A valve seat and a needle for a fuel injector are disclosed. The fuel injector includes a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the valve seat, and the needle. The valve seat includes a channel having a channel wall extending along the longitudinal axis and a needle contact area upstream from the channel. The needle contact area is proximate to the channel such that fuel deposits form exclusively on the channel wall and on the valve seat upstream of the needle contact area. The needle includes a generally tubular perimeter, a downstream end, and a generally circular recess in the downstream end. The generally circular recess has a center generally along the longitudinal axis and an outer recess perimeter. The outer recess perimeter is proximate to the generally tubular perimeter such that fuel deposits form exclusively in the generally circular recess. A method of forming fuel deposits on the injector is also disclosed.
