As key parts of your engine, the injectors are essential for its proper running. While they are robust and included in both diesel and petrol engines, they can become clogged after several tens of thousands of kilometres. It is therefore essential to maintain them properly to prevent any change that could be very costly. What are they used for and how do you clean them? Metal 5 provides you with some answers!
Anecdote: the first fuel injection engine was patented in 1893 by the engineer Rudolph Diesel. Initially used for aircraft engines, the mass production of fuel injection was democratised with the launching of the Mercedes 300 SL engine in the 1950s.
Purpose and operating principle
Located at the cylinder inlet or in the inlet manifold, the fuel injector’s purpose is to spray fuel in microscopic droplets at the end of the compression cycle.
Indeed, for your car to start, there must be air/fuel combustion. The purpose of the fuel injection system is to calculate this fuel/air ratio to allow combustion to take place.
The exact amount of fuel is then released by the fuel injector either directly into the inlet pipe for indirect injection (petrol) or directly into the combustion chamber for direct injection (diesel or petrol).
Fuel injection is now managed by an electronic system which improves the engine’s performance and decreases its fuel consumption and the polluting toxins rejected by the exhaust.
Causes of fouling
In principle, as a fuel injector has a fairly long service life, it is often recommended to replace them every 150,000 kilometres. However, fouling problems are common. This is due to the fuel quality as well as deposits of carbon and resin caused by combustion, which eventually clog the injectors, resulting in reduced engine performance and increased fuel consumption.
Symptoms of a clogged injector
A clogged injector is often reflected by the following symptoms:
> loss of engine power
> black exhaust smoke
> excessive fuel consumption
> unstable idling
> difficult starting
> a lingering smell of fuel
> flat spots on acceleration
If your vehicle is showing these symptoms, your injectors are most likely clogged up. However, before considering replacing them, there are a few simple things you can do to clear them.
Our expert advice on caring for your injectors
> Choose quality fuel, especially if you make a lot of trips around town.
> Avoid leaving your tank almost empty to limit corrosion of the pump and injectors, especially if you do not plan to use your vehicle for a while.
> Bleed your filters and use quality oil to preserve your engine and increase its life.
> Drive on freeways from time to time at high rpm to clean the engine.
> Use an additive as a preventive measure to avoid fouling and the point of no return, or as a corrective measure if you have waited too long.
Our solutions for caring for your injectors:
– METAL 5 – DIESEL ENGINE INJECTION CLEANER
– METAL 5 – PETROL INJECTOR CLEANER
– METAL 5 PREMIUM – INJECTOR CLEANER + DIESEL EGR
– METAL 5 – DIESEL POLLUTION REDUCTION PERFORMANCE PACK
– METAL 5 INTÉGRAL – PREVENTIVE
– METAL 5 INTÉGRAL – CORRECTIVE (2 DOSES)
Metal 5 – Nettoyant Protecteur Hybrid – 300 ml
Metal 5 – PACK PERFORMANCE DÉPOLLUTION ESSENCE
METAL 5 Premium – Curatif Multi-actions Diesel – 1L
METAL 5 Premium – DÉCRASSANT MOTEUR ESSENCE – 1L
METAL 5 Premium – Nettoyant FAP Diesel – 1L
METAL 5 Premium – Nettoyant Injecteur + Catalyseur Essence – 1L
METAL 5 Premium – Nettoyant Injecteur + EGR Diesel – 1L
METAL 5 Premium – Nettoyant Injecteur Diesel – 1L
METAL 5 – Nettoyant injection Essence – 300 ml
