Many novice car owners often wonder about cleaning injectors in injection engines. The question is whether it is possible to clean them yourself or whether you must contact specialists at a service station. Also, many are interested in such a procedure as without removing it from the engine. Let's try to understand this issue.
Operation of dirty injectors
If the elements are clogged, this can be felt by the reduced specific power of the car engine. Then detonation will occur at the moment of acceleration. The symptoms of dirty injectors are especially pronounced at idle speed. Engine operation becomes unstable, the starting of the power unit deteriorates, and fuel consumption increases. The exhaust becomes more toxic. It is best to diagnose the operation of injectors at a service station.
If diagnostics by specialists reveal that the main cause is the injectors, then they need to be washed. There are options when the elements are removed for cleaning. But it is also possible to wash the injectors without removing them from the engine. For those who will do it themselves, it is better to choose the second option. Naturally, if you disassemble the motor and remove the parts, the process of cleaning them is greatly facilitated. But this is not always convenient.
Diesel injectors
In such an engine, the injectors operate at higher pressures and higher temperatures. They get clogged more often. But these cleaning methods are not effective for them. Cleaning the injectors without removing them from the engine is not suitable here. Cleaning a diesel engine without removing it is simply ineffective. It is necessary to disassemble, remove, diagnose on stands.
Causes of pollution
Flushing injectors is an operation that any engine needs.
Sooner or later, the owners of all, even the most expensive cars will have to go through this. Knowing the main sources of contamination, you can delay as much as possible the moment when the problem can only be solved by washing. The main cause of blockages in injectors is low-quality fuel with a large volume of heavy elements. They are dissolved in fuel and easily pass through any filters. When the engine is stopped, all these elements settle on the injectors. And the lungs immediately evaporate.
Methods for cleaning injectors
Today there are two effective methods for cleaning elements. To choose the one that will be most effective, you will have to study both options. So, washing injectors on special stands is popular.
For this purpose, special cleaning liquids are used. This method is quite effective. But if you clean old and very dirty injectors, it will not give any results. The stand effectively cleans ceramic mechanisms. Processing with liquids is also used. In this case, it is possible to wash the injectors without removing them from the engine, or with removal. But that's not all. Below we will consider another, no less popular method.
Cleaning method using additives
It is considered the simplest. So, you just need to add a special additive with detergent properties to the gas tank.
These liquids are produced by all self-respecting manufacturers of car cosmetics. If the task is to clean the entire engine power system, then you need to purchase injector cleaning fluid. One 0.5 liter bottle is filled with 50 liters of fuel. In this way, not only the injectors are washed without removing them from the engine, but also all elements of the power system. This includes the fuel tank, pressure regulation system, fuel pump and injectors. When choosing this option, it is worth considering that the method is associated with certain risks. All dirt, deposits and other substances that have been washed out of the tank and fuel line using additives can further clog the valve in the pressure regulator.
Therefore, such treatment may only be advisable in the case of preventive measures. This is not the most effective way to flush injectors without removing them from the engine. Reviews from those who carried out this are rather negative. Another option is flushing using special systems for supplying flushing fluid. The process is carried out with the engine running, and it runs on a detergent solvent. This method can be considered quite effective. The result in most cases is assessed as positive.
Cleaning without removal: preparation
Most car enthusiasts try to pour flushing fluid into the tank - this is a mistake, and there is no need to do this. During the process, it must be disconnected from the general power system. It is important to remember that there is pressure in the fuel rail. This do-it-yourself washing also involves dismantling the hoses. Therefore, you need to work as carefully as possible.
Next, you need to prepare a temporary engine power system. A plastic bottle is suitable for this. A pre-prepared cleaner is poured into it. For a motor with a working volume of 2.5 liters, 1 liter of the substance should be filled. You can use liquid at the rate of 100 g. per 0.5 liters of engine volume. Next, a little fuel is also added to the bottle. Fill in half of the cleaner. Then a hose is put on the neck of the bottle and tightened with a clamp. The pipe must be cut into a separate, pre-prepared fuel pump.
