Fuel Injector Lifespan: How Long Do They Last?

Hello everyone!

While browsing the internet, I came across the following site: http://www.delphidieselsystems.com/dieselglobal/deu/DEUGDDSproductitems5537.asp

Here is the most interesting passage:

Quote:

Service Principles. Delphi strongly recommends that fuel injectors be replaced as a complete set every 50,000 kilometers. After more than 110,000 kilometers of driving, the entire injector holder assembly should be replaced. Fuel injectors that have accumulated deposits or are worn out reduce the efficiency of a diesel engine, and replacing these components at the recommended intervals results in: enhanced driving comfort. extended vehicle lifespan. lower fuel consumption. reduced emissions to comply with increasingly stringent European exhaust emission regulations.

This confirms that the DHKs are indeed wear parts, even though they aren't exactly cheap. The question is, what lifespan does Bosch specify for them?

Regards,
Alex.

I find the recommended replacement interval of 50,000 km a bit excessive. In my old 1Z engine, they lasted well over 180,000 km before failing, and then it was because two of them started leaking. However, I can confirm that the driving comfort, specifically the exhaust smell and various vibrations at idle, have improved.

Oh, so taxi drivers would also have to get a new engine installed after 300,000 km in order to reach 500,000 km, or what?

I was talking to a taxi entrepreneur from Würzburg, and he told me that he has four Audi A6 models with the 150 hp V6 TDI engine.
'In one engine, we had to replace the ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and injectors, but everything else was fine with the rest of the engines. And all the vehicles had a mileage ranging from 408,000 to 458,000 kilometers.'

My ALH engine had its first injectors replaced at 160,000 km (when I sold it), and even with a chip, the fuel consumption was still relatively high, reaching 4.2 liters per 100 km. It also passed the emissions test with flying colors in the end. And it ran smoothly, just like when it was new; that's what a TDI is supposed to do.

In the Mercedes-Benz truck sector (CR systems), the injectors are only replaced after 1,000,000 kilometers, but only if they are outside of the specified values. Otherwise, they can run for another million kilometers.

I think you are exaggerating a bit too much.

The problem is that the manufacturers actually calculate based on operating hours.

It is assumed that a constrained VP37, for example, can last for 3000 hours.

Similarly, this applies to the nozzles. However, converting these values to kilometers is quite difficult...
Ultimately, the operating conditions also play a significant role in wear and tear.

The only thing that's certain is that all of this stuff are definitely worn-out parts!

Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

'Cu Gremlin'

Gremlin wrote:

...what's certain is that all of this stuff are definitely worn-out parts!

I said that more than a year ago, but I was criticized for that statement at the time.

Okay, so which part of the car is not a wear item? It's already clear that the nozzles wear out to some extent, but I don't replace wheel bearings at 50,000 km either, because SKF recommends it.

Julian wrote:

In the MB truck segment (CR systems), the injectors are only replaced after 1,000,000 km, but only if they are outside of the specified values. Otherwise, they run for another million kilometers.

... So, DC currently uses the (since the introduction of ACRTOS) PLD (Pump Nozzle Injection - a type of common rail system) in all truck engines and not CR!
At Mercedes, this is described as: "High-pressure injection system with individual injection pumps controlled by solenoid valves" (Source: DC Motor Description for Trucks).

In the case of small commercial vehicles, CR systems are sometimes used by DC for cost reasons.

Hello,

I removed the fuel injectors at 130,000 km and saw that one of the injector nozzles was clogged with carbon deposits.
Since I could only find complete sets on eBay (at a price comparable to what Audi charges for the same part), I ended up getting rid of them all.
I didn't notice any change in the engine's running; there were no noticeable changes.

It was quite common with the (apparently faster aging) intake manifold injector/holder combinations to remove the injector, have it cleaned, and if everything looked okay, reinstall it. Back then, replacement was recommended after 120,000 km, but most taxis still use the original injectors, regardless of their age.
However, a pre-combustion chamber engine wouldn't fail immediately due to faulty injectors.

