Check your injectors

Faulty injectors may cause your vehicle’s engine to misfire and the check engine light to display.

Clogged, leaking or dirty injectors have the potential to cause disastrous and expensive engine failure.

Fuel injectors' #1 function is to deliver gas to the appropriate cylinders.

The 1996 – 2002 (2nd gen) Dodge Viper uses Siemens Deka fuel injectors that flow at 27 lb/hr or 280 cubic centimeters per minute at 43.5 psi or 29 lb/hr (300 cc/min) at 50 psi.

During the engine startup of the 1997 Dodge Viper, we noticed excessive smoke from the exhaust system and a rough idle. Also, we smelled fuel odors coming inside the car through the AC vents during a short test drive.

Fuel Injector Symptoms for bad, clogged, or leaking injectors are:

• Engine starting issues

• Engine knock (detonation)

• Fuel dilution in engine oil

• Fuel odors inside and around the car

• Failed emissions

• Increased fuel consumption

• Poor emissions

• Erratic idle

• Poor performance

• Rough engine performance

• RPM needle starts to dance (unpredictable changes in RPM)

• Smoke from the exhaust system

• Surging and bucking under various throttle loads

After performing an engine diagnostic test, we found the injectors were not working properly. 

Next, we needed to determine the most cost-effective approach to repair these injectors.

Popular Injector Cleaning Methods are:

• Ultrasonic fuel injector cleaning and flow testing – removes hydrocarbons and deposits from internal components. Damaged and old parts are replaced. The injectors are balanced and calibrated. A data flow graph is provided to show reliable and measurable results. Disadvantages are removing the injectors from the engine and down time.

• Fuel rail induced injector cleaner – costs ranges $165 to $350, debris can be lodged between the pintle and seat causing the injector to leak, and filter baskets can be damaged. High concentration cleaners use harsh chemicals that can harden the O-rings, damage O2 sensors and catalytic converter and irregular spray patterns cannot be determined. Damaged and old parts are not replaced.

• DIY injector cleaning – some dirt will be removed, but the cleaning fluid does remain in contact with internal injector components long enough to remove hydrocarbons.

• Fuel injector cleaner – costs ranges from $4.50 to $18, will loosen dirt in the fuel line and rail, but partially clog the injectors that can lead to detonation. Some cleaners use harsh chemicals that can harden the O-rings, damage internal injector components, O2 sensors and catalytic converter. Irregular spray patterns cannot be determined. Damaged and old parts are not replaced.

The injectors were removed from the intake manifold (instructions to remove them will be in a separate article) and ultrasonically cleaned. The graph shows the injector flow rate before and after. Injector #2 and #7 flow and spray pattern was not ideal before the cleaning. Also, injector #7 was leaking.

If you think your fuel injectors need some attention, contact us at sales@raidenperformance.com. 

We offer ultrasonic cleaning and data flow testing for gas and diesel injectors and for fuel pumps.

Note:  Do not use fuel injection cleaners on older fuel systems and fuel systems that have old or bad gas.