Just hit 30,000 psi on a fuel system test and it scared me straight

I was checking a Duramax injector line with a new gauge from the shop, figured it would tap out around 25k like usual. When the needle blew past that and settled at 30,000, my heart skipped a beat. That's way over spec and means the pressure relief valve is probably stuck or the pump is about to grenade. I shut it down right there before something let go. Has anyone else seen a common rail system hold that kind of crazy pressure without an immediate failure?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricialee12d ago

You said it scared you straight, but honestly that gauge could be off. I've seen new tools read way high before.

lisak2612d ago

But patricialee, a faulty gauge is still a real wake up call.

jenny_coleman6d ago

My old foreman told me a story about a 6.7 Powerstroke hitting 32,000 psi before the rail sensor finally called it quits. Patricialee has a good point about the gauge, but that pressure is still in the danger zone even if it's a bit off. You did the right thing shutting it down.