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Cleaning Fuel Injectors Off-Car 200 1988

posted by  1908242DLa on  Mon Dec 31 22:59 CST 2018
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last visit: Wed Oct 8 00:47 CST 2014
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1988 240 DL N/A with 284k+ on a broken odometer.

My car's been idling a bit rough 3/10 in intensity since I've gotten it. I've changed the entire ignition system and used fuel injection cleaner in an almost empty gas tank. Nothing helped.

My mileage has been shotty; I suspect a leaking o-ring in my fuel injectors is the culprit (the car is the queen of deferred maintenance).

I've never done this on any car I've owned, but after watching YouTube videos, I just removed the fuel injectors and cleaned them with carburetor cleaner, each injector three times. Their resistance was normal, I heard clicking when I applied voltage to them, and each of the three spray patterns for each fuel injector were conical, so I *thought* that I was wasting my time. However, immediately upon start up, the car idled almost perfectly smoothly for the first time and did so when I idled it later. I was shocked and impressed.

By the way, #1 and #2 o-rings were firm, #3 and #4 soft. I replaced all o-rings.

Removing and reinstalling the fuel injectors and putting on new o-rings is not my favorite task, but I'm going to start doing this regularly. The question is how often.

I checked the brickboard FAQs, but there's no discussion as to how often to do this off-car. Any suggestions?







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    Cleaning Fuel Injectors Off-Car 200 1988

    posted by  Amarin on  Tue Jan 1 03:40 CST 2019
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    last visit: Thu Oct 23 22:42 CST 2014
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    I've changed the entire ignition system and used fuel injection cleaner in an almost empty gas tank. Nothing helped.
    -> Fuel injection cleaner may or may not work. Also depends on which cleaner you used. Of all I've used only Techron has tangible effect. Dismantling the injectors out and manually clean them is BETTER than using any fuel cleaner.


    I checked the brickboard FAQs, but there's no discussion as to how often to do this off-car. Any suggestions?
    -> Difficult to say as this depends on lots of factor - driving style, fuel choice, local fuel quality, ethanol or not. One thing I know our Bosch pintle type injector is the least affected compared to other type injectors. In your case the spray was still conical only the O rings were affected. So maybe once every 10 years or so - along with O rings change.

    Amarin.








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      Cleaning Fuel Injectors Off-Car 200 1988

      posted by  1908242DLa on  Tue Jan 1 11:00 CST 2019
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      last visit: Wed Oct 8 00:47 CST 2014
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      Thanks.

      The YouTube videos only used carburetor cleaner in an aerosol spray can.

      What cleaner off-car/on a bench would be the best, e.g. Berryman B12 or just plain carburetor cleaner?

      Your comment implied Techron, but to clean the fuel injectors off-car, there needs to be high pressure to help activate the injectors, e.g. by an aerosol spray, and Techron doesn't come in an aerosol spray can.







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        Cleaning Fuel Injectors Off-Car 200 1988

        posted by  Amarin on  Tue Jan 1 11:41 CST 2019
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        last visit: Thu Oct 23 22:42 CST 2014
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        What cleaner off-car/on a bench would be the best, e.g. Berryman B12 or just plain carburetor cleaner?
        -> Plain. I use STP carb cleaner which is readily available at most parts shop and even supermarket. I have done it via Mike's method below:
        https://www.mikeponte.net/volvo/injectors.htm

        Usually a can of carb spray is enough to service all 4 injectors. Two cans if you wanna be super clean :)


        Techron doesn't come in an aerosol spray can.
        -> True. This is only to add into fuel tank. Good for occasional use to maintain injector cleanliness. About once or twice a year IME.

        Amarin.








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          Cleaning Fuel Injectors Off-Car 200 1988

          posted by  1908242DLa on  Tue Jan 1 12:03 CST 2019
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          last visit: Wed Oct 8 00:47 CST 2014
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          Thanks.

          Do you spray both ends of the injector or just the portion that the fuel enters?







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            Cleaning Fuel Injectors Off-Car 200 1988

            posted by  Amarin on  Tue Jan 1 16:26 CST 2019
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            last visit: Thu Oct 23 22:42 CST 2014
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            I sprayed both ends.

            I've made my own spray adaptor for the fuel injectors. Get a 5ml syringe (minus the needle). Use the red straw that comes with STP or WD40 can. Glue one end of the straw INTO the needle hole of the syringe. Use strong glue such as 2 Ton epoxy. Now you could stick the other end of the straw into the carb spray. Lose the syringe plunger. And stick your injector into plunger end of syringe (minus the O ring). It should fit tightly.

            Amarin.






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