Signs Fuel Injectors Are Bad

How Will I Know if My Fuel Injectors Are Bad? –Jeff’s Auto Repair

You likely don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your fuel injectors. They’re easy to put out of your mind until there’s a problem. If the issue is severe enough, those once-ignored injectors may suddenly have your full attention. We’ll give them our full attention, too. If you experience any trouble or if you know it’s time for injector service, bring your vehicle to Jeff’s Auto Repair in Renton, Washington, for a tune-up.

Fuel Injector Function

In order to recognize the signs of bad fuel injectors, it’s helpful to understand what that component is and what it does. Your internal combustion engine operates optimally when it has the appropriate fuel-air ratio. On older models, the flow was controlled by a carburetor, but more modern autos take advantage of the more accurate and controlled fuel injector. This allows a more precisely measured and timed spray of fuel to enter. Your vehicle may have continuous fuel injection which supplies fuel at all times when your auto is running, or it can have a timed (pulsed) injection that works in unison with the cylinder strokes. In either case, most are now electronic as opposed to mechanical.

Causes and Symptoms of Fuel Injector Problems

Fuel injector problems can come in multiple forms. An injector is said to be faulty if it can’t do its job as intended. That’s opposed to being labeled “bad” if it can’t be cleaned, repaired, or otherwise safely made functional. One specific fault is a dirty injector. Hydrocarbons or fuel additives can build up in the injector, restricting proper fuel flow. If this becomes severe enough, you then have a clogged fuel injector, meaning that there is no fuel passing through.

Injectors can also leak. If the problem is in the injector itself (rather than where it screws into a fitting), the part is deemed bad. Signs of a faulty or bad injector include poor performance, rough idling, and increased fuel consumption. Because the ailing injector can change emissions, your auto may also fail inspection or display the check engine warning. Other tell-tale signs are surging as the car alternates between having fuel and struggling to get it, a knocking engine, and failure to start. A leaking injector can cause some of those same symptoms as well as others. You may smell gas, have thinning oil in the engine, develop hydro lock, or experience a fire.

Your Local Shop for Tune-Ups

Regardless of which injectors your car has or what problem you’re experiencing, you can count on Jeff’s Auto Repair for help. We know all about fuel injectors as well as the other issues that might need addressing in your routine tune-up.