Cleaning process
Next, the power unit is started and warmed up. You also need to remove the main fuel pump fuse. Several launches will be required. This will relieve pressure in the fuel system. The hose that supplies fuel to the injectors is removed, and the newly assembled structure is installed in its place. They also dismantle it from the “return” (it is “jammed”). Then turn on a separate fuel pump and check the tightness of all connections. If everything is in order, then you can proceed to the main part of the process. Start the engine and let it run for about 5 minutes. After this, he should “rest” for a few minutes. During this time, the cleaner will soak away all deposits. Then the engine starts again. This time he is allowed to work for about 30 minutes.
This time is enough for all contaminants to burn out. The engine should run at idle for the entire half hour. You can sometimes raise the speed to 2.5 thousand. After the process is completed, the system is disconnected and the standard power system is connected. Now you can start the engine and leave it for 10 minutes. During this time, the remaining cleaner will burn out. At the same time, you can check the tightness of all connections. Next, turn off the engine and install new spark plugs. Reset errors of the electronic control unit, if any. You can additionally carry out diagnostics and make sure that the power unit is working as expected. Is doing-it-yourself injector cleaning effective? Yes, quite effective. Moreover, it gives results in Russian realities, when it needs to be done every 20 thousand km.
Traditional methods
You shouldn’t stop at just these methods. Some car owners like the way additives work. Others say that they pour a little kerosene into the tank and are not aware of such problems. Still others say that using additives is a lottery, and not washing injectors without removing them from the engine. Advice from experienced car owners confirms that the most effective method is cleaning with a bottle and a separate fuel pump.
Anyone who knows even a little about a car knows that one of the most important elements in the injection system is the injectors. The health of the entire car depends on their serviceability. And therefore, every novice driver should know how to clean the injector himself and how to keep it in good condition.
An important element of a car's power system is injectors. The fuel system of a modern engine is a delicate, complex and sensitive mechanism. In the engine fuel system, obvious malfunctions immediately appear in its operation, especially due to the use of low-quality fuel. It often contains many different impurities that manufacturers use to increase the octane number of their fuel.
The need to flush the injector
Chemical compounds such as olefin, benzene, sulfur, and others form tar deposits in fuel lines and ramps. And during combustion - on the external and internal surfaces of the injectors. The deposits formed on the injectors are a black-brown crust that does not dissolve with gasoline, making it very difficult to wash the injector with your own hands. This procedure, as a rule, does not produce tangible results. The fuel system should only be flushed at a car repair shop or service station using professional equipment. Currently, injector flushing is carried out using professional equipment, which requires certain skills and experience to operate.
How to determine whether it is time to clean the injector? Contamination of the system is easily determined by the operation of the engine: when the performance of the injectors decreases and the spray angle is incorrect, fuel consumption increases, the car twitches, dips are observed during acceleration, unstable idle speeds, the engine starts poorly, especially in winter.
When and with what do you need to flush the injector?
Cleaning the injector is necessary when there are certain signals from your car. These are increased fuel consumption, which is indicated by the on-board computer, poor engine starting and uneven engine operation while driving, when there are dips and jerks in its operation. Moreover, do not rush to get into this system if you only have one symptom, for example, fuel consumption. This may be due to the nature of the ride, low tires and many other factors.
An additional way to check the correctness of your guesses would be to contact a service station that has the necessary testers for injectors of injection engines. They will also advise you on what you can do if they really become unusable due to coking of the fuel on the holes. Today there are two fundamentally different methods of washing: with a special liquid directly into the car and with ultrasound with preliminary removal of the injectors.
The easiest way to clean the fuel system is to use additives. They are inexpensive, always available for sale, and you can wash the injector yourself. You just need to pour the additive into the gas tank and do this every 5,000 - 6,000 km mileage In this case, virtually the entire fuel system is cleaned: starting with the gas tank and ending with the piston cylinders. However, this method can only be recommended as a preventive measure. An attempt to clean a contaminated injector in this way will result in contaminants settling in stagnant zones, in pipelines, and on injector filters. For cars with high mileage, such cleaning does not do anything.
A moderately clogged injector can be cleaned without removing the injectors. The flushing unit is connected to the vehicle’s fuel system and a special liquid is supplied to the injector, which dissolves deposits formed in the injectors. After 20 minutes of engine operation on this liquid with a pressure of 5-6 atmospheres, the question of how to wash the injectors with your own hands has already been resolved. The combustion chamber, ramp, and valves are effectively cleaned. Solvents for washing injectors are available today in a wide range. Experts recommend Wynns liquid. But, having these advantages, this procedure is powerless with heavy contamination.
