Competency Based Learning Material: Servicing Diesel Fuel Injector
Competency Based Learning Material: Servicing Diesel Fuel Injector
Sector:
AUTOMOTIVE/LAND TRANSPORT
Qualification:
Automotive Servicing NC II
Unit of Competency:
Welcome to the module “Servicing Diesel Fuel Injector”. This module contains training
materials and activities for you to complete.
The unit of competency "Service and Repair Engine Mechanical System" contains the
knowledge, skills and attitudes required for an Automotive Servicing course. It is one of
the Core Modules at National Certificate level (NC II).
You are required to go through a series of learning activities in order to complete each
learning outcomes of the module. In each learning outcome there are Information Sheets,
Resource Sheets and Reference Materials for further reading to help you understand better
the required activities. Follow these activities on your own and answer the self-check at the
end of each learning outcome. Get the answer key from your instructor and check your work
honestly. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask your facilitator for assistance.
You may already have some or most of the knowledge and skills covered in this learner's
guide because you have:
_ been working for some time
_ already completed training in this area.
If you can demonstrate to your trainer that you are competent in a particular skill, you don't
have to do the same training again.
If you feel you have some of the skills, talk to your trainer about having them formally
recognized. If you have qualification or Certificates of Competence from previous training,
show it to your trainer. If the skills you acquired are still relevant to the module, they may
become part of the evidence you can present for RPL.
At the end of this learning material is a learner’s diary, use this diary to record important
dates, jobs undertaken and other workplace events that will assist you in providing further
details to your trainer or assessors. A Record of Achievement is also provided for your
trainer to complete once you completed the module.
This learning material was prepared to help you achieve the required competency, in
servicing diesel fuel injector. This will be the source of information for you to acquire
knowledge and skills in this particular trade with minimum supervision or help from your
instructor. With the aid of this material you will acquire the competency independently and at
your own pace.
Talk to your trainer and agree on how you will both organize the training of this unit.
Read through the learning guide carefully. It is divided into sections which cover all the
skills and knowledge you need to successfully complete in this module
Work through all information and complete the activities in each section. Read the
information sheets and complete the self-check. Suggested references are included to
supplement the materials provided in this module.
Most probably your trainer will also be your supervisor or manager. He/she is there to
support you and show you the correct way to do thing. Ask for help.
You will be given plenty of opportunity to ask questions and practice on the job. Make
sure you practice your new skills during regular work shifts. This way you will improve
both your speed and memory and also your confidence.
Use self-check questions at the end of each section to test your own progress.
When you are ready, ask your trainer to watch your perform the activities outlined in this
learning material.
As you work through the activities, ask for written feedback on your progress.
Your trainer keeps feedback/pre-assessment reports for this lesson. When you
have successfully completed each element, ask your trainer to mark on the reports
that you are ready for assessment.
When you have completed this learning material and feel confident that you have had
sufficient practice, your trainer will arrange an appointment with registered assessor to
assess you. The results of your assessment will be recorded in your competency
Achievement Record.
Introduction :
More and more demands are being made on modern internal-combustion engines. On
the one hand they must become more powerful and quieter, while on the other they must at the
same time be cleaner and use less fuel. Particularly in the diesel engine sector, tremendous
advances have been made in the past few years thanks to the ongoing developments in fuel-
injection technology.
This module contains information and practices in servicing diesel fuel injector. It
includes definite and clear instructions in overhauling and calibrating/installing fuel injector.
You need to complete this module by learning the theories and principles required,
closely coupled with the practical activities to master the skill required in this module. Desirable
values and attitudes must also be taken into consideration.
This module consists of two learning outcomes. Each outcome contains learning
activities for both knowledge and skill, supported with information sheets; self-check and job
operation sheets gathered from different sources. Before performing the practical activities,
read the information and operation sheets provided and answer the self-check to confirm that
you are equipped with the knowledge necessary to perform the skill portion of this module
Upon completion of this module, you have to subject yourself to your instructor for
assessment. You will be given a certificate of completion as a proof that you have met the
standard requirement (knowledge and skill). The assessment could be made in different
methods as prescribed in the competency standard.
