Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle controls the flow of pressurized fluid through a nozzle opening. The fuel pump includes a fuel valve under the control of an electronic engine control module to effect sequential ON/OFF cycles for the fuel valve to establish a pilot fuel delivery pulse through the nozzle followed by a full fuel delivery injection pulse, a damping flow passage in the nozzle, and a flow damping pin in the opening through which fuel flows as the needle valve displaces fuel, the damping pin being biased toward an injection nozzle closed position by a needle valve spring whereby a distinct pilot pulse of fuel is delivered through the nozzle in advance of delivery of a full injection pulse, the valve spring being in a spring chamber that is pressurized to effect a rapid needle valve closure at the end of the fuel delivery pulse.