Case 580 Injection Pump Problems: Symptoms And Fixes

The fuel injector pump is a vital component in the diesel engine where its main function is to inject diesel into the combustion chamber of the engine. When the injector pump fails to work as expected, the performance of the engine and the entire tractor is greatly affected. 

In this article, we shall give an overview of how the diesel injector pump works, discuss some common problems and their symptoms associated with the Case 580 injector pump, and give ways to fix those underlying problems.

Injector problems symptoms in Case 580

The injection pump is a device that delivers a precise amount of diesel under high pressure into the engine. The pump pressurizes the diesel and forces it into the combustion chamber through the injector nozzles where it mixes with compressed air to begin the combustion cycle. These pumps are designed to deliver precise amounts of diesel at timed intervals for optimal combustion.

The pumps inject low volumes of diesel at very high frequencies for efficiency. The pump is expected to inject atomized diesel into the combustion chamber in the exact amount and exact time to produce the required engine power output. The pump is controlled by the operator through a hand or foot pedal that drives the injector pump gears. The injector pumps are mainly of two types, the common rail injector, or the individual pump injector.

Apart from injecting the diesel, the pump:

• Distributes and controls the amount of diesel supplied to all the injectors
• Pumps the correct amount of diesel into each chamber just before TDC
• Helps to cool down the nozzles when fresh diesel is pumped in.

The pump pushes the diesel under high pressure through the pump before it is injected into the combustion chamber as a fine spray through the injector nozzles.  

However, the injector pump is prone to issues and malfunctions. These problems could arise because of normal wear and tear which is common over time, or it could be caused by negligence, lack of proper maintenance, or even problems in other areas in Case 580. 

Many injector pump problems are common with Case 580. These problems can be diagnosed by the common symptoms that your Case 580 may exhibit. Some of the most common symptoms related to the injector pump are: 

1) Weak Engine

You may realize that your Case 580 engine is weak and unable to perform its tasks normally. This may happen especially when there is a heavy task or heavy load to move. It may at first feel as if the load is too heavy for the tractor and this is the reason why it is unable to move it. However, stepping on the diesel pedal does not produce a corresponding engine response. This occurs as the injector pump does not deliver the required amount of diesel or the timing is incorrect, resulting in a low combustion, and thus low engine power output.

2) Spluttering Engine

The Case 580 engine may splutter when it is in operation. It may produce some unfamiliar spluttering noise especially when performing a heavy task. The splutter is an indication that the engine is having incomplete combustion. The most common cause is a failure by the injector pump to supply the required amount of diesel to the engine for combustion, causing the engine to underperform.

3) Whining Noise from the Engine or Pump

A whining noise coming from the engine, especially from the direction of the injector pump is another symptom of a problem relating to the injector. The problem may arise from a faulty injector that is unable to pump diesel properly from the fuel tank. Thus, it produces a whining sound since little or no diesel is passing through the pump as it attempts to feed the engine.

4) Engine Misfiring

When the engine fails to spark and burn the air-fuel mixture properly, there is an engine misfire. There are many reasons why an engine misfires, but one of the most common causes is a faulty injector pump. The injector may not be supplying the precise amount of diesel at the right time and pressure. Again, if the diesel in the combustion chamber is very low, spark ignition will not take place. Engine misfires are not good and cause other severe engine problems over time.

5) Smoky Exhaust

If you realize that your Case 580 is producing excessive smoke at the exhaust, then there is a serious underlying problem relating to the combustion process. One of the major causes is fuel injection where the pump may be injecting excess diesel which is not fully combusted. Another issue could be improper timing or a dirty pump which contaminates the diesel. These issues affect the combustion process leading to the production of excess exhaust smoke.

6) Hard Starts

If Case 580 is having difficulties cranking into life, the most probable culprit is the injector pump. If the right amount of diesel is not injected into the engine during starting, the engine may have difficulties starting or may fail to start at all.

7) Reduced fuel economy

Problems relating to the fuel injector pump will affect your Case 580 fuel economy. If the pump injects too much diesel into the engine, a lot of it will not be combusted and will go to waste. Too much fuel in the combustion chambers reduces the efficiency of the engine, leading to higher fuel consumption and a very low engine power output. Thus, if you realize that your Case 580 fuel consumption is rising, then there could be an injector pump issue.

8) Uneven Idling

The engine may have uneven idling when not in motion. The revs keep increasing or reducing as the engine idles. This is an indication that the fuel injection is uneven and is a pointer to a faulty injection pump.

9) Smell of Fuel

If you smell raw diesel in your Case 580 cabin or other areas away from the fuel tank, it is an indication that some diesel is flowing through without being burned. This occurs mainly at the injector whenever there is a fault.

10) Dirty Exhaust Emissions

A faulty, clogged, or dirty injector pump will cause incomplete fuel combustion. This leads to a load of unburned fuel, smoke, and other impurities being deposited around the exhaust pipe.

What Causes Injector Pump Failures?

• Dirty Diesel. Dirt and debris in the diesel will clog the injectors/nozzles causing the pump to malfunction or to pump less fuel to the engine
• Worn Components. Internal components of the injector pump will naturally wear and tear over time. This causes the pump to malfunction or break down completely.
• Air in the fuel system. Due to broken seals or piping, air may get into the fuel system leading to blockage or other problems in the injector pump
• ElectricalIssues. The injector pump uses electrical components to pump fuel. Faulty wiring or blown motors may cause the pump to fail.
• Poor injector Timing. Diesel injection precision is critical in the proper combustion of the engine. Improper timing of this process by the tractor system will negatively impact the engine performance.
• Low Fuel in the Tank. Low fuel in the tank may cause problems with the injector pump. When the diesel level in the tank is very low, a lot of air is pushed through to the injector pump. This wears down the fuel pump components and eventually leads to pump failure.
• Rust in Fuel Tank. Rust in fuel tanks or fuel lines can end up getting into the pump leading to damage. The rust can also lead to clogging of the nozzles and piping leading to low fuel flows.
• Water in Fuel Pump. If water gets into the fuel pump especially if your Case 580 is working in wet, muddy, or flooded sites, the pump is likely to fail.

Fixing Injector Pump Issues

The diesel injector pump is built to last for a long time, up to 20,000 hours with proper care. However, wear and tear is normal and it may occasionally require repairs or a replacement. Here are some common fixes to faulty injector pumps:

1) Routine Maintenance and Servicing

Regular preventive maintenance is the best way to prevent injector pump failures. These routine maintenance services take care of the small problems that may be present. Worn or damaged parts are repaired or replaced early enough to prevent them from affecting the entire injector pump system. They avoid more expensive repairs that may occur if they are left unattended.

2) Have Enough Diesel in the Tank

Ensure your fuel tank has enough diesel to avoid your pump sucking in the air which eventually causes internal problems to the injector pump.

3) Use Clean Uncontaminated Diesel

Dirty fuel is one of the biggest sources of injector pump problems. Always ensure you put clean diesel into the tank. Avoid storing your diesel in contaminated or dirty storage containers which may contaminate your fuel without your knowledge. Avoid using adulterated diesel

4) Regular Cleaning 

Injector pumps should be routinely cleaned to get rid of dirt and other impurities that lead to clogging. For the tractors, it is recommended that a cleaning should be done every 2-3 thousand hours. Sometimes, a problematic injector pump may just require thorough cleaning to bring it back to normal operations.