Fixing the Notorious LB7 Injector Issues For Good

If you own an LB7 Duramax, you have probably replaced injectors. Even if you haven't owned an LB7 duramax, you have probably heard of the infamous injector issues that plague this truck. Before we go into the injector fix, you need to fix the injector cup issue in the heads themselves. PPE and Fleece both make heads that do not have injector cups in them, we have another post that goes into depth on those. So how do you fix the injector issues?

The $13,000 Dealership Quote Myth

First, We had an inquiry recently about replacing injectors on a customer’s 2004 LB7 at our shop, Power Forge Diesel in Yuma, Arizona. The reason he called us was because his truck was sitting at the Chevy dealership with a quote to replace the injectors with OEM ones and replace his fuel pressure regulator. The quote he told us he got for that was $13,000. Ouch. Now he could have bit the bullet and done that repair with the mindset of “well, I'll have new injectors and won’t have to worry about it”. We hate to break it to you, but the OEM VCO injectors (normal LB7 injectors) are known to fail as early as 50,000 miles. So no, just replacing the injectors with factory ones wont fix your problem, nevermind the thousand of dollars of labor it takes to even get to those injectors to replace them. For those who don't know, the injectors on the LB7 are underneath the valve covers, making it time consuming to replace and we’re talking 16+ hours to begin to do it the right way.

The Solution: S&S Diesel SAC Injectors

So, what's the fix? We only have 1 fix that we stand behind. S&S Diesel makes SAC style injectors that fix the injector problems altogether. A set will run you about $3k, but you no longer have to worry about your injectors, and you only have to pay for labor 1 time. The difference between the OEM VCO style and the S&S Diesel SAC style injectors is how they seal off under normal wear. The VCO sealing surface does not seal well with wear and leaks fuel, that's where you get the white smoke/hazing and poor performance. Eventually, the injector can get stuck open, causing issues that can lead to catastrophic engine failure. The S&S Diesel Sac Style injectors are designed to seal under normal wear. S&S Diesel are known for their durable products and their LB7 SAC injectors are no expectation. Thats why they are a standard LB7 injector replacement here at Power Forge Diesel.

Don't Forget Clean Fuel (Fass System)

None of this matters if you don't have clean fuel going through your new SAC injectors. Air and water are the biggest contaminants in a fuel system. The 2001-2004 LB7 Truck does NOT have a factory lift pump. This causes premature cavitation on the high pressure pump and the injectors. Go ahead and get a Fass Fuel System first (https://www.fassride.com/details?id=21003), we have another post all about Fass so we won’t go into it now. Then, get a set of S&S Diesel SAC00 style injectors and permanently fix the notorious LB7 injector issues for good. (https://ssdiesel.com/product/lb7-duramax-injectors-2001-04/)

Expert Installation in Yuma

If you’d like a quote for installation from a garage that knows what they’re doing, you can reach out to us on our website or visit us here in Yuma, Arizona. (https://www.powerforgediesel.com/)