1
Took me 3 years to realize I was bleeding injector return lines wrong
I've been a diesel mechanic for about 8 years now, went independent about 2 years ago. Last month I was working on a 2015 Cummins ISX at my shop here in Billings, changing out injectors on a #6 cylinder that was misfiring. After I buttoned everything up, I went to prime the system and fuel started pouring out of the return line banjo fitting. I'd always just tightened those down snug and called it good. Turns out I was supposed to torque them to spec every time - about 18 ft-lbs on that model - because the copper washers deform and seal only once. My old boss at the dealer never mentioned it, I just assumed snug was enough. The tip off was a puddle of diesel on my floor that told me real quick I'd been doing this half-assed for years. How many of you guys actually torque return line fittings or is it just me that missed this memo?
2 comments