Injectors + aftermarket?

[debaron]

Hi all.

I think I'm having problems with my injectors. I'm not sure that one or maybe 2 are spraying the correct volume/shape so I've a couple options:



1 - Remove old standard Lucas ones - have them tested, refurbed and adjusted. Cost likely £500 - 600

2 - Trash old Lucas ones, fit American injectors - comes with Mark Adams chip :-) Cost likely £1000

3 - Cleaning of injectors in situ. Cost likely £150 - £200



I'd welcome any information in general, particularly whether the standard injectors are:

Any good, even when fully working
Prone to blocking/varnishing
Worth refurbing


Has anyone had injector problems? Anyone had either treatment done? Can anyone recommend and good garage to get it done at? - Need not be local



Any information gratefully received.


Ryan

[slideways]

What are your symptoms?
I had one injector fail and it ran ok but was down on power and sluggish
probably best to have them tested and cleaned
ETA. have you tried injector cleaner its about £6

Edited by slideways on Wednesday 17th December 01:25

[Hoover.]

I bought some new injectors (same as the ones with MA chip) whacked them in ran the car for a year in which I gradually upgraded the induction system and then just had a rolling road set-up done (no new chip)......

[SimonV8ster]

Having them refurbished and the spray pattern checked, etc, doesn't cost anywhere near 5-600 quid. More like 20 quid an injector, includes checking spray pattern and volume squirted through and new seals.

[Chimjunkie]

I've thought of 'upgrading' my injectors, but have found no worthy positive reason to do so other than Mark Adams suggesting so. I run around 300bhp. I know the Bosch ones may offer better peak bhp, but have heard they reduce mid range bhp. Dont want that!

[blitzracing]

Look for the guy on ebay who does the injector cleaning- does not cost a lot and you get a full report of the condition before and after the clean- well recommended. Hes in Devises.

[Bluebottle]

SimonV8ster said:

Having them refurbished and the spray pattern checked, etc, doesn't cost anywhere near 5-600 quid. More like 20 quid an injector, includes checking spray pattern and volume squirted through and new seals.

And for about £25 each, you can have a brand new set of Bosch injectors from www.fiveomotorsport.com...for the sake of an additional fiver an injector it seemed a no brainer in my case.

[debaron]

blitzracing said:

Look for the guy on ebay who does the injector cleaning- does not cost a lot and you get a full report of the condition before and after the clean- well recommended. Hes in Devises.

Thanks Blitz, Found the eBay guy - Looks good. Now just need to get the buggers in and out! Could I tackle it myself? I guess the Plenum needs to come off first. Any tips or take apart guides?

[SimonV8ster]

debaron said:

blitzracing said:

Look for the guy on ebay who does the injector cleaning- does not cost a lot and you get a full report of the condition before and after the clean- well recommended. Hes in Devises.

Thanks Blitz, Found the eBay guy - Looks good. Now just need to get the buggers in and out! Could I tackle it myself? I guess the Plenum needs to come off first. Any tips or take apart guides?

Its not difficult, just done this myself - take off the plenum and the trumpet base and then you can get to the fuel rail. Don't know if its best to pull the fuel rail up evenly so they all come out or un-clip the injectors individually but once your this far its quite easy.

[spend]

Clean the area anally first, you don't want twigs/grit/crap getting into the engine

Not sure that the $ rate and US economy makes the 5-0 stuff attractive anymore?

[f@-pots]

Hi guys, as a matter of interest my 4.0 has done about 62,000 miles now d'you reckon its about time for new/refurb/cleaned injectors ?

Ta , Nick......................

[slideways]

spend said:

Clean the area anally first, you don't want twigs/grit/crap getting into the engine

Not sure that the $ rate and US economy makes the 5-0 stuff attractive anymore?

i miss read your post at first i thought you meant pull the the twigs grit and crap out of your arse in case it fall into the engine

[GAVC]

Had my 500 at an indie with MA chip and RR session, took the injectors out and cleaned them for £200, had problems trying to get good spray pattern, replaced a couple to balance them up with reasonable/ok injector spray pattern and refitted, even though said they were ok but not great.

The 500 went on the RR at 220bhp and came off after chip at 230 bhp with new ACT induction, chip, magnecors, coil, dizzy...

Sold it later!

Had a drive in Power's taraka which was there on the day, way better than mine!

Had a strange dip at the top of the power curve, either cam gone at 22k or blocked pre-cats.

Clean the injectors if you wish, I'd recommend new ones

[Johno]

Chimjunkie said:

I've thought of 'upgrading' my injectors, but have found no worthy positive reason to do so other than Mark Adams suggesting so. I run around 300bhp. I know the Bosch ones may offer better peak bhp, but have heard they reduce mid range bhp. Dont want that!

As I understand it is the other way round. The lucas inj's will give a higher peak bhp generally and the Bosch ones greater mid range at the expense of peak. When I changed the ECU I went with new Bosch ones from 5-0 with the cheap dollar and now am 300 running with an fixed rate 3bar FPR as well.

Quite sure I could get higher peak bhp but not prepared to sacrifice the nice mid range I have now. I was never chasing figures anyway, I wanted a stump pulling engine that was great to drive where you want the power rather than being a dyno king with a car that was 'orrible to drive

There was no back to back testing to say how the Lucas inj's did or would have performed and I believe a huge amount is down to individual engines and their set up's anyway.

Mine also had 65k miles on them. Injectors actually wear out, and only so much cleaning will ever help if they are in fact worn. Dave Walker has a good section on his Emerald sire covering this.

[spend]

We had a comparison of physical dimensions of Bosch v Lucas a while ago, that certainly bothered me

[click for big! picture]

Sticking that big orange nose down into the inlet tract would certainly impede things IMHO.

[Johno]

Which may go some way to explain peak differences ? by compromising air flow, mixture etc . . It all get's so technical about droplet size, pooling on the back of valves and clinging to walls that I get lost at this point

Mine work very well thankyou and that bit in the cold when your V8 TVR coughs and spits for a while until it warms up a little and starts running on all 8 cylinders doesn't happen with mine. I always thought it was tired/knackered injectors sending down a jet rather than atomised fuel and until there was increased temps to assist the ignition of poorly mixed inlet charge . . New injectors and ECU etc (so not stand alone science here) and I've never had the issue again.