How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Fuel Injector?

Last Updated on December 20, 2023

It costs $300 to $900 to replace a fuel injector in an average vehicle, including the cost of parts and labor.

The cost of fuel injector replacement varies based on your location, the brand of fuel injector, and the type of vehicle, among other factors.

How much does it cost to replace a fuel injector? How much should you pay for your next fuel injector? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about fuel injector replacements and average cost.

Table of Contents:

It Costs $300 to $900 to Replace a Fuel Injector

Expect to pay $300 to $900 to replace a fuel injector in an average vehicle.

It should cost $150 to $400 to buy a fuel injector, with the remaining costs going to installation and labor.

It’s hard to properly replace a fuel injector at home. Although you can buy a fuel injector on your own, it’s best to let the professionals replace the fuel injector.

Unfortunately, car insurance will not cover fuel injector repair or replacement. Car insurance does not typically cover mechanical repairs, especially those resulting from normal wear and tear.

Signs You Need Fuel Injector Replacement

Your fuel injector takes gas from your gas tank and sprays it into each cylinder of your engine. Each cylinder has its own fuel injector. If one or more fuel injectors need to be replaced, you will notice serious issues when driving.

If your fuel injector is damaged, then you could notice symptoms like:

  • Engine knocking
  • Smoke from your tailpipe
  • Bucking and surging under throttle loads
  • Poor, rough, or unusual engine performance and overall car performance
  • Failed emissions tests
  • Starting problems
  • Poor idling
  • Higher fuel consumption

Generally, it’s obvious when you need to replace a fuel injector. All of the symptoms above are easy to spot. If you notice one or more of these symptoms, then consider taking your car to a mechanic for fuel injector replacement.

How Long Does a Fuel Injector Last?

A fuel injector lasts 50,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on the brand and usage.

Sometimes, you need to replace a fuel injector before 50,000 miles because it’s damaged. In other cases, your fuel injector lasts well beyond 100,000 miles.

By practicing regular maintenance and taking your vehicle to a mechanic for inspection, you can ensure you spot fuel injector problems before they become serious.

What Is a Fuel Injector and How Does It Work?

A fuel injector plays a crucial role in your car’s operation. Here’s how a fuel injector works and what it does:

  • Your vehicle has multiple fuel injectors based on the number of cylinders in your engine. Each cylinder has its own fuel injector.
  • When you start your vehicle, the fuel injectors spray fuel into the cylinders of your engine. The fuel pump draws fuel from the gas tank through the gas lines to your injectors.
  • The fuel injectors know how much fuel to send to each cylinder based on signals from your car’s computer system.
  • Each fuel injector has a nozzle at the end. This nozzle partially atomizes the liquid fuel, turning it into a spray. As the sprayed fuel / fuel mist enters the cylinders, it triggers the internal combustion process to start up your vehicle.
  • Fuel injectors spray more fuel when accelerating and less fuel when slowing down or idling.

When you have a fuel injector problem, it creates errors at one step of this process. Your fuel injector might not be atomizing fuel properly, for example, leading to internal combustion issues. Or, internal electronics within the fuel injector could cause other problems.

Top 5 Signs of a Bad Fuel Injector

We mentioned some of the signs you need to replace a fuel injector above. However, here are the most common signs you have a bad, faulty, or broken fuel injector:

  1. Rough Idling or Low RPMs: Many drivers notice rough idling or low RPMs when there’s an issue with the fuel injectors. That’s because the bad fuel injector is interfering with the delivery of fuel to the cylinders. When damaged injectors are clogged, it leads to an incorrect amount of fuel entering the cylinders at the incorrect times. As a driver, this can lead to noticeable symptoms like bad idling and lower-than-usual RPMs.
  2. Starting Issues (Or Inability to Start): If your car is struggling to start, or if you have other starting issues, then it could be linked to fuel injectors. When fuel injectors become damaged or clogged, it makes it harder for the internal combustion process to take place. If you notice starting issues along with other symptoms listed here, you could have a fuel injector problem.
  3. Noticeable Fuel Smell: When fuel injectors are clogged or damaged, it messes up the signals between your car and the fuel injectors, which could lead to more fuel than necessary entering your cylinders. You may notice a fuel smell when driving.
  4. Dirty Emissions or a Failed Emissions Test: If your state requires your vehicle to pass an emissions test, and your vehicle suddenly failed a test, then it could be a problem with the fuel injectors.
  5. Poor Fuel Economy and Other General Driving Issues: Do you need more gas than usual? Is your car burning more fuel than it used to? These could all be signs you need fuel injector replacement. Look for poor performance and low gas mileage, among other driving issues, to spot a bad fuel injector.

Many of these signs are not specific to fuel injectors. Faulty spark plugs, clogged filters, faulty sensors, and other issues, for example, could all lead to similar problems. Check with a reputable mechanic to ensure you’re diagnosing the problem correctly.

Costs Affecting the Price of Fuel Injector Replacements

You could pay anywhere from $350 to $900 for fuel injector replacements, depending on several factors. Some of these factors are out of your control – like the cost of living in your area. Others are related to your vehicle – smaller vehicles with fewer cylinders are cheaper to repair than higher-end vehicles.

Vehicle Performance, Quality, and Type: Smaller vehicles with fewer cylinders are cheaper to repair than higher-end performance vehicles. Higher-end vehicles have costlier parts and more expensive repairs.

Location: Some areas have a higher cost of living than others. You can expect to pay more for a fuel injector replacement in downtown Manhattan, for example, than you would in the suburbs of Oklahoma City.

Related Problems with Your Fuel System: There may be other problems with your fuel system that require repairs, including problems with the fuel pump. The more repairs are needed, the more you’ll pay for fuel injector replacement.

Final Word – Fuel Injector Repair Costs

It costs $300 to $900 to repair a fuel injector, with most fuel injector repairs costing around $400 to $600.

The cost of fuel injector replacement includes parts ($150 to $400) and labor ($150 to $300).

Contact multiple mechanics to determine the average cost of fuel injector replacement in your area and ensure you’re getting a fair price.

James Shaffer
James Shaffer James Shaffer is a writer for InsurancePanda.com and a well-seasoned auto insurance industry veteran. He has a deep knowledge of insurance rules and regulations and is passionate about helping drivers save money on auto insurance. He is responsible for researching and writing about anything auto insurance-related. He holds a bachelor's degree from Bentley University and his work has been quoted by NBC News, CNN, and The Washington Post.
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