had any bad experiences, I'm just curious. It seems like a complicated way of doing things. For that matter, what are all the other methods of injection actuation and timing? Where they all available when the powerstroke came out?
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:13 PM
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You looked at all the wires, sensors, computers, and gadgets under the hood and decided the HEUI system was complicated?

The other common method for fuel injection is to use a fuel injection pump that increases the fuel pressure into something that can be used by the injectors. Either using direct fuel lines to each head, or through a common rail system.

A fuel injection pump is something that can wear out. We don't hear of too many HPOP's that give up (unless something just breaks). I's sure others will be along with a more in depth explanation.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:34 PM
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Additionally, at the time of the Powerstroke (1995 or so), the options for high pressure injectors were minimal. The HEUI was one of the best options at the time. 15 years later it seems a bit dated.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:36 PM
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You have to realize that in 1994, the HEUI system was state of the art technology for diesel engines. The great advantage of the HEUI system is that the electronic control of the injection event allows on the fly adjustment of timing.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:36 PM
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I think it's six in one, half-dozen in the other. We have HP oil leaks, they have failing "injection pumps" (that's what they generally call the HP fuel pump). But that said, the common rail fuel system takes the best of both worlds and makes big power. See what the 6.4L engine does in our trucks, or the CR engines in the dirty-maxes & ***-a-parts...
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:39 PM
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Why is a common rail the best of both worlds? Isn't it just one world, with a HP fuel pump and electronic injection?
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:42 PM
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Yes, but it takes individual lines going to each injector, and instead feeds a "common" rail. You could sort of consider ours a dual-common rail -- one for LP fuel, and one for HP oil. The difference is that the common HP fuel system is directly injected through the injectors, so you can get even more precisely controlled injection events.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:45 PM
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HEUI is a common rail system, just not a high pressure common rail.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:50 PM
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Ah ha. I see. And I guess the more precise the injection pressure, the more optimized the spray pattern is for the RPM. And with CR, you can adjust the fuel pressure directly rather than adjusting the HPO pressure, and thus the fuel pressure.
Thanks guys.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:57 PM
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With a high pressure common rail, you can deliver more fuel.
The HEUI is limited by it's injector volume.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2009 | 07:58 PM
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Yep -- that is pretty much the case. Plus, there is some of a delay in the workings of the much more complicated (and expensive!) HEUI injectors. The CR (and non-CR HP fuel system) sticks are much simpler and cheap. I think my buddy paid something like $500 for a set of six upgraded injectors for his '02 ***-a-part. Mine were more than that for JUST TWO!
 
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