noob question

[billdunn83]

how long can I run with bad injectors if I am changing the oil every 4 weeks or so when I notice the level getting higher? I know I have bad injector(s) and I don't want to do the replacement until I can afford to do them all which will be around tax time. so could I last till then as long as I am babying it and changing the oil often?

 

[02greysixer]

Be careful, if they start leaking fuel into the cylinder you could have a piston like this. Then you're looking at about 3 times as much money as injectors. Ask me how I know


Sint frum tha orijinul smert fone

 

[blk smoke lb7]

I think you can do alot of damage in a hurry why not see if you can buy a good used 1 for now,tax time is still 3 monthes away at best

 

[billdunn83]

problem is I haven't torn it apart to find which are bad... I know you can check balance rates to give you an idea but I don't have the tools to do it and I don't know or any diesel shops in my area. is there any other way to find out how many I have bad? I drive this as my DD (5 min commute to work) so I can't tear it apart and leave it sit until I am ready to do the work.

 

[Chevy1925]

how long can I run with bad injectors if I am changing the oil every 4 weeks or so when I notice the level getting higher? I know I have bad injector(s) and I don't want to do the replacement until I can afford to do them all which will be around tax time. so could I last till then as long as I am babying it and changing the oil often?

if you have a cracked body, it wont cause piston failure but the added fuel in the oil can cause bearing failure. if you have an injector sticking open, it will cause piston failure or wash the cylinders down. there really isnt a way to make it last longer other than to park it. i would see if you can read balance rates with someones scan tool first, then pull valve covers on the suspected ones and look for fuel spraying out after starting it.

 

[billdunn83]

thanks for the info guys. I have been reading that everyone has the white/blue smoke at idle.... mine doesn't do that. I don't see white smoke at any time. I see smoke at night when someone is behind me with headlights on but I can't exactly tell what color it is. the only thing that is an obvious sign it is bad injectors is fuel in the oil. so, what I am thinking is I have cracked bodies adding fuel to the oil but not leaking it anywhere else. is it pretty noticealbe with the valve covers off which injectors have cracked bodies? and will the balance rates also noticabley show the bad ones? what rate should I be looking for? and finally what kind of scan tool do I need to use?

 

[Chevy1925]

thanks for the info guys. I have been reading that everyone has the white/blue smoke at idle.... mine doesn't do that. I don't see white smoke at any time. I see smoke at night when someone is behind me with headlights on but I can't exactly tell what color it is. the only thing that is an obvious sign it is bad injectors is fuel in the oil. so, what I am thinking is I have cracked bodies adding fuel to the oil but not leaking it anywhere else. is it pretty noticealbe with the valve covers off which injectors have cracked bodies? and will the balance rates also noticabley show the bad ones? what rate should I be looking for? and finally what kind of scan tool do I need to use?

when you start it with the valve covers off, it will be very noticable. look up durmax cracked injector bodys on youtube. there is a vid of what a really bad one looks like. Balance rates should show no more than 4+- in park at idle and no more than 6+- in drive at idle. i know some o fthe high dollar snapon scanners will show the rates, a tech 2, or efi live are what id recommend using

 

[billdunn83]

wish I knew someone with EFI live that lived close lol. I am going to try and get it into my cousins shop I know he has one of the snapon scanners. thanks for the info chevy!

 

[Chevy1925]

No prob!

 

[MadMaxx61]

You could always buy a beater car/truck till you have the $$$ for the injectors.

 

[billdunn83]

I have my jeep i just have to get it in my garage so i can fix a few things on it to drive it every day... then i will be back to getting 9mpg...

 

[MadMaxx61]

a 4.3L getting 9MPG is sad lol

maybe you need something like a 2.5L Iron Duke 4x4 S-10

 

[billdunn83]

no my jeep. not the buggy. the jeep has a 4.0 strait 6 and they never get good milage. especially at 6" of lift and 35's. even with 4.10's i only average about 10.2.

 

[Dirtymaxx03]

could it not be a messed up return line leaking fuel into the lower valve cover?

 

[billdunn83]

i take it i would be able to see that if I pulled the valve covers? it is sounding like a good idea for me to do that this weekend and check everything.

i'm not sure if you lose performance when the injectors go bad but the truck does not lack in power at all.

I am going to measure it but it seems that I am leaking quite a bit of fuel into the oil because i just changed the oil 3 weeks ago and it already seems high and reaks of diesel.

 

[BlkMax]

I had injector failure with 18K on my '03. It hydrolocked the engine. I parked it, went to work, came out for lunch and the motor did not turn over with the starter.

It was fixed by the dealer that time, but there are things that can happen with bad injectors.

 

[billdunn83]

Ok so I checked my balance rates last night and 5 of 8 were +/- 1.5-2.5 the other 3 were 0 +/- .5 so from my understanding I have 5 bad ones?

 

[DieselDummy]

No they seem to be ok, once you get up to the 4&5's is when you know it, sounds like it might be the return line leaking!


Sent from the road!!!!!
03 lb7 CC/LB