Diesel injectors, what lube if any?

[scrw.]

Replacing an N47 mini engine, and a couple of injectors from the old engine are a bit rusty. Plan to clean them up with scotchbrite to shift the rust, but do I put any form of anti seize grease etc on the body of the injector when refitting? Last N47 engine I did the injectors were like new & I just dry fitted them.

20251120_201234 by Old_Chad, on Flickr

Ta

[Jakg]

You can get specialist injector/glowplug lubricant, but I've used ceratec (i.e. brake ceramic grease) because I already had some.

[E-bmw]

I wouldn't bother with anything personally, but don't forget to change the copper washers, re-cut the seat faces & torque them absolutely to spec or you will almost certainly get "blow by" and be doing the job again.

Not that car but same engine I had major issues with a couple of them until I did it 100% by the book.

[stevieturbo]

It's a difficult one. But if the engine is not renowned for them seizing, I probably wouldn't bother.

I guess if there was blowby, "stuff" down in there could maybe make it worse if you've added grease or whatever. Although if they run clean, or if external damp somehow a problem then yes I'm sure grease of some sort could be helpful.

If it is renowned for seizing, you've nothing to lose by trying. They might seize regardless.

[f3nns]

I had to remove mine to replace cracked inlet manifold on a 3.6 TDV8 Range Rover - PITA. Reassembly I cleaned the seats up with a purpose deburring socket with grease on the end (to help bind the cack to it) and then used a slither of normal grease on the body of the injectors.. Absolutely fine - obvs changed copper seat washers whilst in there.....