While fuel injectors can last the entire lifetime of a car, sometimes that’s simply not the case.
If you or a previous owner has failed to keep up with maintenance, something has gone wrong or clogged the fuel system, or the ABS sensor becomes faulty, you might have to replace your fuel injector(s).
Unfortunately, if one goes out, you’ll likely have to replace them all.
Luckily, replacing fuel injectors is unlikely to happen often. Once you go about replacing or even repairing your fuel injectors, they can last for several hundred thousand miles.
And, if you keep up with maintenance, they might never have issues. On the other hand, if you drive in adverse conditions, you might have to replace fuel injectors as often as every 50,000-100,000 miles.
However, the average cost to replace fuel injectors depends on your location and the make and model of your vehicle. Here, you can expect to pay anywhere from around $350 for a DIY job and a 3-cylinder vehicle to well over $3,000 for a mechanic to install high-end injectors on an 8+ cylinder vehicle. On average, you can expect to pay $60-$350 per fuel injector plus labor $150-$300 for installation.
That means replacing all 4 fuel injectors on a Honda Civic will likely cost $850 and $1100.
On the other hand, replacing all 8 fuel injectors on a Dodge Charger V8 will cost $2501.02 – $3943.12.
The table below shows a quick price comparison of fuel injector replacement cost estimates from reputable suppliers:
| Supplier | Labor | Cost per Injector | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Mechanic | $120-$160 | $60-$350 | Factory warranty |
| NAPA | $120-$350 | $38-$450 | 24 months |
| Midas | $116-$250 | $60-$450 | 12 months |
| Mr. Tire | $80-$200 | $40-$399 | 12 months |
| Walmart | NA | $9-$290 | Factory warranty |
| Pep Boys | NA | $19-$399 | Factory warranty |
| Amazon | NA | $15-$1000 | Factory warranty |
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How Much Does Fuel Injector Replacement Cost?*
The cost of replacing the fuel injectors in your car will vary significantly depending on the make and model. That holds true for both the cost of parts and the cost of labor.
For example, some vehicles feature quick-replace systems, so you or a mechanic can swap out fuel injectors in as little as a few minutes.
Others require that the mechanic remove a significant number of parts from the engine to access the fuel injectors.
Therefore, you should always check for specific estimates for your make and model of vehicle.
Below, we’ve put together the average cost to replace fuel injectors for 10 popular vehicle models.
| Vehicle | Fuel Injector Cost | Average Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ford F Series | $32.99-$65 | $506-$557 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | $73-$117 | $584-$702 |
| Dodge Ram 1500 | $88-$499 | $528-$900 |
| Toyota RAV4 | $19-$50 | $100-$250 |
| Honda CR-V | $88-$144 | $480-$678 |
| Toyota Camry | $93-$148 | $590-$700 |
| Honda Civic | $93-$117 | $560-$640 |
| Toyota Highlander | $249-$325 | $1100-$1550 |
| GMC Sierra | $100-$168 | $800-$950 |
| Toyota Tacoma | $100-$173 | $850-$1100 |
*Note: Prices are estimates and were correct at the time of writing (January 2022). Cost estimates may have changed since, our figures should be used as a starting point for your own research.
Fuel Injector Replacement Price Factors
You can never precisely predict the cost of your fuel injectors without knowing what influences those costs.
In most cases, the cost of replacing your fuel injectors depends on the make and model of vehicle, the age of the vehicle, the labor required, who’s doing the work, and any additional problems that might occur.
Make and Model
The make and model of your vehicle is the most significant factor in the cost of replacing fuel injectors.
For example, if you buy OEM parts for a Toyota RAV4 versus a Toyota Tacoma, you’ll see a more than quadruple difference in the cost of parts. Here, factors include:
- Whether you buy parts OEM or not
- The number of cylinders in the engine (one fuel injector per cylinder)
- The complexity of the injector
- Whether you install basic or performance injectors
- The complexity of removing fuel injectors. E.g., do other parts have to come out? Does the engine have a quick-replace system?
In most cases, you can buy generic or non-OEM parts to save considerably on the cost of parts.
Labor and Garage Costs
Most mechanics charge an hourly rate for repairs. However, others might charge a fixed rate for a job.
For example, you can expect to pay anywhere from $47-$215 per hour for a good mechanic. On the other hand, you can often pay a flat rate of $160-$250 for labor to replace injectors.
That’s a good deal for a V8 with an electric sensor system in place over the fuel injectors. On the other hand, if you have a Toyota RAV4, replacing the fuel injectors can take as little as a few minutes.
And, of course, many mechanics have a minimum cost per job to cover time spent talking to you, working out the problem, ordering parts, etc.
Finally, many garages charge a garage fee. Here, you pay a daily fee for time your vehicle spends on the shop floor.
If you pick your vehicle up the same day, you may not pay this fee. If you leave it overnight, you almost certainly will.
On the other hand, if you decide to do the work yourself, you won’t pay anything for it but your time.
Additional Problems
If your fuel injectors are having problems, you might have other problems as well. For example, the fuel pump might be clogged or dirty. The same could also apply to the fuel lines.
If you haven’t been regularly flushing or cleaning your injectors, it could result in problems in other parts of the vehicle. The same holds true in reverse.
A faulty fuel pump can cause issues with your fuel injectors. Clogged fuel lines can also cause issues with your fuel injectors.
What Does the Job Involve?
Replacing your fuel injectors will depend on the make, model, and year of your vehicle.
In the simplest cases, replacing your fuel injectors shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes. In most cars, the process is designed to be as simple as possible.
What Parts are Needed to Replace a Fuel Injector?
