Bad Leaking Injectors in 3FE (1 Viewer)

[Curtice]

I put a 3FE in my 40 a few years ago. But posting on this forum as I figure there is some strong 3FE expertise. The engine was rebuilt about 10K miles before I put it in, and have only driven probably 5K since.

I have at least 3 fuel injectors leaking, one of them very badly - fuel seems to be flowing out. See video (). This all came out of nowhere...not like it started small then got bigger (at least that I noticed).

From what I have been reading, I will need to replace the o-rings, insulators, and other relevant parts. What I am worried about is if I have a faulty FPR that is causing the problem. I am not getting any diagnostic error codes using the diagnostic check port. So couple of questions:
1) How do I check the FPR to make sure it isn't faulty?
2) Can bad injectors be the problem?
3) Other thoughts on how to diagnose and fix?

I'm not super mechanical, but am working on it. I did install the engine myself, but it was fully built so have not done this kind of work before. Thanks.

 

[Seth S]

You need to measure the fuel pressure at the rail. Fpr’s are just valves designed to dump fuel at a set pressure. So they either fail so they don’t flow or they flow too much. Both of which you would see by measuring the pressure on the fuel rail.

 

[morganism]

Check FPDampner, may have a loose screw on the back of it. If so, it is cooked, screw is factory set. if it leaks, it falls on manifold, and can cause a fire. If it failed long ago, could be the cause of the seals going together

 

[Curtice]

Thanks. I checked the FPDamper. It looks good - screw is set and confirmed no leaks there.

I’ll need to get a pressure gauge to check the pressure at the rail.

 

[Curtice]

Will any fuel pressure gauge work? Something you guys recommend?

 

[WILLD420]

I hear the Harbor Freight kit will work on the cold start injector. I'm hoping that is true since I bought the kit this week for this purpose on mine.

I've gone through several fuel pressure regulators in the last 3 years. They average about 9 months to a year at $120 a piece from rock auto. I can't get Toyota OEM ones here. The last time, I bought an adapter for the hot rod crowd and I will put on an external regulator. I am done dumping money into Chinese crap that fails every 1500 miles when the OEM one was still decent at 299K miles.

 

[Randy88FJ62]

The fact that is it leaking at the injector means the o-ring needs to be replaced. Once you pull the injector inspect the Aluminum fuel rail and verify there are no scratches, gouges, or debris causing the o-ring not to seal.

If you are budget conscious then replace the o-ring and re-install. If you want to invest in the injectors you can mail them to a company to have them rebuilt and flow tested. There are a few companies listed in this forum that people have used.

I doubt your FPR, even if it failed open, would cause the o-rings on your injectors to fail and squirt fuel.

Replace the copper banjo bolts washers and other associated hardware when re-installing.

 

[Curtice]

The fact that is it leaking at the injector means the o-ring needs to be replaced. Once you pull the injector inspect the Aluminum fuel rail and verify there are no scratches, gouges, or debris causing the o-ring not to seal.

If you are budget conscious then replace the o-ring and re-install. If you want to invest in the injectors you can mail them to a company to have them rebuilt and flow tested. There are a few companies listed in this forum that people have used.

I doubt your FPR, even if it failed open, would cause the o-rings on your injectors to fail and squirt fuel.

Replace the copper banjo bolts and other associated hardware when re-installing.

thanks. I plan to do this and good info on what to look for. I was worried that I would go to all the effort to replace the o-rings, etc. then have a fuel pressure issue that causes the problem to happen again (was the cause something different than faulty o-rings).

 

[DickM]

you can mail them to a company

I had good results with injector service from WitchHunter Performance - Injector Cleaning & Flow Testing Services

 

[Seth S]

For reference

1989 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 4.0L L6 Fuel Injector | RockAuto

 

[Curtice]

WitchHunter is actualy near where I live, but they don't accept in person I don't think. I might do this though, just to be sure while I have things apart.

Thanks for the Rock Auto link! Super helpful.

 

[Curtice]

So got everything taken apart and the injectors out. The spacer cups came out with the injectors on two of them. For the rest, very hard to pull those cups out...they seem quite brittle and break. Any secrets here?

I'm going to send the injectors to Witch Hunter for cleaning. For when they get back, I am trying to make sure I understand how the O rings install. Is the picture below correct for where each piece goes? I think its right, except I am not completely sure about the large ring....does it go around the cup (there is one there now) or between the rim of the cup and the injector?

 

[Randy88FJ62]

No secrets, the age coupled with heat is not nice to the plastic.

 

[Seth S]

Before I watched your video when I read the post I was thinking of the traditional idea of leaky injectors....where they are worn internally and leak fuel into the intake manifold...resulting in even worse fuel mileage and all sorts of running issues. But the video you posted really helped clarify the meaning...and its nice to see little bits of info like that as we all try to diagnose running issues from all over the world in a text based format

 

[lcolon]

I have used RC Engineering in the los angeles area a number of times for injector rebuilds (albeit on my audis). I have always been happy with their work. Having everything properly flow tested with a before / after report provides good info. They also replace the orings, fiters, and pintle caps.

RC Fuel Injection

 

[Curtice]

No secrets, the age coupled with heat is not nice to the plastic.

Thanks. I'm worried about trying to grab them with pliers as they are brittle and I don't want small plastic pieces falling in.

 

[Curtice]

Got them cleaned and tested by WitchHunter. Came looking brand new!

Got them installed in the fuel rail, and then seated into the spacer cups. I am hopeful it is correct...I am not sure how to verify they are seated correctly. I just followed the FSM instructions.

There is the slightest of gaps, but it is the same on all 6, so I’m thinking this isn’t an issue.

 

[Cruzandcamp]

Got them cleaned and tested by WitchHunter. Came looking brand new!

Got them installed in the fuel rail, and then seated into the spacer cups. I am hopeful it is correct...I am not sure how to verify they are seated correctly. I just followed the FSM instructions.

There is the slightest of gaps, but it is the same on all 6, so I’m thinking this isn’t an issue.

View attachment 1843653 View attachment 1843654 View attachment 1843655

How did you get the old spacer cups out? I removed the injectors but spacers are still in. Does anyone know where I can get new spacers and orings?

 

[Curtice]

Mine were very brittle. It's been several years, so trying to remember exactly what I did. I think I stuffed a small rag in the hole so nothing could fall in, then carefully pried the old cups out. Most of them broke, I think one or two came out whole.

Spacers are still available OEM: 90561-10004
O-rings too: 90301-07001; 90301-19006 (although iirc, if you get WitchHunter to clean and test your injectors, I think they come back with new o-rings).

 

[MostlyNuts]

Late to the party but see my instagram post on how I remove the spacers without breaking ‘em. Find it at wcw.fj40