fuel pressure gauge

[Locknut]

My Q is cranking over longer than usual and I think I might have a leaky injector o ring. I'd like to do a fuel pressure test when I replace the fuel filter.....but I don't have a fuel pressure gauge. Is there a cheap one I can buy? Do they all work with Q fuel lines? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

[maxnix]

Look for one at harbor freight. Just tee after the fuel filter.

FP fine, I presume?

[Skibane]

Northern Tool (formerly "Northern Hydraulics") also carries several gauges that'll work, mostly under 15 bucks.

[Q45tech]

An electronic pressure senor is the IDEAL as you can view the pressure pulse waveform on a digital oscilloscope and see the undulations as each injector opens and closes.

Just as you can use an electronic air pressure gauge to see the undulations of the air flow as each valve opens and closes.

Mechanical gauges AVERAGE the waveform and do not show minute changes.

[Raxephon]

An electronic pressure sensor is the IDEAL as you can view the pressure pulse waveform on a digital oscilloscope and see the undulations as each injector opens and closes.

Just as you can use an electronic air pressure gauge to see the undulations of the air flow as each valve opens and closes.

Mechanical gauges AVERAGE the waveform and do not show minute changes.

Do you recommended any particular electronic sensor manufacturer/supplier?

[Q451990]

Locknut...

Try having someone else start the car while you watch the exhaust. If you have a flooding issue you will likely see dark (almost black) smoke.

Have you changed anything recenly in the fuel system? I know I had a hard start issue after I replaced my injectors with remaufactured ones from Python injection back in the late 90's. The eventual solution was to replace them all again with new OEM units. One thing I noticed about my hard start case, was that the car started fine after sitting all night - or after being off for just a few minutes. The problem only appeared after a hot soak of 15-20 minutes to about 6 hours. I assume that after that point the fuel seeped past the piston rings, so the engine wasn't flooded after that...

The simple fuel pressure gauge should be fine for what you're trying to diagnose.

Good luck!

Heath

[Q45tech]

I'm always scanning ebay for surplus things.

PICO in UK is the low cost master of this technology:http://www.picotech.com/auto/e....html

http://www.picotech.com/low-co....html

[Locknut]

Thanks Heath....but things have gone from bad to worse. I'm putting out a fair amount of mostly white exhaust smoke. I didn't get a chance to check the pressure...so I'm not sure if i have a leaky injector or not. Now i'm worried I hydrolocked and did something to the engine. The smoke doesn't smell like antifreeze, it has a faint fuel smell to it. I ohmed the injectors from the harness and they all seem ok...but maybe one is stuck open? This has got me stumped