View our refurbishment services here: INJECTOR REFURBISHMENT
What is Flow Matching?
Flow matching is the job of grouping injectors that flow identically at a number of different injection rates and speeds. At SSSQUID, we flow match injectors to a variety of rates from 1,000 RPM up to 10,000 RPM (depending on purpose). Most injectors will be flow rated at an equivalent of 1,000 RPM, 4,000 RPM, and 7,500 RPM at a variety of injection times, from 2 ms to 20 ms. This ensures equivalent and optimum operation in all circumstances and speeds.
Why Choose SSSQUID?
A vast majority of other companies (almost every single one) only test flow rates as a static throughput — this is known as the injector’s “flow rating”. So when an injector says it flow 255 cc/min, that means it flows 255 cc every minute while completely open. This metric is not conclusive for real world operation as injectors do not work this way. They open and close hundreds of times every minute. Two injectors can have identical static flow rates, but drastically different operational flow rates. This is why the refurbishment and flow-matching services at SSSQUID test injectors in a wide variety of circumstances, engine speed equivalents, and loads.
Testing each injector thoroughly allows us to produce true and real results that you will appreciate and benefit from in daily operation, rather than an artificial result that means very little or nothing at all. Below is an example of a test performed on a set of flow-matched injectors.
As you can see, the static flow rates (ABS. FLOW RATE) are not all equal, however the true observed operating flow rates do match. This is because the static flow rate should only be used in a general sense of flow rate expectations.
So why, then, do other companies just test absolute static flow rate and nothing else? Simple: costs. The testing equipment required for active engine injection emulation is more expensive, it takes longer to complete, necessitates education and knowledge, and requires constant supervision. None of these things come cheap or easy, therefore most people just don’t bother. At SSSQUID, we strive to offer complete and correct services.
Why Refurbish Your Injectors?
Over time gunk, crud, and just otherwise stuff build up inside and outside of your injector. This leads to issues including: flow rate decreases, slowed reaction times, and blockages. These issues can cause overall vehicle operating troubles and even catastrophic engine failure.
Refurbishing your injectors will allow them to realize their full potential once again. It will also allow you to verify their operating flow rates. This increases overall engine efficiency, which can increase both fuel economy and engine output (power).
Cheap Injectors
I purchased/want to purchase injectors from eBay/Amazon/etc. because they’re cheap!
Don’t do this. Absolutely NEVER purchase cheap injectors from unreliable sources like Amazon. We deal with hundreds of these injectors every year, and they have quite low reliability.
Countless customers have purchased cheap injectors from sources such as Amazon or eBay, even ones that claim “flow matched” in their descriptions, and run into issues such as DOA (dead on arrival) injectors, or injectors that flow drastically different from each other.
Below you can see 6 identical injectors a customer purchased from Amazon, and how none of them flow equally, and one doesn’t even work. Running injectors like these in your vehicle WILL, without doubt, cause issues and even catastrophic engine failure.
This sight is common, and similar issues occur on nearly every set of cheap injectors we’ve inspected. This is why you should never purchase cheap injectors from sources such as Amazon or eBay.
And this doesn’t just go for “new” cheap injectors from these sources. Here is a set of “flow matched” Bosch injectors from eBay a customer recently brought us because they were having issues after installing. The listing they showed us clearly stated that all injectors are flow tested and flow matched, which is obviously not true. One was even leaking! And they charge more than we do! Absolutely unacceptable.
A Quick Word on Production Runs
There are four versions of most injectors. “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”. These letters refer to production runs and the facility that produced them. Between each production run and facility, different parts can be used — both internal and external — and even the plastic itself is different color. This color difference is perhaps most pronounced in the photo below:
Another example would be 0-280-155-832 A, B, and C, which can be seen in the below image. You’ll notice that not only does the plastic not match color, there are obvious differences in parts used which can be seen visually.
In general, these injectors are NOT equivalent, and should not be used together. They often use different parts and therefore have different characteristics. While these flow differences are usually small enough that an ECU with a well-working EGO (Exhaust Gas Oxygen) sensor can properly correct for when using complete sets, this is not always the case. Do NOT mix and match these!
Below you can see a direct side-by-side comparison of 0-280-155-968 B and D. Using an opaque testing medium for aided visibility, you can see that they do not have equivalent flow rates. You can also see why matching injectors based on their true flow rate is important.
As you can see in the above direct flow comparison, 0-280-155-968D (left) flow more than 968B (right), these two injectors do not flow equally despite being marked with an otherwise identical part number. Please take this into consideration when replacing injectors!