This $40 Mistake Can Cause You To Spend Thousands On Repairs

This $40 Mistake Can Cause You to Spend Thousands on Repairs

Let that sink in for a moment. How? In just a second. When manufacturers build vehicles, they give specifications and instructions that should be followed to the letter. Ignoring these can be costly—something as simple as a $40 mistake can cause you to spend thousands on repairs. When the time comes for you to replace parts that need replacement, don’t settle for anything cheap. Be sure to use OEM parts.

Back to the question, how can a $40 mistake cause you to spend thousands of dollars in future repairs? There are many cases in which this can occur, but we’ll settle for the fuel filter. Replacing the diesel fuel filter in your vehicle without adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions is a perfect example of how a $40 mistake can cause you to spend thousands on repairs. A seemingly minor oversight, like improper installation or using the wrong filter, can lead to serious engine issues, contamination, or even complete failure, resulting in costly repairs down the road.

In detail

Upon conducting replacement of this sort, you risk air — of a significant amount — in the injector. This is totally unhealthy for the injector. You see, during operation, diesel that circulates in the injector provides some measure of cushioning to the nozzle needle. This makes the needle close gently and smoothly.

In the absence of this cushioning effect, the needle slams shut with intense force against its seat, quickly leading to the formation and spread of cracks. What many don’t realize is that a simple $40 mistake can cause you to spend thousands on repairs if air enters the injector system and damages critical components. Conduct a check on your injector to be sure.

What are you looking for?

As we’ve already established how detrimental the presence of air is in your diesel injector, you should look out for the following to ensure air is not in the system:

• Dirty fuel filters
• Leaks on side of fuel supply system
• Improperly functioning lift pump
• Failed or failing stator. The stator is usually electronically controlled. If it fails, your injector will be over-pressurized. This excess pressure is too much for the bolts that keep the stator housing attached to the injector, causing it to come off. It’s quite easy to tell if your stator is failing- you’ll notice the engine here a ‘dead mess’ on the cylinder affected.

Prevention

Basically, just use and replace your vehicle parts according to your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. Use OEM parts —cutting corners with cheap alternatives might seem like a small saving, but a $40 mistake can cause you to spend thousands on repairs down the line.

You can also prevent this by conducting routine performance checks—nip the problem in the bud before it becomes a costly issue. Contact us now if you need help!