General Motors and Isuzu are known for their series of Duramax pickup trucks and engines. They came up on the market in early 2001. and their model LB7 now has a reputation as a reliable engine. After 20 years, we know all the mishaps of these machines. We know that their injectors can fail.
But, how long do LBZ injectors last? From what we know, the injectors fail between 100 and 150 thousand miles. Sometimes failing fuel injectors can spray excess fuel into the engine. These bad injectors need replacing, and in most cases, owners choose larger and better fuel injectors. That way they can also get more power and quality from the engine.
Stay with us and you will learn when you should replace the fuel injectors and what is their lifespan. We will also talk about regular maintenance and how it can save you a couple of dollars.
LBZ Injector Lifespan
Engines with these fuel injectors are for some time on the market. A lot of users have already changed their injectors, and from their experience, we can conclude. Often they even upgraded them. That makes the engine work better, and depending on the fuel injectors, increases performance.
Factors Affecting Lifespan of LBZ Injectors
These fuel injectors are using Bosch common rail technology and are working under very high pressure. One of the common issues with the injectors and fuel lines is the poor quality of fuel. Avoid using fuel of low quality, because it will shorten the life of fuel injectors for sure. Using bad fuel will also lead to a drop in performance characteristics.
Overall poor maintenance of the engine will lead to issues with the fuel injectors. If the fuel system gets contaminated with water and dust it will shorten the lifespan of the fuel injectors.
If the fuel injectors are not properly lubricated that will cause issues and make real problems for them. Poor lubrication leads to additional wear and tear and causes damage to the system. If there is a problem with lubrication, the most common cause is issues with the oil system.
See Also: What Is A DOD Delete?: Improving Your V8 Engine
Average Lifespan of LBZ Injectors
From what we saw you can expect for fuel injectors to show signs of a problem after 100k miles. If the engine is well maintained and driven, that can be prolonged to 150k miles.
Signs of Worn-out LBZ Injectors
There are three major signs of a failing fuel injector:
- Sign of smoke on the tailpipe. Smoke is often the result of a fuel leak. Turn the engine on, and let it idle. Pay attention to the smoke coming out of the exhaust. If there is colored smoke, that is a sure sign of issues in the future
- Oil level over the full mark. Take the oil dipstick out and check the oil level. If the level is over the top mark and it smells like diesel that is a good sign of mixing fuel with oil. That happens when the injectors broke down. A failing injector can spray and mix oil and fuel
- Bad cylinder balance rates. This is the surest sign of fuel injectors failing. This is checked with the scan tool. Cylinders should not have a large difference in balancing rates between them. When the engine is at operating temperature, this value can be between ±4 mm3 in park mode and ±6 mm3 in gear.
Maintenance Tips for LBZ Injectors
Every engine needs to be taken care of. If you want your injectors running as long as possible, you should maintain the engine. This is the common answer for most of these problems.
Best Practices To Prolong the Lifespan of LBZ Injectors
Keeping the system clean will go a long way. If the fuel system is clean, that will allow the injectors to last longer. Using better fuel will also show. The engine will be running better, performance will be better, and the injectors will last longer.
Also, changing the filters and oil will go a long way. Don’t skip regular visits to the mechanic. Using a fuel additive will also give your injectors some breathing space. Enrich the fuel.
Common Maintenance Mistakes to Avoid
It is often cited that cleaning the fuel injectors can solve their problem. If you already notice signs of filth buildup, that can point to several problems. Other parts like the cylinders can also be affected. Don’t waste time cleaning the fuel injectors. Find a problem, and resolve it. If the injectors need replacing, do it as soon as possible.
Replacing LBZ Injectors
Replacing the fuel injectors is not an easy task. At least a dozen parts are standing in the way, and mechanics usually take 16 hours to replace them. Because of the labor price, the owners often replace all the injectors. That way they know when they installed them, and will not need to pay for the mechanics’ work that often.
Check Out Car Electrical Problems: What Causes This Trouble?:
When to Replace LBZ Injectors
You need to detect issues with the fuel injectors before you do anything. The most common causes for concern are gray or white smoke coming out of the tailpipe. A fuel leak is a common cause of this, and it can do some serious damage. If you are using bad fuel for a long, you can expect this thing to happen.
Cost of Replacing LBZ Injectors
The fuel injectors can cost anywhere between $2000 and $5000. Add to that the number of 16 working hours needed at the mechanic, and the labor will cost around $1000. If you drive with dirty fuel injectors for a long time, that can result in additional mechanical problems.
There are different fuel injectors on the market, and their price is defined by their quality and performance.
Options for Replacing LBZ Injectors
If you are looking for something better than the stock option, you can choose SAC00 injectors. They are made with the help of Bosch engineers, and they showed signs of superior longevity and quality.
FAQs
How many miles do Duramax injectors last?
Depending on the maintenance and style of driving, the stock fuel injectors can last anywhere between 100 and 150k miles. There are recorded cases of fuel injectors failing after just 50k miles.
How often do you need to replace Duramax injectors?
The main factors that impact this are:
– How many miles the vehicle is driven
– The quality of fuel used
– How well the engine is maintained.
How long do VW diesel injectors last?
They can last up to 250k miles.
Final Considerations
Bosch common rail system brought a lot of good, but with it also some problems. Most of the problems are connected to low-quality fuel. The fuel system can easily become contaminated leading to problems with the fuel injectors.
If you have these fuel injectors, go regularly to your mechanic. Change filters and oil at correct intervals, and keep the fuel system clean. That way you can prolong usage of the fuel injectors, and add some life.
