Clean and test injectors?

[KGIA103]

I'm prepping my truck for winter cold starts, and also trying to figure out why it produces white smoke for a minute after starting. I'm replacing all glow plugs, and installing new o-rings for the return lines (two return caps appeared wet, possible small leak).
My question is should I have these injectors cleaned and tested, or just install with new washers and a clean bore?

I used a ear plug to prevent any carbon from getting into the precup. Two injector bores had some moderate carbon build up, but the rest were ok. (Worst two in pictures)

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[chickenpot]

The tips shown dont look too bad. I dont recommend digging into injectors unless you have at least a pop tester and timing tools at the very minimum. Then if you're going that far, new nozzle tips and shims. Carbon buildup in the bore is from a bad copper washer seal.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I agree. If it runs fine, I'd worry about that part in the spring time. To me, it's WAY too close to winter to dive down any rabbit holes. I don't like downing my IDI 4X4 truck after October 1st if I can help it. That said, I will have to do some brake and steering work here soon so it will be downed for as short of a time as possible.

 

[KGIA103]

Thanks for the replies. This isn't my daily driver, and one of the reasons I have this truck is to learn some about working on diesel engines, so here we go. Hasn't snowed here in North Idaho yet, but I know I'll be glad to have a quick starting truck when the temps dip in the next month.
Also, my wife just had a baby, our second daughter, so have been busy with all that entails.
I'm in a diesel tech program at my local college. I'll ask my instructor what he thinks and if there are any shops that do pop testing in the area.

 

[ROCK HARVEY]

I think I used a shotgun bore brush in a cordless drill to clean the bores on mine. Ever since I had an injector seize in the bore due to carbon buildup, I over-torque them on install to make sure that copper washer seals. It’s not fun when you unscrew and injector and only the top half comes out. Spec calls for 35 foot lb, and I do 45 on mine now. YMMV

 

[chickenpot]

Thanks for the replies. This isn't my daily driver, and one of the reasons I have this truck is to learn some about working on diesel engines, so here we go. Hasn't snowed here in North Idaho yet, but I know I'll be glad to have a quick starting truck when the temps dip in the next month.
Also, my wife just had a baby, our second daughter, so have been busy with all that entails.
I'm in a diesel tech program at my local college. I'll ask my instructor what he thinks and if there are any shops that do pop testing in the area.

less than $100 or build one yourself from an old bottle jack. if youre serious about being a diesel tech, intimately learning the fuel system on an IDI will set a baseline for everything else you will work on

 

[mf7lakes]

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[KGIA103]

I decided against the cleaning and testing, reinstalled with new copper washers and some antisieze. Glad to have pulled the injectors and clean out the bores before they got too much worse. The copper washers should get a better seal now.
I am still getting some white smoke at start up. Glow plugs are all functioning normally and pulling 15 Amps each. I am going to look into replacing the other o rings in the fuel fittings at the filer housing, etc. I have never replaced those....

 

[chickenpot]

I decided against the cleaning and testing, reinstalled with new copper washers and some antisieze. Glad to have pulled the injectors and clean out the bores before they got too much worse. The copper washers should get a better seal now.
I am still getting some white smoke at start up. Glow plugs are all functioning normally and pulling 15 Amps each. I am going to look into replacing the other o rings in the fuel fittings at the filer housing, etc. I have never replaced those....

did you torque them down. its 30 or 35 fr lbs i cant remember. though, every idi in history smokes when it starts.. what matters is what it does when it is up to temp and gets a load on it.

 

[KGIA103]

With a warm engine, there is no smoke on acceleration and very little to no blow by. I can remember a time when the truck started a little easier and didn't produce nearly as much white smoke, just trying to bring it back to that if I can. I know I'm being a bit much, but it's fun for me I guess.

 

[Black dawg]

You are not asking too much. These engines, with everything in reasonable condition and within the timing window, should make very little white smoke on a cold start, that goes away very quickly.

 

[DCGfarm]

What I've read (here on the forum) is that if you have addressed the things you listed so far and still get white smoke, the next step is rebuilding the injection pump.

I'm curious if others agree with that assessment because I am currently also at this juncture.

Thank you!

 

[IDIBRONCO]

if you have addressed the things you listed so far and still get white smoke, the next step is rebuilding the injection pump.

Not really. The pump and injectors are meant to be replaced as an entire set. They all wear internally at the same rate. Can you just replace one or the other? Sure, but you have one new part and the other is worn. You'll get the best results from replacing everything.
On a side note, I'm surprised that you mentioned the IP. Most people online, from what I've seen, seem to want to replace the injectors first.