With 182k miles my engine seems to be running well although the emissions test last week did show a 4.9% opacity. I have no idea if these are the original nozzles or not so I am considering putting in new nozzles. Couldn't hurt right?
What are my options as far as new nozzles? I have a pop tester and will be doing them myself. Please post links.
Firstly I'd pull the injectors and test them.
Don't write them off immediately.
Test them correctly.
Write down the results. Ie break pressure pressure hold, and spray pattern, and stuccato effect.
If you have one or two that are playing up, disassemble and clean.
Use a bycycle spoke snipped at an angle and end flattened with a hammer to gently tease out any dirt. Use an appropriately sized sewing needle through hole.
If any pintle needles are too loose in their holders, then this will show up with dribbling out of the offtakes, generally there should be such a small leakage that you will see nothing. Check that needle barely [slowly] drops into nozzle of it's own accord.
Give up with them if the last paragraph fails. They will function but won't pass the same fuel as the 'better' ones...
Turn down your fuel screw to pass emissions (if you didn't pass).
Nozzles are cheap: like 8-10 bucks. Can't hurt to replace them. But if you have now way to pop test, then you're looking at $40-50 each for rebuilt injectors.