Think I Have A Bad Injector

[RSWORDS]

Well I was out playing around in the 89. All was going well, went to take off and the truck started bucking and popping, first thought was... Well... the 50+ PSI finnaly got the head gasket, But then i noticed that teh smoke was black, not white or gray. Limped teh truck the 1/2 mile back to the house and noticed hat once the truck got some RPMs in it it ran OK, Turbo? Pulled it apart, nope all is good spins free and has no oil in it. If I get on the truck when it clears up I still get full boost. So after some thinking and talking with GO_OVRIT we are thinking an injector has some crud in it and is sticking open or not spraying right. If you but the truck in gear, hold teh brake and hit teh throttle it sounds like hammering sometimes, sometimes not... All teh fluids look fine.

Thoughts? Can I clean my injectors at home?

Oh and here is a little video. This truck would usually be smokeless or a slight haze at the hrottles I ran it at in this video. You can hear the engine spitting and sputtering

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stg7ptxq32s

[Richie O]

Yes I heard it. Maybe the head gasket blew between 2 cylinders and is allowing compression between the 2. It sure sounds bad.

[RSWORDS]

Yeah thats the other thought...

Would it have exxcess black smoke like that w/ a head gasket?

[Richie O]

Don't know, Never blown one yet. Notice I say YET.

[RSWORDS]

Don't know, Never blown one yet. Notice I say YET.

same boat I was in. Cant say I didnt see it coming!

Oh well... Any Ideas On cleaning teh injectors? I have to pull them anyway to pull the head so I might as well clean em up.

[bgilbert]

Crack each injector one by one and listen for a difference in sound between each cylinder.

[RSWORDS]

Crack each injector one by one and listen for a difference in sound between each cylinder.

Did it Bill... Ran like crap either way, some when I lossened it made it worse than others but the all made it run worse. #6 was teh biggest change... What you think? Worth pulling them and cleaning or should I just order my gasket?

[oldcool90]

What kind of injector you runing,iv'e seen some after market injector tip crack and make trucks run like that.I would pull them first,and maby do a compresion test on the engine.

[RSWORDS]

Pulled all the injesctors out this morning, cyl 2 and 3 had LOTS of soot buildup on the tips, the others looked clean except for #5 that had a little soot on it. This the soot on 2 and 3 is from incomplete combustion from a blown gasket between the two? All 6 injectors are soaking in stanadyne right now. I thinking about pulling teh nozzles off when I get home tonight and cleaning them with a soft brush.

[RSWORDS]

Think I should go ahead and get the gasket on the way?

[bgilbert]

Soot is usually common for 'hot' trucks' injectors. Especially with POD's. I'd do a compression test before pulling the head. A cheap Harbor Freight diesel engine compression tester along with a B Series Cummins compression adaptor, I have one from Matco, around $35, will be needed as it's not included in the HF kit. It's worth having both in your Dodge Cummins tool selection. I don't have any 7mm injector cores or I'd let you try them. I'll have your 9mm's available in about a month, but that doesn't help you now.

[RSWORDS]

If teh gasket is blown between two cyl it should show low in both of them right?

[dpuckett]

RSWORDS- yes, compression would be low, or leak down between the two blown cylinders.

Judging by the sound in the video, I'd suspect some fuel issues, either pump or injectors. It has a definite miss. Take the sticks to an injection shop and have them pop tested. That should be no charge.

Dan

[RSWORDS]

Well Did the compression check...

#1 - Fine
#2 - Fine
#3 - Fine
#4 - None... Zero
#5 - None... Zero
#6 - Fine

Also when cranking it it make sthis real odd suction/backfire but not a pop

[RSWORDS]

Guess its a good thing this showed up today!