Stuck Injector / Failed O-ring??

[tekurtz]

So I've been using the .org's search function to diagnose my issues that I've been having lately. Most of the time a simple search is all that is needed and I find whatever it is I'm looking for without bothering to start a new thread.......Except this one. Just to get you up to speed I've been dealing with an injector issue as of late, trying to figure out exactly what it may be, bad or dirty injector, injector o-ring, etc. This is all based on the typical symptoms.
Things to rule out or at least take into consideration are the High Pressure Oil Pump, 4 injectors on one side & ICP have all been replaced within the last year. Oil, filter and fuel filter are on a regular basis changed, I know it's too often to change the fuel filter with every oil change but it's the easiest way for me to remember when to do it.

To the point, I was checking the fuel filter under the hood to see if it has turned black at all from oil infiltrating the fuel system from a bad o-ring or headstud, whatever it may be....and I heard a high pitch wistle, and watched my fuel drain right the hell out of the bowl. It didn't go out the drain plug on the back, I'm guessing the only place it could go is through an injector stuck in the open position?? Is there any other possibility? Is this common? What do you recommend? Thanks in advance.

[tekurtz]

Wow, I'm surprised no one yet knows where the fuel is draining to. Maybe I'm in the wrong forum??

[03f250stroke]

so you are saying that you removed the fuel filter cap while the truck was off and it drained?

[tekurtz]

yes....exactly!

[tekurtz]

I did the balloon test, with confusing results. I expected to see some air from the drivers side bank but I got nothing from either.....

[03f250stroke]

and what do you think happened? the fuel went down into a cylinder?

if that was the case then you would have a hard time starting the truck with a cylinder filled with fuel.

did you think that maybe it went back to the tank?

[tekurtz]

It crossed my mind, but I didn't think it was possible for the fuel to return to the tank unless there was pressure in the fuel line, i.e. engine running. Am I wrong

[03f250stroke]

theres nothing preventing it not to. the lift pump on the rail there is just a straight through piece, nothing holding fuel back.

i would assume that the fuel just returned to the tank and that sound you were hearing was just pressure from opening the cap

I have been wrong before but without you having any smoking, running, rough idle, lack of power from the truck it doesnt sound like you are having an injection issue.

like i said before if you were having fuel pass through an injection and fill a cylinder you would have a very hard time trying to start the truck with a cylinder totally filled up with fuel, you know?

I know because it happened to me and the motor was just totally locked. FYI if you do think it is going somewhere you can pull each glow plug out and see if any are wet. that there would tell you that fuel is going into places it shouldn't

[tekurtz]

Originally Posted by 03f250stroke

I have been wrong before but without you having any smoking, running, rough idle, lack of power from the truck it doesnt sound like you are having an injection issue.

Those are my exact symptoms, I had said it earlier, but I left out the details as to what exactly the typical symptoms are. To clarify I have skipping (missfire) really rough idle, lack of power, etc. It seems to smooth out at higher RPMs and at the beginning of this issue last week the truck ran smoother when it was warm, now since this this happened with the really rough idle and missfire it runs and idles better when it's cold.

I understand what you are saying about the fuel and it being difficult to start. Strange thing is the fuel bowl doesn't drain when cold, but once it's warm it empties right out. Between this and the way it idles more roughly when it's warm it seems to be pointing to something that is expanding from heat and opening something up.....I'd really like to just be able to figure this out without having to take it to the dealer or a diesel tech. I think if anything I'll just get the codes pulled so I know wich injector to replace if that is infact what the problem is.

[03f250stroke]

getting the codes pulled wont necessarily show you the bad one. have them do an injection contribution test on each cylinder.

it could be making a sticky spool valve, or maybe the injector is just dead