Injector Issue – Rough Idle
 

I’ve developed a rough idle lately and I can feel a pulse/knock when I hold onto the #1 injector tube (injector at front of engine). Does this sound like injector problems? I’ve got a little over 75,000 miles on the truck. Been doubling my normal dose of PS but doesn’t seem to be improving all that much.

Rough Idle Video
 

I've had a similar issue recently. I posted a video at http://road15.com/files/04 rough idle.MOV

Does your truck have this kind of rough idle?

Please note, this video clip was taken with the truck running on high-idle (but slightly warm). The normal 850 RPM idle is less 'loping' than the 1000 RPM idle in the video.

Additionally, after a week of non-use/no starts, it sounded like a 'second gen' for a minute or two when I started it (louder diesel knock). It appeared only one cylinder (maybe two) had a rough knocking with accompanying black smoke which is not normal for my truck.

Do you have any other symptoms?

Can anybody else provide some advice/experience with this issue?

injector going bad, mite be a dirty nozzle but i doubt it

My truck acts exactly as eastmentctd600's does, if anyone figures out whats going on please fill me in, no codes, only mod is five inch magnaflow, would love to figure this out

bad injector will not throw a code most of the time. never had one throw a code and have injectors go bad 4 times in 2 trucks

OK, so what happens next? i.e. what can I expect?

If the injector goes bad is there potential engine damage?

Please advise.

Keep a close eye on it. Worst case senario.. if it sticks open it could burn a piston or make the cylinder so hot you drop a valve. I see you have a 04.5.. our trucks are notorious for meltdowns lately and in all the meltdowns reported so far the one thing they had in common was injector problems. Also, word to the wise, be careful if your gonna grab the injector lines while the truck is running. I refuse to do it cuz if one lets go it could kill you...

Can someone confirm; should the fron injector tube have a pulsing or slapping you can feel? All the others are absolulely still and no pluse. Can I assume I've got a problem in #1? You can almost hear it slapping.

Al,

The #1 injector line will always have more of a pulsating type feeling compared to the other lines because it is physically longer and has fewer supports (it can move more).

This is a commonly asked question that I've seen around since I bought my truck in '04.

In order to determine if you have a developing problem you would have to trend it over time, even then, how would you trend it? By feel? maybe but it would be difficult to know if you actually have a problem.

Comparison to another truck (known to be in good condition) would be the best way to answer your question.

Any blue smoke at idle when 1st started? Any haze of brown smoke once warm? If you just turn the key with out letting things prime does it not want to start? Has as the truck at any time died shortly after starting? Does the engine sound more 2nd gen even after a little warm up? Fuel mileage decreased? Has the truck ever made oil on the dipstick reading?

These thing all where happening with mine. Had injectors rebuilt all problems solved. PS isn't the best additive but better than nothing. ULSD is bad fuel for these older injectors. If you answered yes to any of those question I would start sourcing a possible rebuild either through industial injection or Don M. Or new ones some place other than chrysler. Then get a 2 mircon filter setup and a better water/sepeator. The factory one is junk and the sensor doesn't trip soon enough since it look for more wate than what the injectors can handle. Just my .02 but No problem since having them rebuilt.

Thanks, this is the information and next steps I was looking for!