A fuel-cooled fuel injector (100, 200) configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber, the fuel injector (100, 200) comprising: a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion, wherein the base portion is configured to receive the fuel into the body and the nozzle portion is configured to be positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber; a valve carried by the nozzle portion, wherein the valve is movable between a closed position and an open position to inject the fuel into the combustion chamber; an actuator coupled to the valve and extending longitudinally through the body towards the base portion; a driver carried by the body, wherein the driver includes a cavity extending longitudinally therethrough, and the actuator is movably positioned in the cavity, and the driver is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the driver is spaced apart from the actuator, and contacts and at least partially retains the valve in the closed position, and in the second position the driver moves the actuator to move the valve to the open position; wherein the actuator extends through the body coaxially within the driver and has a first end coupled to the valve and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the second end portion has a stop; in the first position the driver is spaced apart from the stop and in the second position the driver contacts the stop to move the actuator axially away from the nozzle portion to move the valve to the open position; and a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally through the driver configured to allow fuel to flow therethrough, wherein the driver includes an actuator opening extending longitudinally through a central portion of the driver, wherein the actuator extends through the actuator opening, wherein the driver is independently movable from the actuator, and wherein the driver and the actuator are fluidicly connected, and wherein the fuel passageways are spaced radially apart from the actuator opening and extends longitudinally through the driver. a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion, wherein the base portion is configured to receive the fuel into the body and the nozzle portion is configured to be positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber; a valve carried by the nozzle portion, wherein the valve is movable between a closed position and an open position to inject the fuel into the combustion chamber; an actuator coupled to the valve and extending longitudinally through the body towards the base portion; a driver carried by the body, wherein the driver includes a cavity extending longitudinally therethrough, and the actuator is movably positioned in the cavity, and the driver is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the driver is spaced apart from the actuator, and contacts and at least partially retains the valve in the closed position, and in the second position the driver moves the actuator to move the valve to the open position; wherein the actuator extends through the body coaxially within the driver and has a first end coupled to the valve and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the second end portion has a stop; in the first position the driver is spaced apart from the stop and in the second position the driver contacts the stop to move the actuator axially away from the nozzle portion to move the valve to the open position; and a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally through the driver configured to allow fuel to flow therethrough, wherein the driver includes an actuator opening extending longitudinally through a central portion of the driver, wherein the actuator extends through the actuator opening, wherein the driver is independently movable from the actuator, and wherein the driver and the actuator are fluidicly connected, and wherein the fuel passageways are spaced radially apart from the actuator opening and extends longitudinally through the driver.