How do I know if I have a bad fuel injector?

Question

I asked a couple of days ago about my engine vibrating and was told it probably was an engine mount..well, its not.
So, I have a 97 Ford F250 7.3 diesel. I wanted to know if my injector pump is bad or an injector? How would I know? Yesterday it lost power bad, no exceleration (press on the gas and go no where), and vibrating. I love my truck and want it fixed but don't have a lot of money to drop, and have major trust issues with mechanics. A freind mentioned a "fuel water seperator filter"? Where is that? I guess I need to buy a book, I don't know where the injector pump is either. Any ideas would help!
It seems to run fine one moment and worse the next. I am prepared for bad news....I have had the truck a week by the way.

It IS vibrating, so is that injectors? Do I have a injector pump? I read somewhere that a 97 didn't.
And no offence but it I wanted to go to a mechanic I would not be asking here. I need to know what I am dealing with so I can get prices. So, it any one has a good idea- I would GREATLY appreciate it! Thank you for your sugestions!

Answer 1

I highly recommend that u buy a book or borrow one from the library or from a friend , there is a fuel/water separator it looks like regular fuel filter but it has a drain peacock on the bottom/top you will need to drain it for water on regular intervals, water can cause motor to run funny . Okay if it has a drain on the bottom get a small jar of clean plastic or glass open the drain peacock (counterclockwise)and drain it till u fill it shut off the peacock(clockwise) and set the jar aside to let it settle. it will separate itself from water and diesel(it will take about an hour or 2) diesel will be yellow looking fluid while water will be nearly clear if you do not see much of the yellow you got a lot of water u will have to go back and drain it some more some diesel models have a primer pump if it does you will have to prime it when you remove the water from the separator and check all the fuel lines to make sure there is no leak anywhere and also when u check the jar if it has other stuff on the bottom like brown sludge or rust you would be better off to replace the fuel/water separator filter Edit:
some engines have mechanical injector pump and others have an electronic pump looks like you got the latter but try to get the water out first before you try anything else a primer pump is hand operated pump to prime the diesel engine to run smoothly with little or no air going to injectors(they help in bleeding the fuel system in purging the air/water out of the fuel system)

Answer 2

RE: Symptoms of a bad fuel injector? Symptoms of a bad fuel injector?

Answer 3

all a fuel water separator is ,is filter like deal that takes the water out of the fuel,you need to also check the fuel filter on this truck, diesels are well known for getting elements in the fuel that cause this problem to happen ,id change the filter first,a bad injector will cause this,but all of them would have to be acting up and you would notice a vibration in it also,and it would stumble a lot when you accelerate it also.this could be bad fuel or a bad filter,have the filter replaced first,good luck with it.

Answer 4

Sounds like fuel system is sucking air somewhere.
Loose hose clamp, cracked fuel line, loose or old fuel filter canister. (oh, that's where the water separator is too)

I like the "buying a book" idea.

Answer 5

Bad gas mileages,the car sound ruff. I would take it to the auto repair shop and tell them or problem and it intermittent. Some of the shops will work with you and when the problem accrues they work you in to see what the problem is. good luck