07/29/2025
Tech Tip Tuesday
Customer brings me a 6.0 powerstroke this week with a hard to start hot condition and running rough. The truck was recently purchased after previous owner had head studs done and two injectors replaced.
High pressure oil leak test showed leak at cylinder 7 injector spool valve. Upon oil rail removal, found the injector to be broken into two pieces from the base of the spool valve and top of fuel body of the injector. Further evaluation found the retaining bolts for the spool valve to be broken, allowing the injector to separate. As well as oil rail o-rings in the top of 6 other injectors to be leaking.
All signs lead to improper installation and torque procedure, using the wrong torx socket for installation. Too short of a torx socket allows the socket base to lean into the spool valve, increasing the chance of cracking or breaking the injector.
A set of injectors later and preventively replacing the stand pipes and oil rail plugs while having the oil rail removed, and this customer is back on the road and no more hard to start hot condition.
As the consumer taking your vehicles to a service repair facility, be careful to pick somewhere with properly trained staff and necessary tools to do a job correctly without damaging costly components.
If you’re in need of any diesel repair, give me a call today. We have the proper training and tooling necessary to take care of your investment and keep your vehicle on the road and reliable.
