Driving an R32 GTR with leaky injector....need advice

[judasentinel]

I am planning on going on a trip and am wondering how dangerous it is to drive the GTR with a leaky injector, actually two. The leak is not drastic, in that it is not a drip, but a constant wetting of the injector. I have tried over 6 injectors in those spots (cyl 1 and 2) and every injector leaks. I have changed the o ring, seals, but still no luck. Its hard to think that all injectors would leak. I dont understand.

So I am thinking that since I have to go on this trip in the GTR, I might as well ask the experts on how dangerous it is. Seems some people say it is very dangerous and others say you can drive it without catching fire or burning the car down.

How likely is it that a leaky injector would cause fire in the engine bay, considering that the burning point of gasoline is around what...800 degrees? Its not like the injectors are sitting right above the exhaust manifolds.

I do not intend to push the car on the trip and will just cruise along. Might even get a fire extinguisher just in case, to go along.

Need advice......and if someone knows what to do to fix it before I leave in 2 days, please let me know. I had to resort to getting the 1990-95 Nissan Axxess o-rings (which are cross-referenced as being the same as for the R32 GTR) and they seem to fit perfectly. But I am not sure how the fitment has to be. The rings are not as wide as the slot they go into, and they fit snugly into it. You can rotate them with your fingers. Is that how they are supposed to be? Or am I missing something?

Thanks,

Munib

[Skym]

Leaking fuel hoses (cracked on fuel filter) have been known to cause engine bay fires in that area on a R32, so I wouldn't risk it.

[judasentinel]

Apples and oranges, Skym. You cannot compare the leak from a cracked fuel/petrol hose to a leaky injector, both because the line has a much bigger opening/crack for the fuel to seep out and because the injectors are not located near anything electrical, like a fuel line is near the starter, or is even exposed to sparks from something coming from the road. I dont even think the alternator would be a potential hazard.

I am not asking about the fuel line. I am asking about one injector that seems to dampen up. More specifically, it is injector no. 2.

[bobbo]

Can you tell if its weaping on the rail side or where it enters the head? Are you lubricating the o-rings before installing them? You're in Toronto. I'm sure Daryl would have a set of seals.

[NismoS-tune]

The 3 other ones I sent ddn't work?

[judasentinel]

Two of them didnt work, Franc. So in total, 2 worked and the rest leak. Oh well. And yes they are both leaking from the fuel rail side, but whether it is the o rings or the injector plastic body, its hard to say. The o-rings I put in are new and they are the exact same as the stock ones I had on the other non-leaking injectors. So I can probably rule them out. The plastic body is what is getting wet/damp. If you touch the rubber seal between the injector and the fuel rail, or the rail outlet, they are bone dry. So it is likely that it is the injector itself that is leaking.

I will do some more looking into and get back to y'all.

[amnash]

mine were leaking when i bought the car.. and i drove about 300km home. and i changed orings multiple times. and ended up being a couple injectors were leaking. take them off take to an injector place to have them leak tested. and then get new orings. those injectors are probably 20 years old.. see if you can get a set of r34 ones for cheap (if yours are leaking) try stay away from really old injectors.

were you using the right orings?


Injector Seals (rb20/rb26): they correspond to the nissan axxess multivan
(LORDCO KIT) Niehoff part # 274711
16412F / 16618-78A00 O-Ring
16603F / 16635-78A00 Fuel rail side insulator
16603G / 16636-V5000 Tail side insulator

[amnash]

should be able to reuse insulators... otherwise its about $60 each time replacing everything

[judasentinel]

Yes, Adam, the o-rings were right, at least I think they are. I got them from parts source. They are the same as those used on the 1990-95 Nissan Axxess and the KA24DE motor in the 240s.

I dont know what the insulator in an injector is. If it is the yellow plastic, then that's what I think has been leaking in all of them. I have gone through 9 injectors, three mine and 6 sent by a friend. And most of them leak in some way. So I dont know. Maybe I will seek out some R34 GTR injectors if I find them.

