Tightening injectors

[ShaneO]

I’ve been noticing a bit of diesel tending to accumulate in my bilge, and am confident it’s not from the fuel tank side of things so started looking closely at the engine. There’s some yellowish discolouration in the area underneath the injectors (it hasn’t been run in a few weeks).



Inspecting the four of them, it looks like the second from left has a bit of residue around the inside at the top of the nut.



I’d like to start by tightening it up (paint is a bit marked from attempting that) but I just can’t get a normal spanner in there, except at a weird angle that doesn’t help. I don’t want to start undoing everything or especially not bending pipes to get to it. Is there a tool or technique I’m missing?

 

[KevinV]

An offset ring spanner with a gap cut in it that the pipe fits through

 

[neil_s]

I had a lot of problems with leaks from injectors and pipe unions but that was on an old and heavily used Bukh. Your motor - it might help if you said what it is - looks a lot newer. Those pipe unions are done up to a specified torque. I'd leave well alone until you actually see drips of fuel. and can pin-point the leak.

 

[ShaneO]

Thanks Neil, it’s a Kubota-based Nanni N4.50 and is indeed only about four years old.

 

[KevinV]

Those pipe unions are done up to a specified torque. I'd leave well alone until you actually see drips of fuel. and can pin-point the leak.

Good point - a few scraps of blue paper about the place might be a good start

 

[oldharry]

Yes, dont go disturbing anything, specially ona fairly new engine until you have actually located the leak. AS Kevin V says, work round all the joints using blue engineering paper. Cheap coloured toilet paper will do just as well. Wipe each joint fully dry, Leave the engine running for 5 minutes preferably on a fast tickover, then go round each joint with coloured paper. Any leakage will show up immediately.

Just dont go round doing random loosening and tightening,- that is a sure way to cause problems and can quite likely end with the engien stopping or failing to start - always at a critical moment!