When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I started refurbing the fuel rail yesterday, tonight I got the injectors off the rail and some of them have a lot of crud in them, clearly corrosion from who knows where, I've run fuel through the lines on the car and banged them a bit but nothings coming out so is this a normal thing - don't think I've ever seen this much crud in an injector filter before, guess I'll be changing my fuel filter a few times, I'm also going to put one up close and personal near the engine as a secondary filter.
You can barely see the filter in the injector for crud - and this engine ran !!!
Take a look at the rail where it was inside the fuel line all of the fuel rail hose locations are like this.
Last edited by BenKenobi; Sep 9, 2020 at 01:50 PM.
New filter baskets! You can have a guy do it or try yourself with a jewelry/small ultra sonic cleaner. I gained as much as 10% flow when my injectors were rebuilt.
I already have the filter baskets - nice shiny new ones, I have new pintle caps too (got a full injector service kit from Mr Injector) is it OK to immerse the entire injector in an ultrasonic tank ?
The rail is a tad larger than the ultrasonic cleaners I'm finding on Amazon
I bit the bullet and ordered an Autool CT150, for the price I can use it on the other two 'elderly' injected cars I have, just another tool in the arsenal. I was getting quotes between 12 and £16 per injector plus VAT plus shipping so this way I spend the same and have the tool to do it next time, it won't be perfect but there seems to be some debate on line just how good some of the commercial services are.
I did some poking around and my system isn't in great shape even though the engine ran, the fuel rail is full of crud, used some drain unblocker in it and what came out wasn't pretty, again looks like rust so I'll be getting the pipe bender out and replacing all the steel fuel lines with Kunifer.
There were traces of varnish in the injector I started on, no crud since that was in the upper injector filter thankfully, MEK took care of the varnish I could see, a session in an ultrasonic tank can do the rest.
Based on the stuff I've read about these engines running too lean and burning stuff up if you put the boot in I'm taking no chances - and this motor will be getting an Italian tune every now and then.
My only major concern is how long I can keep these injectors out of fuel before they stick. It has taken two nights to clean up the fuel rail and I'm still not done with it, unfortunately arthritis in the hands is presenting a distracting challenge so progress isn't stellar.
When my HE was down for 6 months, and the engine stripped for oil leaks, and you know how it goes, oh boy.
I simply sprayed a shot of WD40 into each injector, and then into a sandwich Zip bag, and never thought anymore of them, started right up, and still does.
They are "tough" Bosch Injectors, and I have never replaced any in any of my V12's. Maybe we get better fuel, HAHAHA, I doubt that, or its the daily driver regime they all live under.
Arthritis, sympathies go out, mine is HELL today, and the fingers are simply NOT obeying the signals from the Brain, BUGGA.
Last edited by Grant Francis; Sep 11, 2020 at 06:33 AM.
I am at that point on my xjs- trying to clean the injectors or find someone who can do it well without being cocky about it. I have already removed the baskets and pintle caps and also have the kit. Even so I cant help feeling that sending them out might be the better way for me since my progress has been something approaching glacial this season. Although in my case, since there is the group of them, they tend to vie for my time and attention.... I'll have a look at OB's rig.
Sometimes I actually wish I lived in the US - the tools and services available seem to be a little more common than they are here in the UK - crazy since the car was born here but that's how it seems to be these days - I buy a lot of stuff from the US but we get raped for import and tax - used to buy stuff and throw in the suitcase but COVID ended all that - I've gone from almost monthly US trips to zero.
Sometimes I actually wish I lived in the US - the tools and services available seem to be a little more common than they are here in the UK - crazy since the car was born here but that's how it seems to be these days - I buy a lot of stuff from the US but we get raped for import and tax - used to buy stuff and throw in the suitcase but COVID ended all that - I've gone from almost monthly US trips to zero.
You need a friend here to mail you things as birthday "gifts"
You can buy an Injector/Cleaner/Tester/Tool on ebay for under $100
If you send them away it could almost certainly cost you more than that and if I had known about that before I made my own rig, then I would have definitely bought one
I have used Mr Injector for all my parts / hoses and also advice, whilst not the easiest to contact initially he is responsive and clearly knows the game that he is playing in, he is the one that advised me not to leave them out of fuel for too long after cleaning, he also advised and supplied all additional hose - not cheap but peace of mind is worth something.
I was going to get him to do the fuel lines and I partly wish I had now (they were taking August off and I was too damn impatient) as the refurbed units I got back aren't even close to the condition my lines were in and my project is delayed anyhow by other stuff (cleaning up the area where the radiator sits while it is out) - sure the hoses are new but the metalwork hasn't been cleaned up nor any attempt made to do so. If I could justify a crimp tool I'd also refurb my own hoses. I'm currently looking at a few 'classics' parts suppliers at metal fuel lines and fittings, I'll detail things as I go, perhaps should do some before, during and after pictures - I confess to being a little lazy in this department and I know it may help others. - I will try to do better.
My injectors are in a less than optimum cosmetic condition, I have done four of them and the body under the main large seal is badly corroded so I've a lot more to do than anticipated. I need to clean up, treat the rust that is left and repaint them before they go into the cleaning process proper.
Injector Mess
