Recognizing the early warning signs can save you from more extensive engine damage. Look out for these common symptoms:
Hard Starting or Misfiring: Difficulty starting the engine, especially when cold, or a rough, shaky idle indicates one or more injectors aren't performing correctly.
Loss of Power and Poor Fuel Economy: A failing injector can't deliver the proper amount of atomized fuel, leading to inefficient combustion, which robs you of power and costs you more at the pump.
Excessive Smoke: Black smoke signals unburned fuel, often due to a bad spray pattern or a leaking injector. Blue or white smoke can also indicate injector-related issues.
Increased Engine Noise: You might hear a "knocking" or "ticking" sound from the engine bay. This can be caused by an injector sticking or delivering fuel at the wrong time.
Rough Idle: The engine may feel like it's "missing" or surging up and down at a stoplight.