12-12-2014, 11:49 AM
As a rule, injectors are subject to wear, especially the diesel variant. Most parts are interference fit and in the case of diesel rely on the lubricity of the fuel going through them to keep them in working order. That said, they will in time wear out and not be as efficient.
For petrol systems, a single point injector will wear out faster than a multi point system as the single point is doing four times the work. In the case of diesel or direct petrol injection systems you can get a number of age related faults such as trumpeting (deposits forming on the injector head disrupting the spray pattern) or the tips being burned away with use. A set of injectors should last to at least 80k providing the car has not been thrashed but if you start to get trumpeting there is a higher risk of pre detonation of the fuel, misfire and if a cat is fitted, damage to the emissions systems.
One thing that does kill a diesel injector stone dead is running out of fuel, one idiot managed to do that on a railway locomotive and the end bill was four new injectors, all filters, and a complete oil sump contents change as the backfire had driven unburnt fuel past the rings into the sump and contaminated the whole lot.
If you really really want to kill a diesel engine, fill it with petrol.
For petrol systems, a single point injector will wear out faster than a multi point system as the single point is doing four times the work. In the case of diesel or direct petrol injection systems you can get a number of age related faults such as trumpeting (deposits forming on the injector head disrupting the spray pattern) or the tips being burned away with use. A set of injectors should last to at least 80k providing the car has not been thrashed but if you start to get trumpeting there is a higher risk of pre detonation of the fuel, misfire and if a cat is fitted, damage to the emissions systems.
One thing that does kill a diesel injector stone dead is running out of fuel, one idiot managed to do that on a railway locomotive and the end bill was four new injectors, all filters, and a complete oil sump contents change as the backfire had driven unburnt fuel past the rings into the sump and contaminated the whole lot.
If you really really want to kill a diesel engine, fill it with petrol.
