How to Clean Fuel Injectors
When was the last time you cleaned your vehicle's fuel injectors? Sure, we all change out the oil and air filters regularly enough, but the fuel injectors often get overlooked.
The fuel injectors are essential for delivering the correct fuel-to-air ratio to the engine, which ensures a clean burn and maximum power from your motor. Over time, the ethanol found in modern fuels creates varnish-like deposits within the spray tips of the fuel injectors. Tiny specs of dirt or other contaminants will also affect the spray tips' effectiveness, and thus the all-important fuel-to-air ratio.
Typical symptoms of fouled or dirty fuel injectors include: loss of top-end power, unexpected power surges under throttle, poor idling, and increased fuel consumption. Watch the video above and follow the steps below to learn how to clean fuel injectors.
Tools and Parts - Fuel Injector Cleaning
NOTE: We used a Motion Pro HV2 fuel injector cleaning kit for this task. This tool cleans most types of fuel injectors, and Motion Pro offers different pigtail adapters to fit various injector styles, so you can use the cleaner kit on your sport bike, dirt bike, ATV or side-by-side.
Preparing Fuel Injectors
Step 1. Remove the fuel injector(s) from your vehicle. Consult the service manual for the manufacturer's instructions on how to remove the injectors(s) from your vehicle's make and model.
Step 2. Test that the fuel injector cleaner tool is working by pressing the red button. If the red light doesn't illuminate, remove the plate from the cleaner tool and install a new 9-volt battery.
Step 3. Clean the outside of the fuel injector with brake/contact cleaner. You want the fuel injector to be as clean as possible, so there's no risk of dirt or contaminants getting into it.
Flushing Fuel Injectors
Step 1. Remove the two screws holding the retaining clamp onto the cleaner tool.
Step 2. Place the engine side of the fuel injector into PORT 2 of the cleaner tool, with the fuel injector's electrical connector facing outward from the cleaner tool.
NOTE: Most fuel injectors will fit into PORT 2. However, some types of injector may have to use PORT 1 in this step.
Step 3. Reinstall the clamp and two screws, and carefully tighten down the clamp so it lightly compresses the fuel injector's lower seal against the cleaner tool.
NOTE: Don't overtighten the clamp, and be careful not to damage the fuel injector and its O-rings.
Step 4. Connect the adapter end of the pigtail adapter to the fuel injector, and plug the electrical connector end of the pigtail into the cleaner tool.
Step 5. Press the red button on the cleaner tool and listen for the click, which is the solenoid within the fuel injector opening and allows cleaner fluid to pass through it.
Step 6. Loosen the red knob on the cleaner tool opposite the port that the fuel injector is housed in. In most cases, it's PORT 2.
Step 7. Insert the tube from a can of contact cleaner fluid into the red knob, and gently re-tighten the knob to seal the tube within the cleaner tool.
Step 8. Press and hold the red button on the cleaner tool to activate the fuel injector, and spray the cleaner fluid into the fuel injector for a few seconds to flush it out. Repeat this step a couple of times.
NOTE: Because the cleaner fluid is passing through the fuel injector in the opposite direction to regular fuel flow, there will not be a spray pattern coming from the injector at this point.
Step 9. Remove the pigtail from the fuel injector and cleaner tool, then loosen the clamp and remove the injector from the tool.
Cleaning Fuel Injectors
Step 1. Remove the fuel injector's lower seal so it won't get damaged. Place the fuel side of the fuel injector into PORT 1 of the cleaner tool, with the fuel injector's electrical connector facing outward from the cleaner tool.
NOTE: It may be necessary to remove the O-ring from the fuel side of the fuel injector to allow the injector to seat into the cleaner tool. Most fuel injectors will fit into PORT 1, however some types of injector may have to use PORT 2 in this step.
Step 3. Reinstall the clamp and two screws, and carefully tighten down the clamp.
NOTE: Once again, don't overtighten the clamp, and be careful not to damage the injector.
Step 4. Reconnect the adapter end of the pigtail to the fuel injector, and plug the electrical connector end of the pigtail into the cleaner tool. Press the red button on the cleaner tool and listen for the click from the fuel injector's solenoid.
Step 5. Loosen the red knob on the cleaner tool opposite the port that the fuel injector is housed in (in most cases PORT 1), then insert the tube from the fuel contact cleaner fluid into the red knob and gently re-tighten the knob.
Step 6. Press and hold the red button on the cleaner tool, and spray the cleaner fluid into the fuel injector for a few seconds to clean it. Repeat this step a couple of times.
NOTE: The cleaner fluid is now passing through the fuel injector in the normal direction of fuel flow, and there should be a good spray pattern coming from the injector. Look for a consistent, even spray pattern. If the spray pattern isn't consistent, you'll need to go back and repeat the flushing process, and then run through the cleaning process once more.
Step 7. Remove the pigtail from the fuel injector and cleaner tool, then loosen the clamp and remove the injector from the tool. Reinstall the fuel injector's lower seal, and also reinstall the O-ring if you removed in Step 1.
Step 8. Reinstall the fuel injector(s) back into your vehicle and you're done.
