What can the presence of an injector leak cause in a boat engine?

The presence of an injector leak in a boat engine can lead to overheating or stalling due to an improper air-fuel mixture and a potential loss of fuel pressure. When fuel injectors leak, they allow fuel to escape, resulting in an inadequate amount of fuel reaching the engine cylinders. This imbalance can cause the engine to run lean, leading to overheating as the engine struggles to maintain proper combustion temperatures. Additionally, if the engine is starved of fuel due to a leak, it can stall, leading to operational issues while the vessel is in use.

In contrast, an injector leak would not lead to increased fuel efficiency; rather, it often causes excessive fuel consumption because the engine may attempt to compensate for the lost fuel. Similarly, while it can contribute to higher emissions as incomplete combustion occurs due to the faulty mixture, the primary immediate concern remains the potential for overheating or stalling. Improvements in throttle response would not be achieved with an injector leak, as the performance will typically degrade instead.