In addition, such an event is accompanied by the replacement of candles, since the mixture used is very aggressive. Cleaning injectors without removing them: ultrasonic cleaning of the injector. The point of this procedure is to wash the injectors in a special bath using a special suspension and exposure to an ultrasonic unit. Even very complex contaminants that cannot be cleaned chemically are separated. Another advantage is the ability to control the permeability, tightness and spray pattern of the nozzles. Such fine washing of injectors is reflected in the price of this service: it is higher than chemical ones. Another method is ultrasonic cleaning of injectors. Ultrasonic cleaning is applicable for heavily contaminated injectors caused by the use of low-octane or low-quality gasoline. If the car has traveled much more than 30,000 kilometers after washing or cleaning the injector, it is worth using this cleaning method.
Cleaning the injector with ultrasound - preparatory measures
To operate, you will need a power source, which can even be your car’s battery, a Pulsar ultrasonic device, and a container for washing nozzles. First, you should wait until the engine has cooled down if you have recently driven the car. Disconnect the battery (remove the “+” terminal) or remove it altogether and place it near your workplace if this will be your power source. Next, you will need to remove the fuel rail, so that nothing interferes, turn off all surrounding devices (hoses, filters, valve, etc.).
There is a valve at the end of the rack; you can use it to relieve pressure, after which you can disconnect the fuel line from the rack. Now wait a moment for the remaining gasoline to drain from the fuel hoses. Next, the rail can be removed and drops of fuel can also be allowed to drain into a separate jar. Now you have access to the intake manifold, you can start cleaning there. The seats where the injectors are located need to be cleaned, because there are already enough deposits and slag around them. This is done first with a screwdriver and then blown out; you can use a compressor, or you can keep it simple and use your mouth or a blower.
Now remove the injectors from the rack, remove the O-rings, and check them for damage. They may need to be replaced. Take a regular medical syringe with a minimum volume of 5 ml and put it on each nozzle, and also connect the terminals from the ultrasonic device to each of them. Place the resulting structures in a half-liter jar in a vertical position. Pour 5 ml of solvent into the syringes. Now everything is ready for cleaning.
Ultrasonic cleaning of the injector - progress of work
The pulsar device is connected to the network or to the car battery (red terminal to “+”, black terminal to “-”). Washing the injectors is done in several stages. First, check the idle speed of the device; you will hear a characteristic clicking sound. Stop operation by pressing the two bottom buttons. For the first cycle, start the cavitation mode (simultaneously pressing 4 buttons). When the solvent passes the nozzles, turn off the device, remove the nozzles, drain the dirty solvent, soak a cloth in the solvent and walk along the nozzles.
Now put the syringes back on, pour in the solvent, connect the device and repeat the cycle. Then do it a third time. If the solvent continues to come out dirty, continue cycles until it comes out its natural clear color. You can add a little washing liquid to each syringe. If several additional cycles do not help, then perform forced rinsing at maximum speed of the device. If you achieved the purity of the solvent at the output without this measure, then you still need to do one forced cycle, for the final chord, so to speak.
Now disconnect the Pulsar from the battery or network, also disconnect the injector contact sockets from it, the work with it is completed. Remove each nozzle from the syringe, wipe it dry, provide it with sealing rings (observe their color: black on the bottom, brown on the top), and lubricate them. Now install everything that was disassembled into the car, observing the reverse order of disassembly. Insert the battery, tighten all the pipes, pump fuel into the rack by turning the ignition on five times (without starting the starter). Now start the engine and check its obedience.
Do-it-yourself chemical flushing of the injector
In common parlance this technique is called an “enema”. To “do an enema” you will need:
- good quality flushing fluid;
New spark plugs included;
1.5-2 liters of usually filled gasoline;
Syringe (purchased at the pharmacy);
Helper press the gas pedal.
