In an attempt to make vehicles as efficient as possible, engines today are fitted with a common rail fuel injection system. These systems are designed to operate with high efficiency by pressurising the fuel and spraying it into each cylinder precisely on time. Yet, these systems can begin to degrade, even though the process is relatively slow and may be hard to notice. So, if you want to maintain those high levels of efficiency, what issues should you be aware of?
General Contamination
Your common rail injection system will contain one fuel injector mechanism for each engine cylinder. This particular part contains microscopic holes through which the control mechanism sprays the fuel. Still, it doesn't take much for miniature particles to interfere with this operation, and these particles can actually damage the sensitive valve that regulates the pressure. When this happens, the wrong amount of fuel will be introduced, either flooding or starving the chamber at the wrong time.
Surface Corrosion
The fuel that you buy from your local service station is not always of the highest quality. Sometimes, it can be handled or stored improperly, which means that small amounts of water may contaminate the fuel before you buy it. Unfortunately, some of this water will find its way through to the common rail system. This can sometimes lead to surface corrosion, with an associated efficiency drop.
Carbon Coking
Did you know that the detonation process within each cylinder creates carbon as a byproduct? Given time, these carbon deposits will accumulate around the tip of the injector, affecting the amount of fuel and its associated pressure. Also, a certain amount of fuel will always remain in the injector at the moment that you shut your engine down, which will gradually cook due to the heat rather than being used to precipitate detonation. This will lead to an even greater build-up of carbon deposits, further inefficiencies and higher fuel bills.
High-Quality Parts Are Essential
While cleaning a common rail injection system is always possible during a routine service, certain parts may not always be salvageable. In this type of situation, you should always get the highest quality replacement part you can find. After all, this system relies on incredibly small tolerances and the typical working conditions are very harsh indeed. Thus, the higher quality parts that you choose, the longer you can expect them to last.
For more information, contact a local mechanic.