In most cases, you can replace fuel injectors at home with a simple set of tools.
- Replacement fuel injectors with seals
- Needle node pliers
- Ratchet and socket set (27 super deep for the injector body, 19mm for the return line retaining nut, and 17mm for the feed line nut for most vehicles. This might vary, so make sure you have a full set). Importantly, some vehicles, especially Mercedes, have specialty nuts and you can’t replace them without buying a specialty socket.
- Disposable gloves
- Gasoline + cup
- Disposable or shop towels
- Disposable or mechanics gloves
How to Replace Your Fuel Injectors Yourself
If you don’t have an electrical system in place, replacing your fuel injectors is relatively easy.
To start, you’ll always want to start with a cold engine. You should unplug the battery negative post for safety while working on the engine.
- Find the fuel injector lines. Use needle nose pliers to depress the clamps on either side and pull them off.
- Use your deep socket and ratchet to remove the bolt connecting the fuel line to the fuel rail.
- Remove the bolts connecting the fuel rail to the engine head.
- Lift the fuel rail off.
- Grasp the injectors and wiggle them off.
- Dip the new injectors into a small cup of gasoline and then wiggle them back into place. This helps to prevent them from leaking.
- Line the fuel rail with new injectors back into the system, so the rubber gasket lines up the holes on the intake.
- Put the bults back on.
- Tighten the fuel line back on.
- Plug the fuel injectors back on until they snap.
- Turn the key on in your car to energize the fuel pump and wait for 10-20 seconds.
- Start your vehicle.
- Allow it to idle for 2-5 minutes.
- Shut the engine off and check for leaks.
Essentially, it’s actually very easy to change the fuel injectors in most vehicles.
3 Signs of a Dirty Fuel Injector (Spotting Faults)
Clogged fuel injectors are one of the most common problems of reduced, inconsistent, or poor engine performance.
Here are 3 signs your fuel injectors might be dirty.
If your fuel injectors are clogged, you can often simply clean them. You can do this yourself.
On the other hand, most mechanics have a standard and flat-rate package to do this for you as part of regular maintenance. For example, flushing.
On the other hand, if the solenoid in the fuel injector goes bad, the fuel injector simply won’t fire correctly.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell the difference without taking the fuel injectors out and inspecting the holes.
- Hard starts
- Pre-ignition pinging
- Rough idling
- Throttle issues
Inconsistent Engine Performance
If your engine is stalling, it might be a fuel injection issue.
In addition, if your engine sometimes doesn’t start but the starter and fuel pump are fine, injectors can be the culprit.
You’ll also want to look at fuel injectors if your vehicle is sometimes losing power or reducing in power while driving or hauling loads.
When performing optimally, fuel injectors spray and atomize fuel into the cylinders based on the cycle – providing the optimum power for the optimum amount of fuel.
If they don’t fire and spray fuel or spray the wrong amount of fuel, your engine performance will be hit or miss.
Increased Fuel Usage
If you see fuel usage going up without any other changes, you might have a fuel injector problem.
Here, you might be able to get away with cleaning your fuel injectors.
Unlike inconsistent engine performance, this issue is also unlikely to be related to the fuel pump or lines.
However, it could also mean that you have a software fault. In this case, you’ll want the dealer to reset or resolve the issue for you.
Visible Clogs
If you suspect fuel injector failure and want to know if you should be replacing or cleaning your injectors, taking them out is a good first step.
Here, you can follow the instructions from above. Then, you can simply physically examine the holes in the tip of the fuel injector.
If they are visibly clogged, you can try cleaning them. If they are not visibly clogged, you might want to replace them anyway.
However, if you don’t have a check engine light or another indicator that the fuel injectors are causing problems, you might want to have the vehicle checked first.
Maintenance Tips
Fuel injectors can last for the lifetime of a vehicle if properly cared for.
While this isn’t always the best approach, it does mean that investing in maintenance can greatly reduce your total costs of car ownership.
Here, you’re recommended to clean your fuel injectors every 45,000 miles or every 3 years. If you choose an over-the-counter fuel cleaner, that should be every 4,000 miles.
In addition, you can choose to have your fuel injectors cleaned professionally.
On the other hand, you can take them out and manually clean them using a cleaning product and a pipe cleaner.
Related Questions
If you still have questions about replacing your fuel injectors, these answers might help.
Is it OK to replace just one fuel injector?
No. If one fuel injector goes bad, it usually means there’s a reason they did.
Here, replacing just one of your fuel injectors can result in more problems.
In addition, it can mean that fuel injectors don’t fire at the same rate, meaning you get inconsistent engine performance.
What is the lifespan of a fuel injector?
Fuel injectors can last anywhere from 50,000-250,000 miles.
If you want to optimize performance, it’s usually recommended that you replace them every 50,000 miles.
However, for most uses, you won’t have to replace your fuel injectors unless you have a problem with the vehicle.
Can you drive with a bad fuel injector?
You can drive with a bad fuel injector. However, it’s recommended to fix the problem as quickly as possible.
While a bad fuel injector is unlikely to cause immediate engine failure, it is likely to cause engine stalling, engine flooding, or even pre-ignition of the fuel.
All of these can cause problems long-term and may be an issue. In addition, if your fuel injector is leaking, you should never drive with it.
Summary
Fuel injector replacement costs can vary significantly from vehicle to vehicle. However, on average, you’ll pay about $200 per injector.
In most cases, your vehicle will have 4-8 of them, depending on how many cylinders your engine has.
Because you normally want to replace all of them at once, replacing your fuel injectors can be costly.
Hopefully, this guide gives you a good idea of what to expect and what a reasonable budget for your fuel injector replacement should be.
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