A Closer Look At Your Vehicle’s Electronic Fuel Injection System
by admin on Oct.28, 2009, under Car Maintenance
A Closer Look At Your Vehicle’s Electronic Fuel Injection System
Automotive technology has eliminated most of the serious problems and inefficiencies that cars experienced three decades ago. From the brakes to the suspension and the engine to the ignition, vehicles today look all but unrecognizable when compared to their predecessors. The process by which gasoline is delivered to the engine has also gone through dramatic changes. Most automobiles that role off the assembly line today are now equipped with an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system. It’s far more precise than a carburetor. That means drivers enjoy better fuel efficiency and performance.
Below, I’ll provide a bird’s eye view of your car’s EFI. We’ll take a look at the main parts that are responsible for its operation, including the computer, sensors, and injectors.
The Brain Behind The System
Your vehicle is basically a computer on wheels. It considers a number of factors to identify the precise amount of gasoline that your engine needs in order to operate at an optimal performance level. For example, it watches the position of your throttle and the temperature throughout your engine. When these factors (and others) change, it makes instant calculations to determine how much gas is required for a given task.
Collecting The Data
Your car’s computer (it’s technically called the engine controller) can only do its job if it has the necessary data with which to make its calculations. Enter the EFI’s sensors. There are three of them: one to monitor the rpms, one to watch the manifold pressure, and another to note the position of your throttle. There are other sensors to monitor emissions, barometric pressure, and engine temperature, but those factors are not as important to the electronic fuel injection system.
If any of the three main sensors malfunction, your vehicle’s computer cannot receive the data it needs. As a result, its calculations will be inaccurate, which can cause performance problems or even engine failure.
The Workhorses Of The System
Lastly, we come to the injectors. They are the workhorses of your car’s EFI. The sensors collect data and send it to the computer. The computer uses that data to calculate precise amounts of gas that are needed to power your vehicle for any given driving condition. It sends the instructions to your injectors. The injectors receive these instructions and deliver the gas required to the combustion chamber.
Many things can influence whether the injectors can perform their job properly. For example, they can become partly clogged. Or, the pressure from the fuel pump may be insufficient to push enough gas through.
The computer, sensors, and injectors of your vehicle’s electronic fuel injection system must work together seamlessly in order for your engine to perform efficiently. When any of these components fail, you might experience a severe decline in horsepower and less overall fuel efficiency.