Leaking Injector Fixed?

[Haironyourchest]

My 1.5 DCI Kangoo was making a ticking noise, identified problem as a leaking Injector seal. There was a pool of gunk around the injector and a "puffing" feeling if I held my finger near it. Anyway, I jumped off the deep end and pulled the injector, cleaned it, exteriorly, and cleaned the crud from the inside of the bore, while taking care to plug the opening into the cylinder with a rubber cone. Very carefully in other words. I didn't replace the copper washer, as I don't have one...put it all back together, and fully expected the van to not start, but it DID - and seems to be running smoother and quieter??? Is this normal? Should I replace the seal anyway or just keep touching wood? Anyone else have this experience?

[felixthelogchopper]

17 minutes ago, Haironyourchest said:

My 1.5 DCI Kangoo was making a ticking noise, identified problem as a leaking Injector seal. There was a pool of gunk around the injector and a "puffing" feeling if I held my finger near it. Anyway, I jumped off the deep end and pulled the injector, cleaned it, exteriorly, and cleaned the crud from the inside of the bore, while taking care to plug the opening into the cylinder with a rubber cone. Very carefully in other words. I didn't replace the copper washer, as I don't have one...put it all back together, and fully expected the van to not start, but it DID - and seems to be running smoother and quieter??? Is this normal? Should I replace the seal anyway or just keep touching wood? Anyone else have this experience?

I'm not a diesel expert but, if your engine is like the CAT unit in my Trooper, the missing washer will allow diesel into the lubricant leading to the engine running on the engine oil and over-revving to destruction. Watch out for a rising engine oil level if you keep running it like this.

[Haironyourchest]

Yeah sorry the washer is still in place, I mean I left the original one in - didn't replace it with a new one (yet). I've been monitoring the oil level, nothing unusual there. Cheers Felix 

[felixthelogchopper]

Just now, Haironyourchest said:

Yeah sorry the washer is still in place, I mean I left the original one in - didn't replace it with a new one (yet). I've been monitoring the oil level, nothing unusual there. Cheers Felix 

No worries. Like I say, I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure that copper washers deform on tightening so they are only single use and will need replacing ASAP.

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, Haironyourchest said:

I didn't replace the copper washer, as I don't have one...put it all back together, and fully expected the van to not start, but it DID - and seems to be running smoother and quieter??? Is this normal? Should I replace the seal anyway or just keep touching wood? Anyone else have this experience?

In the past I would have annealed the washer by heating it to cherry red and dropping it into cold water before reusing it. As It has sealed why do anything?

[Mike Hill]

19 minutes ago, openspaceman said:

In the past I would have annealed the washer by heating it to cherry red and dropping it into cold water before reusing it. As It has sealed why do anything?

Why did you do that?

[openspaceman]

7 minutes ago, Mike Hill said:

Why did you do that?

Annealing softens the copper so that when you next torque it down it flows a bit to make a seal. As it flows it work hardens so a used one is less able to conform to surface irregularities

[Stubby]

I would not quench it in water . just let it cool slowly in air .

[Haironyourchest]

Yeah I just thought that, doesn't quenching harden metal? Or is that only ferrous metals?

Edited January 6, 2018 by Haironyourchest

[Mike Hill]

5 minutes ago, openspaceman said:

Annealing softens the copper so that when you next torque it down it flows a bit to make a seal. As it flows it work hardens so a used one is less able to conform to surface irregularities

Only if the injector dosn't "bottom out" on the threads or is an old type that clamps in.Annealing won't increase the thickness of the washer,which is why you  want to use a new one.

 

If its worked for you,then keep it up.But some of the injectors I have replaced took 7 hours to get to,thats alot of work to redo if one leaks because of a 5 pence washer