OM646 Diesel Injectors

Rough idle and engine vibration

Worn injector nozzles cause uneven fuel spray, leading to rough idle at low RPM. Most noticeable when the engine is cold.

Excessive exhaust smoke

Black or blue-grey smoke on acceleration indicates poor fuel atomisation. This is often caused by carbon buildup on the injector nozzle tip.

Poor fuel economy

A worn or leaking injector delivers incorrect fuel quantities, reducing efficiency by 10–20% in severe cases.

Engine misfire under load

Intermittent misfires during acceleration suggest one or more injectors are failing to deliver the correct fuel pressure.

Difficult cold starting

Degraded injector nozzles struggle to atomise fuel at lower cranking pressures, causing extended crank times in cold weather.

Loss of power

Gradual power loss across the rev range, particularly above 2500 RPM, can indicate injector flow rate degradation.

Increased diesel knock

Louder than normal combustion noise, especially at idle, can indicate incorrect injection timing due to worn injector internals.