Mix washing fluid and gasoline. Raise the hood and find the hose that goes from the “vacuum manifold” to the intake manifold. Remove the adapter; it looks like a rubber tube. Fill a syringe with a mixture of gasoline and washing liquid and pour it into the tube under pressure. Wait for 10-15 minutes, during which time everything that the liquid has reached will oxidize. Now we connect the assistant. He starts the car, which is quite difficult, since the tube is disconnected. The engine does not hold speed, stalls, you have to constantly press on the gas, maintaining a level of 2500-2800 Rpm. At the next stage, we again inject a mixture of gasoline and flushing fluid. The matter is not easy because of the pressure inside the tube, which pulls the syringe inside. At this time, the muffler makes various sounds: from popping to a terrible roar. There may be puffs of white smoke or black soot falling out. There is no need to pour in a lot of washing mixture at once. It’s better not to waste time and dose. Let everything be washed better. Observe safety precautions when cleaning the injectors. After pouring in the entire mixture, turn off the engine, when it cools down, unscrew the spark plugs and replace them with new ones. This method does not flush the entire system, but it is the best alternative to a trip to the service center.
The best injector cleaning products
A well-known Internet portal dedicated to the problems of motorists conducted tests of various flushing fluids and published its recommendations. Here are some of them.
STP SUPERCONCENTRATED FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER
DOSAGE: The whole bottle is 364 ml.
APPLICATION FEATURES: poured before refueling to evenly distribute the additive in the fuel and achieve maximum efficiency.
TEST RESULT: the liquid showed very high cleaning abilities. It easily dissolved deposits to a suspended state, but it is recommended to use it only if you are sure that the gas tank is absolutely clean, otherwise dirt can clog the receiving screen in the gas pump and damage it.
STP Super Concentrated Fuel Injector Cleaner The product washed away more than 80% of the contaminants. Subsequent washing with a special solution removed the remaining deposits. This aggressive flushing can be recommended for use with low mileage; the best option is to flush the injector yourself with a preparation of this type.
KERRY KR-315
DOSAGE: 355 ml.
APPLICATION FEATURES: The drug is very cheap because it is domestically produced.
TEST RESULT: More than 60% of the contaminants were washed away, and heavy deposits also succumbed. Subsequent washing did not reveal the presence of indelible deposits. Despite the low cost, excellent results are shown, and its use is limited only by the cleanliness of the tank. COMMA PETROL MAGIC
DOSAGE: 400 ml.
APPLICATION FEATURES: long-acting additive, one bottle per 60 liters of fuel. Small flakes float in the container with the drug. This is a feature of the additive, and you should not be afraid of it.
COMMA PETROL MAGIC- perfectly cleans injector nozzles.
TEST RESULT: This “soft” additive showed far from brilliant results, having washed off only 30% of deposits; it can be conditionally recommended for constant use for cars with fuel tanks that are not sparklingly clean.
HI-GEAR FORMULA INJECTOR
DOSAGE: 946 ml.
APPLICATION FEATURES: the liquid is poured into the tank, the bottle is designed for 2 flushes of a truck or 3 flushes of a passenger car. This washing liquid can be used using any container with a measuring stick. Since the bottle can be washed several times, you need to accurately measure the required amount of liquid.
Do-it-yourself washing of injectors can be done without removing them from the engine or after dismantling them. The quality of washing injectors with your own hands using both methods is approximately the same. The only difference is that after washing without dismantling, it is advisable to change the oil. In addition, by washing dismantled injectors, you can evaluate the result of your work.
Signs of injector contamination
- Difficulty starting the engine.
- Unstable engine operation at idle.
- High fuel consumption.
- Detonation.
- Reduced engine power.
Of course, the appearance of these symptoms does not only occur when the injectors are dirty, so do not rush to change them. First check how they spray fuel or try cleaning them yourself.
According to statistics, the injector operates for at least 120 thousand km of vehicle mileage. And for its smooth operation, it is recommended to wash it at least four times during this time.
The intensity of injector contamination can be divided into three stages:
- Reducing throughput by 5-7%. The increase in fuel consumption is no more than 3 liters per 100 km.
- Reducing throughput by 10-15%. Uneven engine idling, muttering exhaust sound. Noticeable drop in power. Detonation, acrid smell of exhaust gases. Increased fuel consumption by more than 3 liters per 100 km.
- Reducing throughput by 20-50%. The engine runs intermittently, a couple of cylinders may not idle. Shots in the air filter due to a lean mixture. The signs of the first two stages intensify significantly.
Washing without dismantling
Of course, you can wash the injector yourself by simply adding a detergent additive to the fuel tank, but the method described below is more effective.
