Faulty or dirty fuel injectors can negatively impact how your engine functions - here's what to look out for.

The engine under the hood of your vehicle relies on various systems, with the fuel system naturally being integral to its functioning. Adding fuel at exactly the right angle is the job of the fuel injectors, and the role these play in generating, containing, and exploiting small explosions has its risks. Knowing how to spot the signs of a problem, like a fuel injector not working, could save you a lot of trouble as well as some hefty repair bills. Luckily, there are a number of symptoms of a bad fuel injector to help you identify and solve the problem before things get to that point.

Knowing the basics of how fuel injection fits into the gasoline direct injections system (GDI system), will help you identify any irregularities. The system works as follows: gasoline is pumped from the fuel tank to the injectors via the fuel pump, where the injectors spray the fuel into the intake manifold at a precise angle. This is where the fuel is combined with air, and the air-fuel mixture is then compressed into the combustion chamber and ignited. The injector specifically controls when and how much fuel is added to the equation, as well as the angle and spray pattern. This is all calculated by the engine control unit (ECU) using a number of sensors.

A bad or broken fuel injector is no laughing matter, and it can lead to much more severe damage if left unattended. To help prevent this, here are some symptoms of fuel injector problems to look out for:

While it can sometimes be tricky to pinpoint exactly which fuel injector is giving problems, you can use an OBD scanner to narrow it down. A faulty fuel injector diagnosis made by a professional is one thing, but if you're using a scanning tool that generates fault codes, you may be wondering if it can pinpoint fuel injection issues.

These codes go from P0300 for a random or multiple cylinder misfire, to P0301 for a misfire in cylinder number 1 - the last digit corresponds to the cylinder experiencing an issue. These codes continue on through P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, P0307, and P0308, all depending on how many cylinders your engine has. Whereas the Honda Civic has only four cylinders, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has eight - each with a corresponding injector. . Subsequently, the problematic injector will be the one connected to the corresponding cylinder.

There are some DIY solutions you can implement before you contact a mechanic. However, if the problem is too severe, you should not hesitate to get professional help. Here are some steps you can take:

In the latter case, you should leave it to someone trained to work on the engine. They may even be able to solve the problem without going to such extremes.

Your car will normally give you any number of indicators that your fuel injectors may be performing improperly. These bad injector symptoms can range from a stuttering engine or rough idling to poor fuel economy or fuel leaks around the engine bay.

While you can technically drive with faulty fuel injectors, you should be aware that lack of adequate gasoline in the fuel-air mixture can lead to damage to the engine block. So, while you may think you only have a minor problem that you can fix later, waiting too long can lead to much bigger repair bills.

While a complete replacement of the fuel injector system isn't cheap, it is a lot less expensive than buying a new engine. In the USA, you will likely pay somewhere in the region of a couple of hundred dollars for your run-of-the-mill models. More specialized cars may cost upwards of $2,000. Naturally, proper maintenance over the years will end up costing you a lot less - around $50 - $100 to get your fuel injectors cleaned professionally.

These fuel additives are marketed to do away with deposits that accumulate in the fuel injectors - it is added to your gas tank and supposedly cleans the injectors as the fuel-cleaner mixture is sprayed into the intake manifold. The effectiveness of such additives varies in effectiveness depending on variables such as how old your engine is, what gas you're using, and how much build-up there is.

Morgan has always had a love for the written word, which is why he obtained an Honours Degree in English Language Studies. Having spent several years as an editor for a variety of trade magazines, he decided he wanted to try something a bit more exciting and hands-on. This led him to CarBuzz, where he has been writing and editing reviews and blog posts since 2018. A level-headed academic, Morgan enjoys reading about the latest tech in the automotive industry, even though he drives an economical hatchback.