Did anyone see todays Shadtree Mechanic episode? You know how before each commercial they give a little advice? Well during todays program they said that fuel injectors should be replaced every 50K miles or as recommended in your owners manual.

I have never seen an owners manual recommend replacement of fuel injectors. Have you? I guess if money was no object you could probably bring back a little performance by replacing them but...

The Shadtree guys are pretty knoweldegable but I'm not sure about this one. Any thoughts?


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'97 F150 Lariat, Flareside, white/sliver, SC, ORP, 5.4 (FQR), Mods: 305/70/16 GY ATS, AR Baja wheels, dual exhaust, Smittybilt Nerf Bars, Edelbrock IAS Shocks, K&N Filter and Carbon Fiber Bug Gaurd. Rigged the fog lights too.

 

Sounds pretty shady to me (sorry, I couldn't resist). I would agree with the way you put it: If money was not a problem, then sure, why not. But for everybody else, hell no. It is a good idea to use a can of fuel injector cleaner in your gas tank(s) every 10,000 to 20,000 miles, but replacement at 50,000 ? No way. Hey, wait a minute, I just thought of something... I sure hope my customers were watching that show !!!
Take care,
-Chris

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'95 Eddie Bauer F-150 SC & '64 Falcon/Ranchero
-------------------------------------
Are you A.S.E. Certified ? If so, ask me about
iATN...the best tool you'll ever have ! ! And it's
free

 

Your probably right. While we are on the subject though. What kind of fuel injector cleaner do you use?

 

I drove my last truck and never cleaned or replaced the injectors.
I drove it 106000 miles with no problems.
If it's not broke don't fix it.
Todays injectors are much better designed than the injectors that they used in the 80s and no gas treatment is requred or recommended by Ford.

 

Both Mobil and Chevron are high detergent gasolines, they help keep fuel systems clean without the use of aftermarket cleaners; although they are more expensive.

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1999 Lariat Super Cab, S.B. 5.4L, 3.55 LS
and everything but the leaky slider window.
Bright red w/ gold 2-tone, Leather Captain's Chairs
Mods: Duraliner bedliner, Bugflector II, Hide-a-hooks.
& a leeetle chrome tip on the exhaust.

 

KKirk1, I saw same message and I was a little shocked...if the injectors need to be replaced at 50k, might as well buy a new vehicle.

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'99 F150 SC, 4x2, Oxford white, flareside, 5.4, 3.55 rearend,
bodyside mouldings, Snugtop hard tonneau, K&N dropin and airbox mod. Duraliner drop-in (gave up on the Penda Nascar).
Future mods: 2/4 lowering, bra and some Roush stuff. Also want Gibson Supertruck

 

i dont think my truck has fuel injectors, so i guess i dont have to worry (1985). Hey, anybody care to gimme some input? go see my thread, should I drop in a new engine? Any mechanics here? I know I have an older truck, but i think new trucks are too expensive, and all the people i meet with newer truck are so afraid of messing them up, getting them dirty that they neveer do any work wiht em. Lets take those 1999 trucks MUDDIN"!!!

 

eddie threat, you ain't met me yet. I go in the same places I took my 79 4x4, the 79 had some advantages though: lift, mudders, swb.

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1997 4x4 5.4 ORP XLT extended cab Dark Toreador red Westin nerf bars tint HARDER THAN A ROCK AND FASTER THAN A HEART BEAT

 

Most gasolines these days are better at keeping injectors clean. That being said, injectors do still require cleaning. A vehicle can accumulate alot of miles with out appearing to have any injector problems, but if you were to replace them, you would notice a difference. One of the most common signs of injector troubles is a rough idle. The problem is not that the injectors fail, or even that they all get dirty, but that one or two will get dirtier than the others, and will not allow equal fuel to each cylinder. Eventually this will cause uneven engine wear. Using a can of fuel injector cleaner in your gas tank (I pretty much use what ever is on sale, as there isn't that much difference) at regular intervals is for preventative maintenance. Once the injectors become clogged, they will have to be removed and professionally cleaned, or replaced. A very important side note on this comes from an actual customer that I had. He had a '91 F-150/5.0 and had a very rough idle. To make a long story a little shorter, he had two gas tanks, but hardly ever used the rear tank. He had left it empty for quite some time, and when he decided to use it, a combination of rust and dirt was introduced into the fuel lines, got past the filter and clogged up three of his injectors. He now uses both tanks, and never lets either one get below a quarter full.
Take care,
-Chris

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'95 Eddie Bauer F-150 SC & '64 Falcon/Ranchero
-------------------------------------
Are you A.S.E. Certified ? If so, ask me about
iATN...the best tool you'll ever have ! ! And it's
free