how can i devise a reasonable way to test diesel injectors?

[Master ACiD]

i just got a stash of about 150 used injectors. i have to think atleast some would be good?

in order to test them, i could use a $9 ford brake master cylinder hooked up to an injector, with a pressure gauge tee'd in between?

what would i be looking for to spot a good injector compared to a bad one?

[vwmike]

I seem to recall you're far away from me, but I have a pop tester.

[Master ACiD]

yeah im way over in south florida.

you got any ideas how to test a slew of these things?

[malone]

what would i be looking for to spot a good injector compared to a bad one?

Smog on this board would know; he also has a pop-tester. He may even want to buy a few sets off you for his core exchanges. I'd be interested in a few sets as well.

Check for spray pattern; obviously if it's a fine mist, it's good. If it shoots a stream or if you see droplets, discard the injector, or preferably just the nozzle.

The OEM spec opening pressure for a 1.6TD injector is 155 bar. Discard the injector if you cannot restore the pressure above its wear limit. The max possible pressure for a 1.6TD injector is 160 bar.

If necessary buy some new nozzles from Smog or RedRotors; the injectors themselves may be OK and could just need nozzles to renew the spray pattern. Discarding the whole injector might be like getting rid of a whole Rabbit just because it had a flat tire

IIRC a pop-tester dedicated to injectors costs between $100 to $200 USD. Your idea of a "ghetto" setup sounds really spiffy though!

[Master ACiD]

im going to try and build one out of a ford master cylinder and see how it works.

what would be a fair price for core injectors then?
and what do the nozzles cost?

thanks for the info.

[malone]

im going to try and build one out of a ford master cylinder and see how it works.

what would be a fair price for core injectors then?
and what do the nozzles cost?

thanks for the info.

I'll link to a couple nozzle vendors on this site. Their prices are shown in their posts:

RedRotors:
http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=906

Smog:
http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=998

I know both brand nozzles they sell (I sell TDI nozzles) and the brand RedRotors distributes is the best quality, but Smog's are still decent too.

I don't know the value for used core injectors. I will send you a PM when I'm ready to buy a couple sets (if you don't mind parting them).

Please let us know how your homemade pop-tester works out.