To wash the injectors with your own hands without removing them from the engine, you need to make a device to supply flushing fluid to them under pressure. For this you will need:
- Fuel filter.
- Two clamps.
- 1.5 m hose. This should be the fuel supply hose for the car. Then it will fit the inner diameter and will not be destroyed by the flushing liquid.
- Two liter plastic bottle.
- Drill diameter 13 mm.
- Car compressor for inflating wheels.
- Two valves for tubeless wheels.
Making the device:
Drill Ø 13 mm holes in the bottom and cap of the bottle. Insert nipples for tubeless wheels into them. Unscrew the nipple from the valve in the lid. Then put the hose on it and secure it with a clamp. Connect the fuel filter inlet to the other end of the hose and also secure it with a clamp. The device for washing injectors with your own hands is ready. 
To flush the injectors without removing them from the engine, first start the engine and warm it up to operating temperature. After this, you need to reduce the pressure in the fuel line. To do this, disconnect the power or ground from the fuel pump and start the engine. When the pressure in the gas line equals atmospheric pressure, the engine will stop working. Now remove the fuel line hose from the metal tube attached to the body of the car. Insert the fuel filter outlet of the injector cleaner into it and tighten the clamp on the edge of the hose. Remove the cap from the bottle and pour injector cleaner into it. Screw the plug back on and shade it. Place the compressor inflator hose onto the valve in the bottom of the bottle. Hang the bottle on the open hood with the neck down. Turn on the compressor and create a pressure of about 3 kg/cm 2 inside the bottle. Now that flushing is supplied to the injectors instead of gasoline, you need to start the engine. It will run on it like it runs on gasoline. To flush the injectors, you need to burn about a liter of flushing fluid. After 15 minutes of idling the engine, you need to turn off the engine and wait 15 minutes to allow the clogs to get as wet as possible. Then start the engine and burn off the liquid. 
While washing is in progress, you need to monitor the pressure in the bottle, and when it decreases, turn on the compressor. Above 3 atm. There is no need to increase the pressure in the bottle. When the flushing in the bottle ends and the engine stops, you need to dismantle the flushing system and restore the standard engine power circuit. After this, you should change the oil and oil filter. This must be done because part of the flushing fluid will not burn in the cylinders, so it will be removed from the cylinder walls by oil scraper rings and drain into the sump, diluting the oil. Sometimes, after cleaning the injector with your own hands in this way, the spark plugs fail and have to be replaced. 
Washing after dismantling
To do this you will need: two cans of carburetor cleaner, an electric bell button, insulated wires, a 12 V 21 W light bulb (for example, from a turn signal light), an injection syringe and a roll of PVC tape, two terminals suitable for the injector contacts . The syringe must be selected in such a size that the inlet part of your nozzle with the sealing ring fits tightly into it. A syringe with a volume of 2-3 cm 3 is often suitable.
Connect the tube from the can to the nozzle of the syringe, and wrap the joint with electrical tape.
Attach the tube to the can, press its valve and the electric button. Cleaning liquid will come out of the sprayer. Continue flushing until the spray is fine and the pattern is wide. If soaking and rinsing with your own hands does not bring the desired result, then the deposits on the sprayers are too dense and cannot be chemically cleaned with your own hands. Then you need to use an ultrasonic bath for cleaning.
YouTube channel "Mikhail Nesterov"
There is a solenoid needle valve located inside the fuel injector body. It is held closed by a return spring. When pulses are supplied from the electronic control unit (ECU) to the excitation winding, the valve opens. At this moment, the fuel is atomized and mixed with air, burned in the combustion chamber.
The correct proportions of the air-fuel mixture and its ignition depend on the quality of gasoline atomization. During normal operation of the injectors, the fuel is crushed into small particles, easily mixed with air and burned.
Why do injectors clog?
Impurities in the fuel, short trips and difficult operating conditions lead to carbon deposits forming on the needle and internal surfaces of the injector. This plaque clogs the channels. The solenoid valve opens for a long time and more than necessary enters the combustion chamber.
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All this leads to an over-enrichment of the fuel mixture, poor ignition and misfires. Unburnt gasoline enters the exhaust system and burns out inside the catalyst, which becomes clogged and melts at high temperatures. At the same time, engine power decreases, detonation appears, and fuel consumption and exhaust toxicity increase.
