Injector Question

Hi Del ,All I have been told is that a fuel injector is leaking a black like substance which I assume is carbon from diesel fuel ,apparently this has to be repaired or replaced as fuel consumption will be very poor

Thanks Del ,Iwill take off the cover tomorrow and look for myself as to WHAT is exactly happening and I will get back to you .....appreciate your assistance

GA.

I think the same.

To the OP:-

The people wanting $4000 are simply "Con-men/women". Never go there again. Warn others not to go there s well. With a bit of luck they will go out of business.

If there is an online service that takes customers experiences and rates businesses online, put them on there as well with your experiences, you might save some others from such a con...

AS Solar Eagle said, I would just get that injector removed, cleaned and replaced with new seal(s). You can do it yourself, but ONLY if you know EXACTLY the tools and the torque required, if not leave it to someone else who does.

If you are a mechanically sound person, then remove them yourself carefully, (buy the respecting Hayes manual, on "how to") and take them to a reputable company (Mercedes maybe?) and get them pattern pressure checked. The machine needed is called a "Paternator", an expensive bit of kit....

There may be another company nearby that can also do this also.......but I personally would just clean and replace the dirty one's seal(s) and then drive the car, working out the overall average consumption to see if it is up to expectations.

If where you are there are set exhaust emission standards which are needed for registration etc., get it tested for emissions as well as that will also tell you if its working OK or not.....it will give you a picture of the engine as a whole....

Best of luck.

it sounds to me like the tech put some black tar like substance on it so that he can generate work.

If the injectors are not working correctly, i would first buy a gal of toluene and put it in with the gas, this will dissolve any tar like substances that may be clogging up your injectors. but as someone has said, if it ain't broke, dont fix it.

Nice one.

They also showed the glow plug removal and thread cleaning procedure.

Quite an instructive and technically generous instructional video that....all to sell the right tool for the job.

I wonder what Mercedes' SST for this job looks like?

clearly it isn't a job for a shadetree mechanic

PERFECT!!!

If you can identify the injector just change the faulty one but you may need the help from a diesel shop as the hole for injector may need to be cleaned to specs. With these cars always try an independent shop that has this kind of diesel experience the workman ship should be as good or better. If you try it yourself check the position or orientation of the injector before you remove it then make sure new one goes back in same position. You may get an injector from ebay or an independent injector shop. I was once quoted $ 800.00 plus labour on a 1990 ford 7.3 and an independent shop fixed it for $ 8.00 all it needed was a can of diesel fuel conditioner applied according to instructions.

If the car is running OK and there is no appreciable degradation of your fuel economy then leave it alone.

By all means, get in and have a look at what it is that prompted the diagnosis that needs thousands to be spent to "remedy". Take some photos.

How is it that this "fault" was found? During a regular service visit was it?

If it aint broke don't fix it. If it is broke though, take it to a diesel specialist if you can't fix it yourself.

yes from a regular service

Try Acetone + Xylene : LAB grade(no moisture content) - industrial grade would contain moisture.
Check with local laws pertaining to usage posession of these chemicals.

If your fuel is petrol(Gasoline) you can add 2ml(milli-litre) of Acetone and 2ml of Xylene per litre of fuel.
If your fuel is diesel you can add 1-1.2 ml(milli-litre) of Acetone and 1-1.2 ml of Xylene per litre of fuel.

Also you can add a moth-ball (napthalene) powdered to the fuel tank. Plan a lower driving range so that it won't demand full tank.

With these additives you would see engine temperature higher than regular. Hence suggested to keep the range lower.
These additives clear the most of the clogs in the fuel delivery chain and the carbon deposit inside the engine.
If emission norms are a must at your place, you can use this mixing these additives 3-4 days before the emission test.
You won't be cheating the law by doing this but you are actually improving the combustion process in the engine.
On regular basis, you can use half of the above said quantity to improve combustion and keep clean the fuel delivery system/ path.
Preferably use gloves when handling these - Xylene would cause slight itching to those not used to it. handle them at well ventilated place.
Store them with lids tightly closed at a dry place, out of reach of children and also educate those use the common storage place.
Use air-tight glass bottles avoid plastic bottles - both these chemicals are solvents(paint, nail enamel thinners!)
When bying them, buy sealed containers of the least quantity available.
If one of the chemicals not available the other can be used singly also.
This is a known DIY method for fuel chain anti-clogging. I have heard some ready-made fuel mixtures available this purpose.
But one has to google for the brands, availability and/ supply.
Hope the info is useful. You can mail to anksh@yahoo.com

I use them in Carburatted motorbike.
Using the quantity not exceeding the mentioned ones improves the fuel efficiency also.

Quantities exceeding the above limits can not only decrease the efficiency but also might cause non-repairable damage to internal parts of the engine.
One can try lesser quantity - I am not sure of the quality rubber/ plastic tubings used in fuel delivery path.
Fill the tank partially add them in small measured quantity.
Drive the vehicle to near empty tank fill again low... few cycles of this process would improve the injectors.
If no change - go for professional help.
In an fuel-injected(FI) type vehicles, This may not be obvious - the FI is pre-programmed. Tuning is harder!

It's a diesel.....

Thank you everyone I have had many stressful nights/days over this problem ...what a great site .....I have taken it to an injector specialist and is going to cost me LESS than a quarter of what was originally quoted.....I am so happy as I had only just purchased the car ...........Thank you all once again

You're most welcome.

Let us know how you get on with the repair.

Hi Rambling

I once bought a 406 off ebay and got it home to find the same fault. Black carbon around the injector. My heart sank. Till I checked and the new injector seal (copper washer ) was about £1 and the injector clamp which was cracked was £3.50. It took some getting out but at £5 the fix was perfect. I cleaned the seat with a rotating wooden dowel in a pistol drill take care not to get any large carbon flakes falling in the hole. I suspect your set up may be similar.

Good luck