(Gasoline) fuel injector cleaning
I currently have access and would like to remove the gasoline fuel injectors from a Chevy 454 for cleaning. I'm not talking about running a cleaner through the system at home, I'm looking to remove...
Forum Discussion
I want to post to tidy up information for anyone who may find this during a search.
As I stated above, I selected new injectors for about $57 each after pricing them at every parts source in my area; highest price I found was nearly $100 each. The injectors became suspect upon removal of the upper intake manifold (the intake manifold on my 454 is two-piece) and seeing a pool of fuel. At the time, I was moving onward, mechanically speaking, to expose the leaking gasket under the lower intake manifold. It was leaking anti-freeze as I'd tried to diagnose, even posting here:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27261589.cfm
I'm not the only person to be vexed by that problem; the problem diagnosing it is that first it seems okay, but then, no, it is leaking (coolant disappearing) without any external evidence. It's frustrating and not many are willing to dive into all the work involved without a clear, unambiguous indication. It finally came down to a clear, unambiguous indication when I saw anti-freeze on the cross member. At the time, I was replacing two deteriorated sway bar bushings I noticed when while removing the brakes to have the rotors turned for smoother brake performance. So, it was a series of failures and repairs that I chased for two weeks. Now back to the fuel injectors...
The particular injectors installed during manufacture of my Chevy 454 are no longer in production because they have a nasty habit of leaking down. This, I realized when I saw the pool of gas inside the manifold, is the cause of difficult starting I'd had-- and typical, but not the only possibility. Since the engine always did eventually start (sometimes one try, but many times three tries of the starter), like the antifreeze, it never made it to "must fix now" status. Until that day.
In any case, the happy ending is that all four repairs-- the brakes, the bushings, the gasket, and the injectors are now done and the engine sounds terrific. Only putting some miles on will test the repair, so a trip is in the works.
Oh, one more thing: the Ohio based injector cleaning site with the link in a post above is probably a scam. I was made suspect by the "we prefer PayPal," so I used this USPS link ( https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action ) where I tested their address and it said no such address exists. Also, when you click on their "locations" you actually get only a claimed positive review from that "location," not an actual business location. If you keep clicking, you are led back to the original page directing you to pay though PP and send your injectors to their non-existent address. I suspect you end up losing your money, your injectors and a lot of time and frustration.
As I stated above, I selected new injectors for about $57 each after pricing them at every parts source in my area; highest price I found was nearly $100 each. The injectors became suspect upon removal of the upper intake manifold (the intake manifold on my 454 is two-piece) and seeing a pool of fuel. At the time, I was moving onward, mechanically speaking, to expose the leaking gasket under the lower intake manifold. It was leaking anti-freeze as I'd tried to diagnose, even posting here:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27261589.cfm
I'm not the only person to be vexed by that problem; the problem diagnosing it is that first it seems okay, but then, no, it is leaking (coolant disappearing) without any external evidence. It's frustrating and not many are willing to dive into all the work involved without a clear, unambiguous indication. It finally came down to a clear, unambiguous indication when I saw anti-freeze on the cross member. At the time, I was replacing two deteriorated sway bar bushings I noticed when while removing the brakes to have the rotors turned for smoother brake performance. So, it was a series of failures and repairs that I chased for two weeks. Now back to the fuel injectors...
The particular injectors installed during manufacture of my Chevy 454 are no longer in production because they have a nasty habit of leaking down. This, I realized when I saw the pool of gas inside the manifold, is the cause of difficult starting I'd had-- and typical, but not the only possibility. Since the engine always did eventually start (sometimes one try, but many times three tries of the starter), like the antifreeze, it never made it to "must fix now" status. Until that day.
In any case, the happy ending is that all four repairs-- the brakes, the bushings, the gasket, and the injectors are now done and the engine sounds terrific. Only putting some miles on will test the repair, so a trip is in the works.
Oh, one more thing: the Ohio based injector cleaning site with the link in a post above is probably a scam. I was made suspect by the "we prefer PayPal," so I used this USPS link ( https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action ) where I tested their address and it said no such address exists. Also, when you click on their "locations" you actually get only a claimed positive review from that "location," not an actual business location. If you keep clicking, you are led back to the original page directing you to pay though PP and send your injectors to their non-existent address. I suspect you end up losing your money, your injectors and a lot of time and frustration.