How to understand that you need to flush the injectors
Car manufacturers recommend cleaning every 30 thousand kilometers. Problems with the injectors will be indicated by corresponding errors on the on-board computer. The same thing will be shown by diagnostics of fuel equipment in a car service center.
But with a high probability, flushing is needed regardless of mileage, if at least three symptoms from the list appear in your car:
- badstart();
- unstable operation at idle speed;
- reduction in engine power;
- slow acceleration;
- dips when pressing the gas pedal;
- increased fuel consumption.
How to clean injectors yourself
Method 1: fuel additive
Typical bottle of fuel additive for flushing / drive2.ruThe simplest and relatively gentle cleaning method is using special additives. More suitable for preventing the formation of deposits inside all elements of the fuel system - from the gas tank to the injectors.
The disadvantage of such additives is that on cars with high mileage they lift all the dirt from the gas tank and pipelines. As a result, the filters and the injectors themselves become clogged, which leads to even more disastrous consequences.
You will need
- Fuel additive-injector cleaner.
How to do
- Pour the product into the tank immediately before refueling according to the proportions in the attached instructions.
- Operate the vehicle as normal.
- For the best cleaning effect, it is advisable not to stand in city traffic jams, but to drive along the highway.
Method 2: flushing the injectors on the engine
This cleaning method is more difficult, but also more effective. It not only cleans the injectors, but also additionally decarbonizes the piston rings and also increases compression. Flushing is carried out with the engine running, which runs on detergent instead of gasoline.
The main disadvantage is that the quality of washing cannot be controlled. Other disadvantages include the entry of aggressive substances into the exhaust tract and potential damage to the catalyst. After using some products, spark plugs may need to be replaced.
You will need
- Injector cleaner;
- fuel filter;
- two-liter plastic bottle;
- wire;
- 1 m of fuel hose with a diameter of 10–12 mm;
- 3 clamps with a diameter of 9–14 mm;
- 2 nipples from a tubeless tire;
- bolt M12;
- or drill;
- drill with a diameter of 12½ mm;
- tire compressor;
- spark plugs (if their replacement is recommended in the flushing instructions).
How to do
- Drill one hole each in the cap and bottom of the bottle. Install the nipple with the valve turned out into the cover. The nipple will supply liquid to the ramp.
- Insert the second nipple assembly into the hole in the bottom. You will need it to pump in air later to create pressure.
- Place one end of the hose onto the nipple in the cover, and install the other on the fuel filter, according to the arrow on the body. Tighten the ends of the hose with clamps. Wrap the bottle with wire so you can hang it.
- Warm up the engine to operating temperature and turn it off. Disable the fuel pump by removing the corresponding fuse.
- Start the engine. Let it run to relieve pressure in the rail. Wait until the engine stops.
- Disconnect the fuel supply hose from the line and connect it to the filter of an improvised flushing receiver. Pour the wash into the bottle, close the cap and hang it on the hood.
- If the car has a return fuel line, plug it using a bolt of suitable diameter and clamp it with a clamp.
- Use a compressor to pump air into the bottle until the pressure reaches 2–2½ bar.
- Start the engine and let it idle for 15 minutes, maintaining the pressure in the bottle at the same level.
- Turn off the engine and wait about 15 minutes for all deposits to soak off.
- Start the engine again and use up any remaining flushing fluid while maintaining the RPM between 1,000 and 1,500.
- Remove the bottle, the return plug and connect everything as normal. Don't forget the fuse.
- If the flush is aggressive and affects the spark plugs, replace them.
Method 3: washing and removing the injectors
The most difficult method, which involves removing the fuel rail and injectors. At the same time, it is the most effective and targeted - there is no harm to other elements of the system. For flushing, the operation of an injector is simulated, and a carburetor cleaner is used instead of gasoline.
The only disadvantages of this method are the difficulty of dismantling the ramp and injectors, as well as the need to replace microfilters and o-rings.
You will need
- Aerosol cleaner for carburetors;
- syringe 5 mm³;
- 9-volt Krona battery;
- 1–2 m of wires;
- doorbell button or other without fixation;
- 4 alligator clips;
- screw with a diameter of 4 mm;
- repair kit for injectors (only rubber rings and a filter are allowed).