The reason I posted this topic here in this section was because what I wanted to know was the truth about fire hazards and fear-mongering that is continuing on the Internet about driving around with leaky injectors. I don't think a slow leak would cause a fire or something, but internal damage is another thing if you beat up on the car while it is running lean in the cylinders that have a leaky injector.

[Skym]

Apples and oranges, Skym. You cannot compare the leak from a cracked fuel/petrol hose to a leaky injector, both because the line has a much bigger opening/crack for the fuel to seep out and because the injectors are not located near anything electrical, like a fuel line is near the starter, or is even exposed to sparks from something coming from the road. I dont even think the alternator would be a potential hazard.

I think it's more the fuel fumes that can get ignited, then fuel. If coilpacks are slightly leaking onto mounting bracket, it's a source of ignition (gas from fuel can get in through back of coilpack cover if engine is idling, car is stationary).

Also hot engine can be a ignition source if doing a long trip.

I am not asking about the fuel line. I am asking about one injector that seems to dampen up. More specifically, it is injector no. 2.

Oil or fuel hose leaks onto hot engine or exhaust manifold are the main cause of engine bay fires, but it's the gas I'm worried about with leaking coilpacks or similar.

It's your car, your decision at the end of the day.

Some injectors do have a bit of play and there's certain seals you buy to solve this. Not sure what seals, but I know it's certain size seals that work. Look for seals for Denso injectors (I think it was those injectors that have that problem). Stock injectors are usually Denso or Unisia JECS.

[amnash]

i have a fire extinguisher in my car at all times.. good time to buy one? lol the insulators are just there to basically hold the injector in place. it doesn't do anything to seal. there's one on intake side, fuel rail side and one oring that ends up inside the fuel rail.

its a good idea to get injectors leak checked though.. instead of just buying another set.. mine were leaky i bought a set of thought to be good injectors and put them in. and i still had a leak. so i thought something about my car was breaking them.. car came with a rising rate FPR and i thought maybe that was it. so i put a constant pressure tomei FPR on. and at the same time i took both sets of injectors to get tested and the guy found 2 leaking in one set and 3 in the other.. so no wonder i was having issues. put 6 non leaking ones in after that with new orings and never had a leak again..

not sure if the rising rate FPR was related or not.. probably not. but oh well. make sure when installing orings and stuff use a lot of vaseline as lube so the orings don't get damaged.

when i was doing mine it was a rb20 with stock manifold.. what a ******* pain in the ass taking the manifold off about 6 times in one month..

[speedfreak]

Just take them out and get them rebuilt.

http://www.performancediesel.ca/products.htm

Peace of mind...
Or buy an extinguisher and gamble.
You could of had them rebuilt and returned to you by now.
They're not much to rebuild and clean

[Rocketeer]

My first GTR caught on fire in the engine bay 3 years ago. To this day Im not really sure what caused it.

I had attempted to take it to work around 12pm, but as I was backing out of my driveway I remember seeing the battery light illuminate and seeing a small bit of smoke come out from under the hood. I was pretty shocked, and realized I didn't want to risk taking it to work in case it blew up (ironically this happened). I took a look under the hood to see what the hell had happened, but nothing was immediately obvious. Battery was fine, no leaking gas anywhere, no strange sounds, I think there was a bit of a weird smokey smell (faint) but there were no flames, so I figured it wouldn't spontaneously combust (holy **** was I wrong).

Fast forward 12 hours (midnight) after not having touched my car, and my sis runs into my room saying my car is on fire. Long story short, car was written off, I currently always carry a fire-extinguisher (you most likely wont need it for yourself, but you might just save someone else's life/car), and I was left scratching my head.

I know this doesn't answer your original question, but fire is not something you want to **** with. Had someone I know burn to death after crashing their car. So I'd say don't risk it on your roadtrip.

[RixR32]

I'm sure you're back Munib, how did you make out?

Rick