Finding a bad injector

[BrianDT]

We have a bad injector on our old IH again. We are pouring out black smoke and getting fuel in the oil.

So, we are going to replace all the injectors, but are wondering there is an easy way to see if one cylinder is hotter than another. We were going to buy a temp gun, but a thermal imager seems to do the same thing and give some extra benefits.

It looks like the hot spots would be easy to find from this video.

 

[davesl708]

The water may even out the temperature of the engine making it difficult for the scanner to find a cold spot.
Thermal imagers can be a big help in spotting other issues. Would be interesting to see if it could spot a cold cylinder.

 

[Harry in Ky]

Exhaust manifold temp differences might be one way, provided your manifold has separate ports for each cylinder. Listening to engine performance while cracking single injector lines one at a time is another. I suspect you've already been there?

 

[BrianDT]

Yes, we have been there and know what one is bad... the issue we have is that this is a reman injector and this cylinder seems to throw injectors or our luck sucks with this cylinders injectors.

 

[Texasmark]

What is the failure mechanism on the injectors from the offending cylinder? Compression check run on all cylinders? All the thrown injectors reman'd? Same person doing the reman with the same parts and equipment?

 

[BrianDT]

All injectors have remained open. Maybe a tip issue. Compression is almost identical between all cylinders. The reman units are from different places, but the work might be completed by the same company. not sure. We are going with all brand new units this time and want to keep an eye on it.

 

[buickanddeere]

I have a SEEK thermal camera that plugs into the smart phone . An outstanding tool to find faulty equipment , cold air drafts around doors, windows , ceiling light fixtures , wall outlets etc. Makes setting carb's simple enough on motorcycles and snowmobile engines.

 

[Tx Jim]

It will surprise me if an faulty injector is the reason diesel is getting in engine crankcase. Easy method to locate faulty injector is to loosen inj lines one at a time listening for how engine sounds similar to checking for a fouled spark plug on a gasoline engine.