How to do
- Remove the throttle assembly and fuel rail. Disconnect the injector wires and remove them.
- Pour some cleaning liquid directly into the bottle cap and place the nozzles there for 15-20 minutes to dissolve the carbon deposits. You can use the same cleaner to wash the throttle assembly while it is removed.
- Connect the battery contacts and the injector with wires and clamps, observing the polarity. Cut one of the wires and install a bell button in the gap.
- Make an adapter from the body of the syringe by placing the thin end on the aerosol tube.
- Remove the microfilter from the first injector: screw a screw into the fuel channel and pull it out with pliers.
- Place the syringe on the nozzle side of the sprayer. Press down on the valve of the cleaner bottle and at the same time press the bell button several times.
- Place the syringe on the nozzle from the reverse side. Press the valve and press the bell button intermittently until the liquid begins to spray out in an even pattern.
- Repeat steps 5–7 for each injector.
- Replace filters and rubber seals by lightly tapping them.
- Reinstall the injectors and ramp, reassemble all parts in reverse order.
Many drivers, especially beginners, wonder whether it is possible to effectively flush the injector with their own hands or whether it is necessary to contact a service station, that is, to knowledgeable specialists. The answer to this question depends on many factors, but in most cases, cleaning the injectors yourself is not a particular problem.
To work independently, some preparation is required. You need to know your car well enough to avoid making fatal mistakes.
You also need to stock up on the appropriate equipment, tools and chemicals, get advice from specialists, and carefully study the instructions for both the machine and the flushing fluid. After this, you can start cleaning.
It should be noted that cleaning injectors yourself is quite popular. The main incentive for the demand for this method of self-care for your own vehicle is the fairly high cost of the work.
A justified desire to save money leads to a search for other ways to solve the problem than going to a service station.
But here we need to pay attention to the other side of the issue. Improper cleaning may result in the need to purchase a new set of nozzles, which can cost tens of thousands of rubles.
When is it necessary to clean injectors?
The injector is a fuel injection system. This is a rather complex unit. Depending on the specific case, in addition to the electric fuel pump, it includes a control system, pressure regulators, as well as many different sensors for measuring the parameters of fuel, intake air and other objects.
A significant disadvantage of the injector is that when using low-quality fuel, it becomes clogged quite quickly and does not work efficiently. Then the question arises about cleaning the injector.
Depending on the characteristics of the injection system and the fuel used, it is recommended to clean it either after every 20 thousand kilometers mileage, or more.
But there are a number of signs that indicate that cleaning the injector is already necessary. These are the signs:
- fuel consumption has increased;
- the engine fails to achieve full power;
- smoky air comes out of the muffler;
- engine idling is uneven;
- The engine starts harder than usual;
- spark plugs are dirty.
Of course, there can be many reasons for engine performance deterioration. If in doubt, it is natural that it is better to contact specialists, a service station.
Injector cleaning agents
The liquid for flushing injectors should be selected carefully and accurately. If the choice is made incorrectly, then, as mentioned above, you will have to buy new injectors, and all attempts to save on the cost of work will be in vain.
The most commonly used injector flushing fluid is Wynn's. The product, which is commonly called Vince, is considered potent.
It is most suitable for cases where the injector is very dirty and carbon deposits have formed on the valves and combustion chambers. Experts recommend using this drug for fairly old cars.
For new cars, Vince is undesirable, and in many cases it can be not only harmful, it can cause large unplanned costs. In any case, the spark plugs will definitely have to be changed.
A drug LIQUI MOLY on the contrary, it will save candles and you won’t have to change them. But this injector cleaning fluid is completely unsuitable for removing carbon deposits from the valves.
What's good about LIQUI MOLY– this is the versatility of its application. It is not harmful to injectors.
The flushing fluid Laurel resembles in its effect on the injection system Wynn's. But its main drawback is the cost. Due to its high price, laurel is rarely used by both professionals and amateurs.
The market offers a huge number of brands of flushing fluids for injection systems. It should be remembered that careful selection is especially important.
Equipment for self-cleaning the injector
Most wise to use injector washing stand. It is difficult to say whether it makes sense to buy factory-made equipment. It is quite expensive; for periodic work such a purchase is hardly justified.
