Diesel injector cleaner?

FullCircle

FullCircle

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I have noticed in the last 100 hours that my engine starts smoking grey at full revs, so I assume it is no longer using the same air fuel ratio. As nothing else has changed, I am thinking that the injectors need cleaning.
Does anyone think that Injector cleaner fluid in the tank works?

I know that red diesel is less clean than good quality white road diesel, with no detergents, or at least less.

Be interested in thoughts of the crowd.
 
Is it that simple? I had a similar problem after many hours of usage and had an engineer check the injectors which were found to be well gunked up after prolonged use last year.

On the advice of the engineer I have just had all of the injectors on our engine serviced and adjusted, they had to be sent off to the man who services and adjusts diesel injectors. He may well just be a bloke with a wire rush and a bottle of washing up liquid, but it all seems to be running much better now.
 
um, shouldn't be using "full revs" too often?

Oil change, fuel filters, air filter change. Too much oil can cause smokiness btw, so never "fill" it. Then additives worth a shot.

Then the injectors *might* need service twiddling. But above first imho.
 
[ QUOTE ]
um, shouldn't be using "full revs" too often?

Oil change, fuel filters, air filter change. Too much oil can cause smokiness btw, so never "fill" it. Then additives worth a shot.

Then the injectors *might* need service twiddling. But above first imho.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sage advice Oh Master. However, I am clean on those points. Sorry forgot to mention that.

I do like to give it a full throttle minute or so, usually trying to get out of the way of something large made in heavy tin, waving a Panamanian flag.

I dont mind paying for Ultrasonic, but not if I don't have to.
Engine has 500 hours, which is Pah, bloody amateur to tcm's fine pair of donks.
 
i used "forte" in the tank and a neat dose of redex in the fuel filter bowl of my citroen berlingo that was not playing nicley. After a lot of smoke the engine seemend to run smoother and the failing injector failed no more. My Volvo 2002 has always run lumpy at start up and seems to run badly at lower revs so when I launch later this month I intend to dose the same way... I suspect a poor spray pattern... I'll post on here and let you know the outcome! Unless its really bad and then I might just keep quiet!
 
I used to use Forte prior to MOT in the car.
It required a good thrash at full revs, and if possible a "dealers decoke" round the bypass.
So maybe we should be giving our old engines a fright every so often.
 
additive policy

very good idea to bosh it in the fuel bowl or filter imho - weedily added into tank of 100litres must make sod all diffrence. Also, thinking about it, a mate does the "dealer sevice" gambit too. So maybe fcircle is being a bit of a girl with the loud pedal.

I have just discovered my motors are doing about 90 hours a month on average, glub...
 
Re: Diesel injector cleaner? +

Good engine lubrication extends life, performance, reduces wear and fuel consumption (stating the obvious I know.)
I have been interested with engines for a few decades now, cars, motorcycles, lawnmowers, outboards and now marine diesels. Yes high performance, high rev-range, hot running engines with fine/narrow oil channels do need specialist oils (the obvious again.)
BUT! low reving, cool ish running, none turbo older style marine diesels do not. Stay with the manufacturers recommended viscosity rating plus add some Part-Co (other brands on the market) diesel oil additive (contains PTFE) then notice the reduced vibration and smoother running.
For the next stage we/I need the advice of some good chemical engineers because I cannot say what the results would be if diesel injector cleaner was added to the diesel fuel tank as well as a bio-bug additive. I have to admit that I have done this with no noticeable adverse reactions but as an option I would recommend the fuel filter/reservoir method where you replace all diesel from the filter reservoir then fill with the appropriate/correct injector additive, carefully replace filter with additive and run the engine.
This is not advice to bring life back to an engine which is beyond repair (although it could keep it on the edge for a lot longer) but to help all aspects of starting, running, performance and longevity.
+ the latest used on various diesels is Unipart GEN 202 Diesel Injector Cleaner....with good results.
 
Snake Oil!!!
I mean to say, think about it, a small bottle of snake oil in a 30 gall tank, what the [--word removed--] will that do? Diesel, whether red or white is a pretty good solvent any way. White has all sorts of potions in it, what can the bottle of magic juice do that the additives cant?
In the early days when i was in africa and the middle east, i always used to make sure i had an injector or two in case anything went wrong because of the rough old diesel fuel we used to use. I never in all the years from 1976 to 1992 ever had to change an injector, the toyota land cruisers did 200, 000 kms and the bodies rusted away but the injectors carried on. I used to change fuel and oil filters every 5000 klicks or equivalent running hours religously. Our fuel used to be pumped ashore off supply boats thru a 4" hose that was used for water, diesel or whatever, they used to "pop" a shot of diesel thru to "clean" the pipes!!
I had to dump our diesel storage tank a few times because of water contamination but the diesel engines carried on. Basically change fuel filters very regularly, run the engine regularly at operating temp and all should be ok.
Snake oil? NO
Stu
 
[ QUOTE ]
... As nothing else has changed...

[/ QUOTE ]

Wouldn't a bit of fouling on the prop / hull give these symptoms?

Andy
 
I wouldn't bother with the injector cleaner
I would check the valve gaps, the air filter and would consider getting the injectors serviced by a competent specialist (Rochester City Diesel is THE man in the Medway Towns if you cannot find anyone closer). If you want a professional's view of injector cleaner then give him a call - I'm sure his response will be succinct
 
I've used STP fuel (petrol) injector cleaner with spectacular results (both performance and emmisions) on old Ford V6 cars. I've used the STP diesel injector cleaner on an MD2B and a Penta with equally good results regarding smoke. I had an occasional missed beat (misfire) on the Penta which ceased after using the cleaner, and the exhaust became virtually invisible.
 
My engine was running a bit rough and sluggish when I bought the boat. Didn't seem to rev freely either. It was about 12 years old with uncertain history of servicing. I changed the oil several times until it was coming out without so much sludge then put some Redex in the tank. It can only be a subjective opinion but that seemed to make a considerable difference. Revs more freely and runs more smoothly. Also starts very easily. Someone told me not to add Redex (or other brands) too frequently so just put some more in last week, a year after the first time. Much less effect this time, but it was already running well anyway.
Not snake oil in my opinion!
 
Just make sure that fuel tank is clean and no hard crud in bottom.
I made that mistake and ended up with the crud blocking everything in sight.

That small bottle in the tank does work actually - but that's only because it's a solvent.

In fuel filter bowl - better but seems a drastic amount to throw at an engine ! I'm no mechanic.
 
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