Fuel injector issue

[Mucus72]

hi all,

I was just doing the usual little checks between trackways and fired my car up (EU3 K) and noticed fine must spitting in the floor. Turned the car off and the fuel injector nearest the front of the car is wet and obviously leaking. Do the POBC know if this means I need to replace the whole injector or if it's likely just O ring failure. I have been reading through BC history and it's not clear if you can replace the these deals separately. 

[TJG]

I've never known an injector body leak but I guess there is a first time for everything. If you have a compressor and blow gun you should be able to blow fuel away and identify the source, the usual disclaimers about blowing yourself/car/garage/house up apply. Otherwise dry area off and get someone to start it while you watch for source.

If it turns out to be top or bottom seal I probably have some I could put in the post.

Tony

 

[revilla]

Marcus sorry I didn't pick up your call I was in the depths of my garage! Texted back but not sure if you got it. Can pop around tomorrow morning if you want to have a look at it with you?

[Gordon C]

I've had one injector seal let go in the past. Pressurize the system and i must have had at least a good foot or so of fuel spurt out at the time 

Be supprise if a new set of seals didn't solve the problem 

[Mucus72]

Thanks all. Maybe it is just the seals. Andrew - didn't notice your text back - we had visitors and I put my phone down for a change! Yes please if you could verify what I'm thinking that would speed up the fix!

[Nigel Riches]

If it's not the o ring..... these things are only plastic mouldings, may have developed a crack, an accidental knock? ....... as above get someone to turn the engine over, maybe disconnect the ignition circuit, just in case.

Nigel 

[Paul Deslandes]

you shouldn't need to turn the engine over if you turn the ignition on and off a few times to pressurise the system.  Always assuming the ECU works in the same way as after-market units and only powers the pump for a couple of seconds at a time until the engine is being cranked.

[revilla]

Well I went around to Marcus's house yesterday to have a look at this with him and as always happens when Marcus asks me to look at a a problem it disappeared without a trace. No sign of leakage whatsoever. Nothing apparently loose, out of position or broken. We gave everything a good flexing and wiggling whilst running and under pressure to try to expose any cracks but nothing showed up at all.

Prior to the run where the fault showed up the car had been standing unused for approximately 1 month. My only thought is that the O-ring at the rail end of No. 1 injector may have gone a bit hard and wasn't sealing properly but a good dose of fuel has allowed it to swell a little and seal again. Having said that the O-ring looked normal but we didn't pull the rail for a proper look.

Marcus, keep an eye on it especially if the car ends up standing for a while over the winter. I doubt the fuel is coming from the bottom end of the injector where it appeared to be coming from as that will be at lower than atmospheric pressure at idle and any leak will tend to suck rather than blow. I think it will have been spraying onto there from somewhere else, probably to top O-ring, but if you catch it doing it again try sticking your finger in to see which side gets wet! O-rings are cheap and easy to change. With the plastic manifold it looks like we could release the fuel rail without having to remove the plenum (as I need to on mine with the alloy version).

[Mucus72]

thanks Andrew, it wasnt a phantom spurt I promise you that...until next time!