Injectors-How often to change?

Mark,
Yes
Wayne.

Boeing, black smoke means the engine is not getting enough air, before pulling the injectors and pump take the intake off the turbo and spin the turbo rotor to feel if it free, rule of thumb with earth moving equipment turbo's start to fail at around 5000 engine hours, when I installed a turbo at 40,000km on my 80 series I put an hour meter on it, when I sold the car after 200,000 km and 2222 hours I had averaged 72 km hr, the turbo was bought from Toowoomba Turbo’s and they suggested that the turbo be rebuilt at 250,000 km. in your car 500,000km would equate to about 7000 hours.
What I am suggesting is that your turbo has been living on borrowed time.
If you find the turbo is tight to turn and does not spin freely get it rebuilt.
From my earth moving equipment experience and knowing the engine hours I was averaging in my 80 series 100,000km for injector changes works out to be 1300hrs, with earth moving equipment what we do is change the turbo and injectors at 5000hrs (360,000 km) then again at 10,000hrs (720,000km), the engine usually fails and requires a rebuild around the 15,000 hr time, what we have found is that we have prevented turbo failures but we have experienced more problems with poor workmanship of the rebuilt injectors and pumps, so they are left in place for the full life of the engine which would be an estimated 1 million km, ie if you have a good pump and injectors from new don’t touch them, look after them by ensuring that your fuel is clean, don’t overchange fuel filters as every time you change a filter some crap gets through, filters don’t start to be efficient until they get some build up on the element and block the larger pores of the element, every 25,000km or every 12 months is ok, drain the water out monthly or sooner if you suspect water in the fuel.
Diesels are great
Don’t be scared of em
Stew

Heres some more nitpicking!! Your both sort of rite but black smoke is unburnt fuel but can be for a multitude of reasons. A blocked air filter or failed or inefficient turbo can cause it as with the low boost it wont inhale a full pot of air, and is a similar effect to low compression. Worn nozzles/injectors will cause black smoke because of inefficient atomisation and the fuel is unable to burn completely. White smoke can be from the same thing but the main reason is insufficient combustion temperature and a common cause is the engine running too cold (thermostat?) hence white smoke on start up is not unusual in cold temps nor is a real prob when engine hasnt warmed up yet. Stew is spot on about one thing though, we all love to fiddle but if it aint broke and theres no reason to think it mite break, leave it alone. Before doing the turbo though start with the air filter and also check your exhaust hasnt been squashed by a rock ( though this will more likely cause white smoke) Look for the obvious and easy first!!

Thanks guys for your input. I have checked the filter and that is ok. I will give a turbo place a call and have a chat to them. Does anyone know the average cost of a turbo service??

Regards

Mark

Mark, did you notice a drop in economy with the smoke?
Is it harder to start now??
Have you been using thesame fuel source throughout???
Sometimes bad fuel is all that is needed to upset the apple cart.
Andrew

Hi Andrew, No my mechanic has not done any tests on it as yet and to be honest I will probably take it to a good deisel place as they are more of "experts" . Don't get me wrong, he is a great mechanic and will try and save clients money were possible with the exception of oil (always uses Penrite) good oil is cheap insurance I believe. When I get the problem soughted I will post a reply.

Regards

Mark