Hey Guys and Gals, Today, I changed my diesel injectors... it has 205,000 miles on it. The job is fairly easy... just like changing your spark plugs.
However, I now found my culprit in cold start idling problem and poor fuel mileage ( I was getting like 27 MPG, only). Yeah yea yea, 27 is still good eh? No, it is not. At a couple of times, I was running 24 or 25 MPG.
My car is rated 27 city and 35 highway. Yet, my car only gives me on low end all the time. When I first got it, it ran real good and got 34.5 MPG on highway. Not anymore.
Yes, additives helps and boost the fuel mileage, but I want my car to run good all by itself. So I decided to change my fuel injectors. I started with #6 cylinder and work my way toward #1. There was carbon deposits on every injectors, but at #2, I got a chunk of carbon cake... no wonder.
Then to #1 cylinder... WHOA! Monster carbon cake. I can't believe it. No wonder my cold idling is erratic and fuel mileage is not good... I don't think it is possible to clear out that carbon cake with Lubro Moly Diesel Purge... not that big... no freaking way.
So with that in mind, it takes a bit of time to pull out the injectors, but it was easy enough... especially with older MB diesel engines where it is right there in front of you. Mine was recessed and required special socket tool.
I am thinking... I know alot of you got high mileage on your engine. If you have some problem or you simply got time, you should pull out your injectors and clean out those carbon cakes if any. While you do that, you should change out the injectors... older diesel engines are like only $35 a piece rebuilt. That's cheap when you need only 5 or 6.
Mine is $55 a piece so that's $330 for set of 6. In any case, I want to run WVO in spring so I want good injectors first... plus with my problems, I did the right thing and can't wait for spring to run WVO full time.
P.S. Always replace the injector heat shield washer and make sure it is right side up! These are cheap online.