Fuel injectors deliver fuel to the engine for faster and more efficient combustion. The atomized fuel droplets burn easier when passed through the injector, improving engine performance and fuel economy. These electrical parts are controlled by the vehicle’s ECU (Electronic Control Unit), instructing it to release specific fuel amounts to the engine at the right pressure and in a distinct spray pattern.
Fuel injectors can clog without regular cleaning and maintenance. When they are dirty or obstructed, you may experience engine underperformance. You may also notice an increase in fuel consumption and emissions as fuel efficiency decreases. Properly cleaning the fuel injectors routinely can extend injector life and optimal long-term performance.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Fuel Injector?
Fuel injector costs vary with your vehicle’s model, the injector brand and service fees. High-quality fuel injectors should last approximately between 50,000 and 500,000 miles with moderate driving, but replacing them can be costly.
You can expect to pay a significant amount per injector, especially if everything needs replacing. Individual injectors can cost less than $40 or over $500. Depending on the vehicle you drive and the injector quality, you could spend between $300 and $5,000 to replace them collectively, excluding labor. You should have injectors fitted by a professional for optimum results.
Factors That Impact Fuel Injector Replacement Costs
Beyond your vehicle’s make and model, your car’s age could be a factor in the cost of new fuel injectors. For example, you might struggle to find compatible injectors if you drive an old or rare model. Sourcing these components could be expensive, especially if parts are hard to find. You’ll generally pay more for better-quality injectors, too.
Mechanics also charge different rates. Consider comparing quotes for several injector brands and mechanics to find prices that suit your budget. Fair, reasonably priced parts and services should be adequate compared to cheap or overly expensive ones.
3 Signs That You Need to Replace Your Fuel Injector
It’s crucial to identify signs that your fuel injectors need replacing to avoid further problems. Below are some common issues that indicate the need to replace your injectors.
1. Engine Misfires
Fuel injectors are pressure-sensitive and must spray the right fuel at an ideal pressure. When there’s an imbalance in pressure due to clogged or dirty injectors, your engine may misfire. Signs of misfiring include shuddering, idling roughly, black smoke, poor acceleration and a strong gasoline or diesel smell.
2. Poor Fuel Economy
With dirty injectors, fuel struggles to pass through and deliver to the engine at the proper rate and spray pattern. The engine works harder to burn the fuel it’s receiving, meaning you’ll spend more time at the fuel station refueling. If the fuel injectors aren’t cleaned or replaced promptly, you’ll notice increased fuel costs.
3. Engine Stalling
An engines revolutions per minute (RPMs) must be consistent to prevent stalling. When the fuel injector is dirty or clogged, it sprays fuel unevenly, impacting the RPM and causing it to fluctuate. The needle will bounce as the engine chokes, struggling to get fuel. Your engine will stall, and you’ll lose power.
DIY vs. Professional Fuel Injector Cleaner
Cleaning your injectors is an alternative to replacing them. Maintenance is essential for ensuring their longevity, especially if they’re not close to their end of life. Whether you clean them, using the right products is vital. Both options have advantages.
- DIY cleaning pros: Labor costs to clean the injectors can be high. Plus, you may need to take your car to the shop and leave it there. Cleaning with DIY products is cheaper, convenient and usually easy to pour into the fuel tank.
- Professional cleaning benefits: Heavy blockages aren’t easily resolved with many DIY cleaners, and it may be challenging to clean problematic injectors requiring diagnostic evaluation. Professional mechanics identify specific issues affecting your fuel system, deep-clean injectors and ensure the engine performs efficiently after service.
Try Our Exclusive Hot Shot’s Secret Products Today
Cleaning your fuel injectors will help you improve fuel economy and get professional results doing the job yourself. With Hot Shot’s Secret’s Diesel Extreme and Gasoline Extreme additives, you’ll extend the usage of your fuel injectors and your engine’s performance.
Our products prevent costly repairs by cleaning your entire fuel system, improving fuel efficiency, engine power and performance. Our additives are extremely effective and can be used without professional assistance.
A 12-ounce bottle of Gasoline Extreme can treat 20 gallons of gasoline every 10,000 miles and is added to the tank during refueling. Our Diesel Extreme counterpart treats 40 gallons of diesel fuel with one 16-ounce bottle. If you’re dissatisfied with our products, we’ll refund you without any questions.
If you have an engine with Hydraulically actuated electronic unit injection (HEUI) like a 7.3 or 6.0 Powerstroke, Stiction Eliminator was designed to save these injectors and bring them back into working condition. By removing the burnt oil that fires this style of injector.
Find out how we else can help extend your engine’s life cycle by speaking to one of our friendly consultants at 800-341-6516. Browse our shop to explore our product range and add to your cart, or contact us for more information.