Learning Outcomes:
Assessment Criteria:
1.1 Tools, materials and equipment are prepared according to service manual.
1.2 Components parts are identified.
1.3 Function and uses of diesel fuel injector component are explained.
1.4 Safe handling of parts is observed.
1.5 Standard specification is determined.
2.1 Tools, materials and equipment needed in calibrating and installing diesel fuel
injector are identified.
2.2 Calibration and installation procedures are discussed and explained.
2.3 Testing sequence is observed in accordance with in service manual specification
Assessment Criteria:
Resources:
th
1. Automotive Mechanics, 10 ed. By Willan H. Crouse and Donald Anglin,, pp 290-302
2. Automotive Technology, by Jack Erjavec, pp. 290 – 298
1.1 Read the information sheet “Fuel Injectors” Inspect the appearance of a diesel fuel
to become familiar with its parts and injector found in your shop.
functions including its operation and location Go to your learning resource center
in the engine. and view the video on how a diesel
fuel injector works.
a. Reading information/reference book
You may also surf the internet for more
information.
In order to provide the right amount of fuel, the engine control unit is equipped with a whole lot
of sensors. Let's take a look at some of them.
Sensors
In order to provide the correct amount of fuel for every operating condition, the engine control
unit (ECU) has to monitor a huge number of input sensors. Here are just a few:
Mass airflow sensor - Tells the ECU the mass of air entering the engine
Oxygen sensor(s) - Monitors the amount of oxygen in the exhaust so the ECU can
determine how rich or lean the fuel mixture is and make adjustments accordingly
Throttle position sensor - Monitors the throttle valve position (which determines how
much air goes into the engine) so the ECU can respond quickly to changes, increasing or
decreasing the fuel rate as necessary
Coolant temperature sensor - Allows the ECU to determine when the engine has
reached its proper operating temperature
Voltage sensor - Monitors the system voltage in the car so the ECU can raise the idle
speed if voltage is dropping (which would indicate a high electrical load)
Manifold absolute pressure sensor - Monitors the pressure of the air in the
intake manifold
Code No. Date Developed Date Revised Page 7
ALT723309D SERVICING DIESEL FUEL INJECTOR October 2004 March 1, 2006
The amount of air being drawn into the engine is a good indication of how much power it
is producing; and the more air that goes into the engine, the lower the manifold pressure,
so this reading is used to gauge how much power is being produced.
Engine speed sensor - Monitors engine speed, which is one of the factors used to
calculate the pulse width
There are two main types of control for multi-port systems: The fuel injectors can all open at the
same time, or each one can open just before the intake valve for its cylinder opens (this is called
sequential multi-port fuel injection).
The advantage of sequential fuel injection is that if the driver makes a sudden change, the system
can respond more quickly because from the time the change is made, it only has to wait only until
the next intake valve opens, instead of for the next complete revolution of the engine.
The algorithms that control the engine are quite complicated. The software has to allow the car to
satisfy emissions requirements for 100,000 miles, meet EPA fuel economy requirements and
protect engines against abuse. And there are dozens of other requirements to meet as well.
The engine control unit uses a formula and a large number of lookup tables to determine the pulse
width for given operating conditions. The equation will be a series of many factors multiplied by
each other. Many of these factors will come from lookup tables. We'll go through a simplified
calculation of the fuel injector pulse width. In this example, our equation will only have three
factors, whereas a real control system might have a hundred or more.
Real control systems may have more than 100 parameters, each with its own lookup table.
Some of the parameters even change over time in order to compensate for changes in the
performance of engine components like the catalytic converter. And depending on the engine
speed, the ECU may have to do these calculations over a hundred times per second.
Performance Chips
For instance, they may supply more fuel at full throttle at every engine speed. Since the
performance-chip makers are not as concerned with issues like reliability, mileage and
emissions controls as the carmakers are, they use more aggressive settings in the fuel maps of
their performance chips.
Basic servicing procedures on diesel engines are similar to those for spark-ignition engines.
Table 1 is a diesel fuel-injection system trouble-diagnosis chart.
The transfer pump or fuel-supply pump (Figures 5 and 6) is similar to the mechanical fuel pump
used in carbureted spark-ignition engines. Air in the fuel-return line of a diesel engine can be
caused by a leak in the line between the pump and the fuel tank. This is the vacuum side of the
pump and will draw in air.
