TBI injector cleaning at home

[vortec]

my injectors may be all gunked up after a bad tank of gas. very slight misfire at idle and if i stomp on the skinny pedal, the engine nearly dies. if i drive it easy, things are ok, just wimpy.

so, is disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling the injectors in my garage a reasonable option? as big as they are, i was thinking the internals might be big enough to work with, unlike tiny multiport injectors. i've never pulled one apart, though.

would pulling them off, and soaking them in cleaner help or hurt? i know they have circuitry involved, so i don't want to mess that up.

 

[dyeager535]

Can't answer for the TBI injectors, but GM used two different multiport injector designs the same vintage as the truck TBI, one you could screw up with cleaners. Something about how the coils were insulated, certain cleaners could strip it.

I've not looked closely at the TBI injectors, can you actually get the solenoid portion apart? The multiport ones look like they are built in such a way as to preclude disassembly without breaking them.

I suspect professional ultrasonic cleaning is the way to go, because their efficiency is measured at the same time.

I tried cleaning my used multiports before I installed them (no disassembly) and 3 were dead. Would have known that had I had them professionally cleaned/tested. It actually works out cheaper to just replace all of them though.

 

[vortec]

It actually works out cheaper to just replace all of them though.

i haven't looked at the prices for mpfi injectors, lately, but TBI injectors can get pricey. $100+, apiece. thankfully, i can get both cleaned for less.

can you actually get the solenoid portion apart?

my friend claims he was able to pull his 2.8L tbi injectors apart and stick them back together, years ago. i'm going by there tonight to see if they are similar to mine. he thinks so.

 

[Thunder]

100 each for injectors thats too much.
This is where I get my injectors for any engine.
http://www.fiveomotorsport.com/Injector_SetsGMTrucks.asp#tbi220 $120 a set flowmatched cop car new.

If you want reconditioned:http://www.injectors4u.com/tbi_injectors.htm 80.00 a set no core charge.

Just get new or reconditioned. dont try to clean them at home.
You can take them apart. There is just some O rings, disks, and a screen to clean but if they are getting old IMHO it is best to replace them.

Might want to replace your fuel filter before you do injector work.

 

[vortec]

good sites! thanks a lot.

fuel filter is about 2 weeks old. it was the first thing i changed when two tanks of fresh gas didn't help. i haven't cut the old one open yet to see how much junk is in it. i use clear ones (one before pump, one before carb) on the other truck, so i can tell when they get nasty.

 

[ryoken]

you could try a couple cans of seafoam in the tank... really does wonders for injectors... my tbi's are hammered pretty bad and really need to be replaced, but everytime I run a couple cans thru the tank it cleans the pattern right up. so I'm holding off on new ones for now..

make sure you dose the tank tho. at least 2 cans for a tankfull, if not 3...