The message “BE ADVISED OFFSHORE INJECTORS ARE BAD” serves as a warning against using inexpensive, unregulated fuel injectors from foreign manufacturers, known as “offshore injectors”. The warning is widely shared in mechanical communities, as these parts are prone to failure and can cause major engine damage, wasted time, and poor performance.
Offshore non-OEM injectors are getting harder and harder to spot. Servicing them can actual throw some of them off even worse than they were before. Customers are responsible for identifying their injectors. Chinese fuel injector knock-offs are exhibit poor build quality, inconsistent performance, and the high risk of damaging your engine. These parts often have inconsistent flow rates, erratic spray patterns, and can fail catastrophically by sticking open or closed, leading to severe engine damage. In short, they barely qualify as functional when compared to OEM injectors.
- We do not service offshore injectors
- If offshore injectors are serviced (whether the customer is aware or not), and they become damaged or nonfunctional as a result of cleaning, the shop is not responsible.
- If they become unusable as a result of standard service, they are in fact knockoffs.
Reasons Chinese knock-off fuel injectors are bad
- Looking the same is far from being the same – Do not fall into the trap of thinking they “look” good, they must also perform as well as they look. Some people buy used vehicles without realizing they have knockoff injectors and hope that cleaning will fix what they believe are legitimate issues with genuine injectors.
- Often, when replacement injectors are too expensive or no longer available (NLA), sellers install knockoffs in the engine and then sell the vehicle or boat. They work good enough for a short enough period to run adequately enough to convince the buyer. As a result, some buyers unknowingly purchase used vehicles equipped with knockoff injectors and, when problems arise soon after, they hope that cleaning will resolve what they mistakenly believe are issues with genuine injectors.
-
Inconsistent flow and poor spray patterns:Flow rates can vary significantly between injectors in the same set, and the spray pattern is often poor and inconsistent, which can cause some cylinders to run too rich while others run too lean.Additionally many of these injectors do not match the original flow rates. Some are far more some are far less. Running lean can damage the engine, while running too rich can harm emissions equipment and even overheat catalytic converters, potentially causing them to catch fire.
-
Increased risk of engine damage:A lean cylinder can cause extremely high temperatures, while an injector failing open can dump raw fuel into the combustion chamber, both of which can lead to severe engine damage.
-
Poor quality and manufacturing:These injectors often have rougher surfaces, incorrect dimensions, and can fail quickly after installation. They are not built to the same standards as OEM injectors.
-
Unreliable materials:Weak coils and other components can lead to premature failure, even if the injector initially seems to work.
-
Difficulty in troubleshooting:Because of the inconsistent performance, it can be very difficult to diagnose engine problems, as symptoms may not be immediately obvious or may point to issues that are not actually the root cause.
-
Scams and misrepresentation:Sellers may incorrectly advertise these as genuine or “remanufactured” parts, with the actual products being of a much lower quality and not meeting specifications.