Diesel Injector Testing – How to Test a Diesel Fuel Injector

Just like a regular vehicle that has an engine that is powered by gasoline, diesel powered engines can also tear up and break down as they become riddled with various problems as time goes by.  If you end up having to replace either a diesel pump or diesel fuel injector, then you are going to end spending some significant money as those two parts are actually the most expensive ones to replace on a diesel engine.  That is why you should look into diesel injector testing, as this process will tell you conclusively whether or not you need to spend that amount of money.

Before moving onto the diesel injector testing, here’s some brief info about what the diesel pump and diesel injector do exactly.  Although diesel and gas powered engines have a lot in common, the main difference between the two lies in how the fuel is ignited in each system.  Gas engines use a spark to ignite the fuel, while diesel engines use a pump to push heavily compressed air into the fuel, causing heat to build up, which then ignites the fuel.  This is why diesel engines do not require spark plugs like a gas engine does.

A diesel injector is the mechanism that the fuel is pumped into from the tank.  From there, the diesel fuel is then injected into a combustion chamber, where a plunger pushes air into the fuel, creating great pressure and heat.  The heat is what causes the fuel to ignite, which happens almost instantly as well. When one of these injectors starts failing, you should invest in diesel injector testing equipment to determine if the injector really is the cause of the problem or maybe something else.  You will want to know before just going out and buying a replacement injector as they can be quite expensive.

There a few different options you will have in terms of which path to for your diesel injector testing needs.  You can take the engine to a licensed mechanic who can perform the tests right there in the garage, but this will usually cost somewhere around £50 to do.  You can also buy a home injector tester that you do yourself as long as you know what you are doing and know what to look for.  For on a really tight budget, there are websites out there that give detailed information on how to create a makeshift injector tester at home from various items.  This is the cheapest testing method, but it should only be performed by someone who is an expert with diesel engines.