The Difference Between Carburettors and Fuel Injection
In the last couple of decades, fuel injection systems have completely replaced carburettors as a means of delivering fuel into an engine in modern vehicles. In this article, we’ll take a look at how fuel injectors work and why they’ve become the industry standard. We’ll explain things as plainly as possible — remember, you don’t need to be a mechanic in order to gain a basic understanding of your vehicle’s inner workings!
How does the carburettor work?
Basically, the aim of the carburettor is to mix the appropriate amount of air and fuel in order to allow the engine to run properly. The carburettor is essentially a tube with an adjustable plate (known as the throttle plate) running across it. When the throttle plate runs parallel to the length of the tube, the maximum amount of air is flowing through the carburettors — this is known as full throttle. When the engine is idling, the throttle plate is just about closed, allowing minimal air to flow through.
The reason the carburettor went out of fashion was because it was an inefficient fuel delivery system. While these were fine on basic, old-fashioned automobiles (indeed, carburettors are still used on less complex machines such as chainsaws and lawnmowers even today), as cars evolved and became more complicated the carburettor was no longer efficient. Additionally, concern about fuel emissions in the atmosphere meant higher standards needed to be met by car manufacturers, and the fuel injector, which could more accurately deliver fuel to the engine, was the answer. The last carburettors were created in the late 1980s.
How does fuel injection work?
Electronic fuel injection (EFI) is a computerised system that works by spraying fuel into the combustion chambers at regular intervals. When you put your foot on the accelerator, a throttle valve opens, allowing more air to enter the engine. The harder you push the accelerator, the more air gets in.
The engine control unit (ECU), which is the name for the computer that oversees the electronic parts of your engine, pays attention to how far the throttle valve has opened and allows more fuel to enter based on the amount of air that has made its way into the engine. Sensors will also work to monitor the mass of air in the engine, and also the levels of oxygen in the exhaust. By taking all this information into account, the ECU can create optimum air-to-fuel ratio. This is why EFI has become so important in modern car design.
What are the most common fuel injection problems?
One of the most common fuel injection problems is a dirty injector. If these become clogged, this can lead to an engine misfiring. Some of the symptoms of clogged injectors include hesitation or stumbling during acceleration and general poor vehicle performance. Additionally, fuel injectors may leak fuel, resulting in higher fuel consumption. Using quality fuel ensures your fuel injectors don’t become clogged. If you do feel there may be a problem with your fuel injectors, it’s a good idea to get a professional car service to ensure that this is in fact the problems, as sometimes the symptoms could also be a result of something else being wrong with your vehicle.