Figure 5. Typical fuel systems for automotive diesel engine. (Ford Motor Company)
Modern engines are fitted with injection systems designed to deliver and properly atomize
diesel fuel which has a viscosity of approx. 8 centistokes, common vegetable oils are 10-20
times more viscous (thick) and trying to spray it through an injector designed for a fluid so much
less viscous is similar to trying to spray butter through a feeding bottle. An improper spray
pattern will result in incomplete combustion. Incomplete combustion will result in carbon
deposits being formed in the engine which will destroy the engine. There are several ways to
reduce the viscosity of vegetable oil. The simplest is simply heating it up, as you can see from
the information presented in Table 1, when vegetable oil has been heated to 160ºF its viscosity
is very close to that of petroleum diesel.
Injection lines in diesel-engine fuel-injection systems are also called high-pressure fuel lines,
injection tubes and injection pipes. They carry fuel under high pressure from the injection pump
to the ignition nozzles. Figure 5 and 6 show the various shapes of injection lines between the
injection pump and the nozzles.
When the line requires replacement, always install the line specified by the vehicle
manufacturer. Variations from specified length and internal diameter may cause engine
troubles. New lines are preformed. Avoid twisting or bending them out of shape during
installation.
Caution: Relieve the line pressure and cover the connection with a shop towel before loosening
any fitting.
Whenever lines are disconnected, cap the lines, nozzles and pump fittings. This prevents dirt
from entering the fuel system. Cleanliness is very important when working on the diesel fuel
system. A particle so small as to be almost invisible can clog an injection nozzle.
The fuel filter (Figure 23-3) is located in the low-pressure fuel line from the fuel tank to the
injection pump. The filter element is similar to filters used in engine lubricating systems. The fuel
must pass through the filter element which traps any dirt particles. Replace the filter periodically
as recommended by the manufacturer.
Never remove an injection nozzle from the engine except for service or replacement. The
following indicate injection nozzle trouble:
One way to check injection nozzles is to run the engine at fast idle. Loosen the connector at
each nozzle in turn, one at a time. Wrap a cloth around the connection before you loosen it to
keep fuel from spurting out. If loosening the connector causes engine speed to drop, the nozzle
is probably working normally. If the engine speed remains the same, the nozzle is not working
properly. Clogged holes are preventing fuel delivery or causing an improper spray pattern.
If the engine misses at all speeds and produces a puff of exhaust smoke each time it misfires,
an injection nozzle is probably sticking open. The nozzle can be disassembled and cleaned.
Some manufacturers recommend replacing a faulty nozzle. If you disassemble a nozzle, do not
damage the tip or enlarge the holes. This can cause leakage and other troubles.
4. Follow all safety precautions and operating instructions in the shop to avoid injury, damage
and fire.
5. If the injector is clogged, disassemble it carefully without damaging the parts. (See figure 8).
6. If the injector is severely damaged and no replacement parts are available, replace it with a
new one.
Assessment Criteria:
1. Tools, materials and equipment needed in calibrating and installing diesel fuel injector
are identified.
2. Calibration and installation procedures are discussed and explained.
3. Testing sequence is observed in accordance with in service manual specification.
Resources:
th
1. Automotive Mechanics, 10 ed. By Willan H. Crouse and Donald Anglin,, pp 290-302
2. Automotive Technology, by Jack Erjavec, pp. 290 – 298
1.1 Read the information sheet “Fuel Injectors” Inspect the appearance of a diesel fuel
to become familiar with its parts and injector found in your shop.
functions including its operation and Go to your learning resource center
location in the engine. and view the video on how a diesel
fuel injector works.
b. Reading information/reference book
You may also surf the internet for more
information.
1. High-pressure pump
2. Pressure gauge
3. Injection nozzles
4. Screwdriver
5. Set of wrenches
6. Table vise
7. Clean shop cloth
Procedure:
Note: The nozzle is operating properly if you can hear a swishing sound. The opening
2
pressure is 105-125 kg/cm . If the opening pressure is not as specified, adjust the
pressure by tightening or loosening the pressure spring using a screwdriver.
DIARY NOTES
Record important dates, jobs undertaken and other workplace events that will assist you in providing further
details to an Assessor.
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Performance Criteria:
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Performance Criteria:
1. Tools and equipment needed in calibrating and installing diesel fuel injector are identified
2. Calibration and installation procedures are discussed and explained
3. Testing sequence is observed in accordance within service manual specification
Comments:
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