Hydrolock, with fuel

[Dave G]

One of my recently installed injectors was spewing gas onto the injector and valve cover, so I removed it to inspect the o-rings. I followed my previous procedure, unplugging the fuel pump in the trunk access and starting the car to purge the pressure. This time, when I removed the injector, the injector space was full of fuel. Not having much experience with injectors, it did not occur to me that the bottom of this pool of fuel was in the cylinder. After inspecting the rings, I reinstalled the injector and attempted to start the car. The starter motor gave a hell of a try, but it would not crank. I immediately realized what was going on and pulled the spark plug, pulled the fuel pump connector again, and cranked it, blowing all of the gas out onto a rag. I let it dry overnight with the spark plug out and reinstalled it this morning. It started and seems to be running on 3 cylinders. My exhaust smells like fuel, (as does my house) enough for people to stay far back at a red light. No weird noises, no burning oil, just gassy smoke. I am thinking this injector is stuck open and is soaking the plug and cylinder with gas. I will put a new plug in when I get it home and see what happens. The 0-ring no longer leaks fuel onto the engine.

[Dave G]

I think my real question is whether it is just the plug is fouled or if the injector is bad. Does anyone know if a plug is soaked in gas and left out to dry overnight, is it still lilely to misfire wehn reinstalled?

[tonflo]

Not sure about the injector, but check your oil before you drive it. If a lot of that gas got by the rings and wshed down, your oil will be way thin

[douglas vincent]

To quickly check to see if the injector is stuck, you can try just hooking it up directly to 12 volts and listening for the "click"

[Dave G]

Thanks for the advise on both counts. I will change oil before going any further. It is due anyway. How is a good injector supposed sound when 12 volts is applied, vs a bad one. In other words, what does a click signify? New injector is in today, so that will tell the tale anyway. If that was not the problem, then I have a new aftermarket injector for sale, but I doubt it could be anything else, considering the amount of fuel that was dumping. It is almost like it was getting past the lower o-ring, but I know that is intact. It is conceivable it was not placed properly, but I doubt it.

[petridish38]

Question: Did you replace the o-rings each time you reinstalled the injector?

Andrew

[Dave G]

No I did not. I pulled only one injector and reinstalled after closely examining the o-rings. I pulled it out due to seepage past the top ring. Both rings were intact , visibly, at that time. I could find no flaws. The injectors had been in place only a month or less.

[petridish38]

Try replacing the o-rings, they are cheap enough... I had the same problem when I failed to replace the o-rings after taking one of my injectors out. The old ones looked fine when I put them back in, but they were leaking gobs of fuel into the cylinder.... It might take a few miles for the smoke to go away as well.... not sure how long you have driven it.

Good luck.

Andrew

[Dave G]

thanks. It's all good now. New injector and O rings. Latest injector came with big warning for Subaru, Nissan, etc. side-flow injectors, to remove fuel rails, white lithium and double check o rings, and pressurize fuel rail, checking for pressure holding, etc., etc., before starting car. Otherwise, hydrolock can occur. (really?) So where was the warning last month? Note indicates no warranty due to screwed up o rings.