You can buy fuel injector cleaner at a supercenter, the auto parts store, and even the service station, but this OTC cleaner is only so effective. Eventually, you will need to have a professional cleaning because the fuel injectors will still clog. How can you tell if your fuel injectors are clogged and it’s time for a professional service? Clark’s Car Care lists five signs of fuel injector trouble below.
1. Engine Trouble
Clogged fuel injectors can affect your vehicle’s engine performance in a few ways. They can reduce its performance, meaning it won’t respond as it normally does when you accelerate. They can make the engine misfire and sputter. They can make the engine sluggish when it’s under stress. All of these things are signs that your vehicle is fuel-starved, i.e. the clogged injectors aren’t spraying enough fuel.
2. Idling Trouble
Clogged and/or dirty fuel injectors can also make your vehicle’s idle rough. Again, this is because the engine is not getting enough gasoline. The rough idle is basically the last step before it stalls. If the fuel pump is pushing enough gas through to the injectors, but the injector nozzles are clogged and only a tiny amount of the fuel is making its way through, your vehicle’s engine will idle roughly and could stall.
3. Gas Mileage Trouble
We mean lower-than-normal gas mileage when we say gas mileage trouble. This might seem strange considering the injectors are not pushing enough gas into the engine, but the less gas the engine gets the harder it has to work. The added stress of working under-fueled actually causes the engine to burn what gas it has more quickly. Consequently, your gas mileage will be affected by clogged injectors.
4. Tachometer Trouble
This sign of clogged fuel injectors is an interesting one. As the injectors sporadically spray fuel into the cylinders or intake manifold, the tachometer needle on your dashboard will dance around. This is because the engine’s RPMs are changing in an effort to compensate for the fuel surge and loss even though your vehicle isn’t currently switching gears. Your tachometer should be steady between gears.
5. Starting Trouble
Finally, if the injectors are clogged and cannot spray gasoline into the cylinders or intake manifold, your car won’t start. The alternator sends electricity through the spark plugs to generate a spark that sets air and gas on fire. This is the combustion in your combustion engine and it’s what starts your car and keeps it running. No gas no combustion. If your fuel injectors are really clogged, there’ll be no gas.
Give Clark’s Car Care in Naperville, IL, a call if you suspect you’ve got dirty or clogged fuel injectors. We’ll check them out and clean them if they need it.