How To Clean Fuel Injectors

Fuel injectors are responsible for delivering fuel to the combustion chamber located in the car engine. The process is quite simple since this is highly computerized, but there will come a time when the engine will find difficulty getting started especially after stepping on the gas pedal. This may be an indication that the fuel injectors are in need of cleaning, but the question of cleaning fuel injectors is something that can understandably bring hesitation, if not fear, to many car owners.

Actually, getting to clean the fuel injectors of any given car can be done by a certified mechanic. Simply bring the vehicle to the nearest auto shop and make the request. If a resident mechanic is available, he should be able to handle the job without difficulty.

Of course, this particular scenario will be a bit costly. Given this, some car owners would rather settle for a simple step-by-step guide on how to do it yourself if only to save on expenses. In this case, a few basic materials will be needed.

A cleaning kit for fuel injectors is the first, and possibly the most important, item that ought to be purchased when trying to find out how to clean fuel injectors. The kit is normally composed of three different items, namely, a cleaning canister, a hose for fuel injector attachment, and a gauge to identify fuel pressure.

There are a few cleaning kits where the canister does not contain the expected cleaning fluid and has to be purchased separately. This is not exactly a preferred way of starting the process on keeping the fuel injector clean; thus, in order to avoid incurring the extra cost, it is best to check what the cleaning kit actually contains before purchasing this.

Getting to buy the kit should not be too difficult since many auto supply shops have this. Alternatively, online purchases can be looked into as some good deals may be available as in the case of early buyers.

Another point to consider is the compatibility of the cleaning kit and the fuel injector of the car. A good number of cleaning kits can actually be used on all vehicle types, but for the sake of strictly following the steps on clean fuel injector, it should be a good idea to double check if the kit matches the requirements of the fuel injectors that need cleaning.

In addition, referring to the car manual and studying the engine layout before starting the cleaning process is imperative. The actual location of the fuel injectors may not be that easy to find especially for people who have very little idea of the many parts of a car engine.

Other than the fuel injectors, there is also a need to find where the other parts are located, including the fuel pump and a few other components. These parts are critical during the cleaning process; thus, efforts should be exerted to try and find where they are placed inside the engine.

Once the fuel injectors and their related components have been identified, the actual process on how to clean fuel injectors can begin. Start by disabling the fuel pump or disconnecting this from the injectors. In attempting to accomplish this, two options can be considered. The first involves the plugging in of the fuel return line to the injector after the fuel pump has been disconnected.

The second option is to make use of a U tube and connecting this to the fuel injectors. In both options, the goal is to get the gas or fuel returned or stored inside the gas tank while getting the injectors cleaned.

For those who have no idea on how to disconnect or disable the fuel pump and inserting a U tube to the in jectors, the car manual is the best reference. In all likelihood, there should be a section that discusses the steps to follow when the fuel pump has to be disconnected.

The next step will be the disconnection of the fuel regulator. After disconnecting, the cleaning kit can now be plugged into the engine fuel port. The port is normally found in the fuel rail of the engine.

If these parts could not be found easily, it is best to keep the car manual close at hand for quick reference. Additionally, the instructional manual of the cleaning kit should be read and followed carefully especially the section where connection details for the kit and the fuel port is being discussed.

It goes without saying that in following the steps, there is a need to be extra cautious. This is particularly true when handling the injectors. Essentially, there is a need to ensure that these have no remaining fuel; otherwise, fire could erupt once the injectors come into contact with the cleaner as the latter is flammable.

Once the cleaner has been successfully plugged into the fuel injectors, this should remove dirt, grime, and dirt with the use of a cleaning solvent which gets inserted into the injectors by strong pressure. As the pressure is delivered in strong and large bursts, there is a need to have the gas cap removed from the engine tank. Doing so will prevent too much pressure from being stored inside which can result in combustion.

The cleaning time should last anywhere from 5 minutes to a maximum of 10, although this may vary. In order to ensure that the steps to clean the fuel injector have been followed correctly, referring to the cleaning kit manual is highly recommended.

As the cleaning process continues, turn on the engine but ensure that the fuel pump is initially turned off. Once the cleaner has been fully used up, the engine should automatically shut down. This should be a good time to take out the cleaner from the injectors.

The next few steps should involve a simple re-tracing of the things that were done prior to the start of the cleaning process, including the resetting of the fuel pump, replacing of the fuel cap, and reconnection of the pressure regulator.

The final step on requires the starting of the engine mainly to check if the fuel injectors will function normally. In general, clicking sounds that come in quick succession indicates a clean fuel injector. Any other sound that will be produced may mean that the injectors have other problems that is best addressed by a mechanic.