But equipment for washing the injector without removing the injectors can be made independently, mostly from scrap materials. For this you will need:
Of course, the installation of such components will be too simple, but it works, in some cases no less effectively than industrial equipment.
You can purchase a ready-made system, or borrow it from friends. Once you have decided how to clean the injector nozzles at home, you should begin the cleaning process.
Do-it-yourself injector washing, video:
Chemical cleaning of the injector
Methods for chemically cleaning an injector include not only the use of the liquids described above. There are, for example, special fuel additives, which to some extent clean the injectors and remove carbon deposits from the valves. But this is more of a preventive remedy; in case of severe contamination, it is not very effective.
Washing injectors without removing them from the engine consists of a number of steps.
Experts say that high-quality injector flushing can significantly reduce fuel consumption. It would probably be more correct to consider bringing fuel consumption back to normal. In any case, there is the possibility of significant savings on gasoline or diesel fuel.
Self-cleaning of diesel injectors is carried out in exactly the same way as flushing gasoline injectors. The homemade installation described above is quite suitable, and so is the operating algorithm. Of course, cleaning diesel injectors requires careful selection of flushing fluid and a certain amount of accuracy in work.
You can also wash the injectors yourself by removing them from the engine. There is a special spray for this, and the cleaning installation is different from the one described above.
You can wash the injector with your own hands this way, and quite effectively, but it is a longer and more complex process.
Self-cleaning of injectors, video:
Cleaning nozzles in ultrasonic baths
An ultrasonic bath for cleaning injectors is quite expensive equipment; it is used only at service stations.
The injectors must be removed from the engine and placed in such a bath. There they are cleaned using the cavitation effect. The cleaning process itself is multi-stage. After the first stage, the quality of the cut and the level of productivity are checked on a special stand.
Then another wash follows, followed by another check, and so on until the required result is achieved. One of the criteria for the readiness of injectors for further operation is a slight difference in their performance. It should be no more than one to three percent.
After the washing in the ultrasonic bath has been successfully completed, the sealing filters and rings must be replaced, if necessary.
Like all processes, ultrasonic injector cleaning has its pros and cons.
One of the main advantages of this method of cleaning the injector is the ability to remove very strong contaminants. Where liquid flushing simply won’t help, ultrasonic flushing can do the job.
But this method is far from omnipotent either. It happens that it is impossible to wash the injectors. This happens especially often if water gets into the fuel tank or the car has not been used for a long time. In this case, the service station will offer to check the injectors on a stand to determine whether they can still be used or should be replaced.
Reviews about ultrasonic cleaning of injectors are often negative. There are reasons for this when the service station employees incorrectly determined the method of cleaning the injector. It may well be that washing injectors from a car that was produced quite a long time ago in an ultrasonic bath can be effective.
At the same time, the use of such a potent agent on relatively new products can lead to disastrous results. The injectors may simply fall apart.
The quality of ultrasonic cleaning of injectors depends on many factors. This is the selection of equipment, the more modern it is, the better. This is also the selection of liquid with which ultrasonic baths are filled.
But the main thing still remains human factor. The qualifications of the service station employees, as well as their conscientious work, will determine the quality of ultrasonic cleaning of the injector.
Figuring out how to flush injectors at the proper level and with the proper quality is not so difficult when it comes to the technical side of the issue. The selection of materials for installation, assembly of the installation itself and its use usually do not raise questions. They are quite simple, especially for those who know how to use the usual tools from the driver's kit.
When there is a need to clean the injector, you must also decide on its method. Experienced experts recommend using liquid ( chemical) cleaning when there are no particularly complex problems with the operation of the engine. That is, there are no failures at idle, the level of contamination is not so high.
The flushing fluid can easily deal with minor contamination and will also benefit the engine by removing carbon deposits from the valves. In general, liquid flushing can be considered more of a preventive measure than an effective cleaning. Moreover, the results of such cleaning can be determined only by indirect signs.
If the car's problems are quite complex, the level of pollution is high, the engine is running very poorly - you need to start with diagnostics. Here, most likely, we are not talking about cleaning the injector yourself.
Specialists at the service station must check all systems, determine the causes of malfunctions and decide on methods for eliminating them, among which either ultrasonic or chemical cleaning of the injector may be proposed.