My student's 240D ran for 290,000 km with the original set of tires. The wear was clearly visible, but as long as you put in enough oil and diesel...

It is assumed that a throttled VP37, for example, can last for 3000 hours.


Such a statement always includes a failure rate or probability of failure. The number '3000 hours' alone essentially tells you everything and nothing at the same time.

@Julian

Oh, sometimes I see a taxi speeding by (a Mercedes 220 CDI) that's belching out smoke like crazy and has a sooty rear end. I know it doesn't necessarily have to be due to the injectors, but it would be an obvious cause.

Best regards, WarLord.

Hello,
'Some time ago, I called Bosch because I wanted to know the differences between the injectors for the 1Z engine. They then painstakingly researched the differences for me on their computer and with pen and paper.'
At some point, he asked me what all of this was about. I told him that I had bought new used injectors because mine were already close to 300,000 km (miles). (They were a different part number for the 1Z engine).
He told me that a jet injector developer at Bosch had said the injectors would last for the entire life of the car. While there are occasional failures, I decided to leave my injectors as they were, and the car runs great. It still sounds the same as it did with 200,000 km on the clock. It no longer produces black smoke, it still smells the same as before, and it has good performance; the fuel consumption is okay.
Why should I replace the nozzles when they cost so much money?
Regards,
Sausage blinkers.

...
He told me that a jet injector developer at Bosch had said that the injectors would last for the entire life of a car. Although there are occasional failures...
Sausage blinkers.
Oops! That contradicts a lot of what's being discussed and experienced here! Now, be honest: do you believe that? Think about the wording! Do you really think those pressures can pass by these channels and boreholes without leaving a trace? What about the springs? Shouldn't they eventually wear out too? Bosch only gave me a six-month warranty on my replacement injectors. Quote: 'Injectors are wear items.'

Wurstblinker wrote:

...that the nozzles will last for the entire lifespan of a car.

What is a car life?
How long is it?

At VW, there was once a definition stating that "the average lifespan of a car is 160,000 km" - which is quite low! However, with an assumed average annual mileage of 15,000 km, this translates to about 10 years.

At BMW, there's a definition called "vehicle lifespan," which is specified in years. So, with a typical annual mileage of 15,000 km, a vehicle with a lifespan of 17 years would have traveled "only" 255,000 km.

Unfortunately, despite the increase in overall vehicle performance in Germany, an average annual mileage of 15,000 km is still often assumed. I find this value to be unrealistic in practice, especially for TDI models.

@Wurstblinker

'It's great that the injectors are lasting longer for you. My engine smells terrible, it's nothing like when we got it with 65,000 km. It smells like an old swirl chamber or pre-chamber engine. It also smokes, which might be because the original EGR system was left in place. Oh yes, the mileage is 165,000 km, so that's on the lower end of the scale for fuel injectors. The running noise (when you're inside the car) has deteriorated rapidly within about 3,000 km, and so has the comfort. From the outside, it still sounds good, like it's original, but inside, there's a lot of vibration at idle speed, and generally, it shakes terribly when you start moving without giving it any gas.'

Best regards, WarLord.

Well, then replace the nozzles if they are defective. After all, no one claims that these things are 'indestructible.'
The implied injector replacement interval is just expensive and doesn't offer any other benefits. For example, my ALH engine ran perfectly fine with 160,000 km on it, just like when it was new.

A car's lifespan is still generally defined as being around 300,000 km.

Julian wrote:

... The implied switching interval for nozzles is only expensive and doesn't offer any other benefits.

There is no scheduled maintenance interval for this component. Neither Bosch nor Volkswagen/Audi specify one.
The parts are wear items and should be replaced if necessary (if they are defective).

So, there's no need for anyone to complain if an injector (or multiple injectors) fails after 150,000 km.

Quote:

A car's lifespan is still generally defined as being around 300,000 km.

"...but not at Volkswagen! There, it's 10 years with a limit of 15,000 km per year (I just checked again - except for the Phaeton)."