Leaking injector

[[2574]]

Gentlemen (and maybe a Lady or two),

No.1 injector is leaking diesel and making a proper mess. I'm a little nervous of tightening it, don't want to shear it off or anything nightmarish. Has anyone a suggestion as to how I might rectify said leak?

Thanks in anticipation

Rob

 

[charles_reed]

Gentlemen (and maybe a Lady or two),

No.1 injector is leaking diesel and making a proper mess. I'm a little nervous of tightening it, don't want to shear it off or anything nightmarish. Has anyone a suggestion as to how I might rectify said leak?

Thanks in anticipation

Rob

assuming the engine is an indirect mechanical injection and not a common-rail, the strongest likelihood is that it is not the injector itself leaking, but the union for the diesel return. This is the pipe connecting all the injectors together and is leaking due to someone attempting to bleed the engine and not doing up the union properly.
You are quite right to not attempt willy-nilly tightening as, in all probability the copper seating washer either needs replacement or re-annealing and re-fitting.
If it is truly the injector leaking (look for bubbles around the injector seat) you will need to take that out and replace the seating washer. In that case it would be wise to disassemble the system, take out all (2?) injectors, have them adjusted on a test-bench by a diesel specialist for opening pressures and spray pattern and then re-assemble the system using all new copper washers and seatings.

 

[outtametree]

+1 Also with smaller engines, I've had the feed vibrate loose. When this happens the pipe & olive wear a little. Usually means a change of injector pipes.

 

[prv]

Surely though it's got to be worth seeing whether the unions can be nipped up slightly before moving on to more serious matters?

Pete

 

[Malish]

Surely though it's got to be worth seeing whether the unions can be nipped up slightly before moving on to more serious matters?

Pete

agree, but no more than 1/4 turn; if that does not work:

If the leak is on the feed from the pump then there is a chance that it has ben overtightened already (which is why it is leaking) or the pipe has failed; in either case the only option is replacement via a local motor factor.
If on the spill rail then it may be the copper washers or again it may be the pipe that has failed but this is often only a bit of plastic pipe

If it really is the injector that is leaking the only sensible option is to withdraw it and take it to a specialist