The fuel system in your diesel-powered vehicle is made of a complex series of parts that must work together in unison. Damage to any one of these components can compromise fuel efficiency and result in serious engine damage over time.
Anytime air finds its way into your diesel fuel system, you have to worry about the fuel injectors becoming cracked or failing. There are many ways that air can enter your fuel system. Here are three possible sources of air leaks that you can check while trying to prevent air from entering your fuel system in the future.
1. Damaged Injector Combustion Seal
Diesel fuel injectors are fitted with a copper gasket that acts as a seal to prevent any outside contaminants from entering the fuel system. When this seal is damaged or begins to fail as a result of age, superheated combustion gases are able to filter past the injector nozzle. This causes the nozzle to overheat and seize up, which allows air to enter the fuel system.
You will need to have an experienced diesel mechanic replace the damaged injector combustion seal to restore the proper fuel-to-air ratio within your diesel fuel system.
2. Leak in the Supply Lines
A leak in the supply lines that transfer fuel throughout your diesel's mechanical systems can cause air to be introduced into the fuel system. The most troublesome leaks occur on the suction side of the fuel supply system. If a leak forms between the fuel tank and the fuel transfer pump, any air that filters through the leak will be sucked into the pump and distributed along with the fuel. Since there are multiple supply lines within any diesel engine, a mechanic will need to visually inspect each line to determine which one must be replaced to prevent air from getting into your fuel system in the future.
3. Failing Lift Pump
A lift pump is a low-pressure pump that is responsible for transferring fuel to a high-pressure pump where it can be pressurized and injected into your vehicle's fuel system. When the lift pump begins to fail, both air and fuel are sent to the high-pressure pump. This results in air passing through the fuel injectors and into the engine of your vehicle.
It's important that you have an experienced diesel mechanic repair a failing lift pump quickly to avoid the additional damage air inside your fuel system may cause.
For more information, reach out to a company such as Elite Automotive.
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