Car Maintenance
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.
Related posts
How To Prepare Your Vehicle For The Winter Months
by admin on Sep.14, 2009, under Car Maintenance
How To Prepare Your Vehicle For The Winter Months
Winter is quickly bearing down upon us and it’s time to get our cars, trucks, and SUVs ready for the cold weather. If you live in Southern California, you’re unlikely to experience any problems. That area receives little to no snow and their roads are in good shape. If you live in the Midwest, you’re in a different situation. The snow can turn to ice, making the roads slippery. Plus, because of the low temperatures, your vehicle will have a harder time starting.
In this article, I’ll give you a quick checklist that you can use to make sure your car is ready for the winter. If you address the following items, you might be able to avoid frustrating car problems during the next few months.
Change The Oil Grade
Engine oils are sold according to their viscosity grade. Some are thicker than others and offer advantages over thinner grades. The problem is, thicker viscosities cannot circulate through your engine as easily as thinner oils. If your vehicle has been sitting in freezing temperatures all night, the oil will circulate even more slowly. That can make a big difference in the level of wear and tear your engine endures.
Change to a thinner grade. An oil with a thin viscosity will circulate more easily and protect your engine’s moving parts more effectively when it’s cold.
Test Your Battery
Your battery doesn’t enjoy cold weather. Winter temperatures tend to dramatically reduce its power to crank your engine. Unfortunately, there’s rarely any warning before a car battery dies. So, now’s the time to stop by your local auto repair shop to have it tested. Also, spend some time cleaning the corrosion that accumulates between the terminals and connectors.
Examine Your Tires
When the roads become slippery, tires with worn treads become dangerous. Not only do they lack the ability to grip the cement, water cannot filter as effectively through the shallow treads. If you find yourself in a situation that requires fast braking in order to avoid a collision, worn tires can lead to injury. If you live in an area that receives snow, ice, or a lot of rain, consider buying snow tires. They’re designed to provide more safety and control during inclement weather.
Also, check the pressure. If your tires are underinflated, you’ll lose traction. This is the case whether the roads are wet, icy, or dry. During the winter, a loss of traction can be potentially deadly.
Test Your Antifreeze
Normally, the coolant mixture in your car’s radiator should be balanced at 50%. That is, the mixture should be 50% water and 50% antifreeze. Your radiator and coolant play a key role in providing protection from extreme temperatures during operation. If there’s too much water in the mixture, it can freeze at higher temperatures than would otherwise be the case with a 50-50 blend. Buy an antifreeze tester (available at most auto parts stores) and test the ratio.
If you invest the time to address those four items (oil, battery, tires, and antifreeze blend), you’ll be far less likely to experience automotive problems during the winter. When it’s wet and freezing cold outside, you’ll be glad you did.
Related posts
On Replacing Your Vehicle’s Spark Plugs
by admin on Aug.10, 2009, under Car Maintenance, Car Tips
On Replacing Your Vehicle’s Spark Plugs
You walk out to your car, climb into the driver’s seat, and stick the key into the ignition. You turn the key and are surprised to discover that your engine seems sluggish. Over the ensuing weeks, it becomes even more sluggish. Eventually, it seems as if it doesn’t want to turn over at all. The problem may be your vehicle’s spark plugs (SPs).
They debuted in the early 1900s and have been an essential piece of automotive technology since. In the early days, they only lasted up to 15,000 miles. The reason was due to the lead contained within gasoline at the time. Today, they can last much longer; some are promoted as lasting up to 100,000 miles.
Below, I’ll explain why spark plugs need to be replaced periodically. In some cases, the emissions tests mandated in certain states prompts drivers to replace them (they fail the test otherwise). In other cases, engine and driveability issues are the catalyst.
Misfires
When you put new SPs into your vehicle, your engine will perform at its highest level of efficiency. It won’t last. Each spark plug has an electrode that delivers voltage for your car’s internal combustion process. These electrodes will wear down over time. As they do, voltage is forced to bridge a growing chasm in order to provide the ignition for the air-fuel mixture. Eventually, you’ll experience occasional misfires. They will steadily become more frequent. As a result, the level of emissions in your exhaust will increase, and your power and fuel efficiency will plummet.
Cold Starts
Often, vehicles have difficulty starting during cold weather. This is not due to the spark plugs having become fouled. Instead, it can happen as the result of their being exposed to dirt and fuel flooding. In the case of dirt, removing and cleaning the SPs will often solve a cold starting problem.
Flooding is a bit different. It happens when drivers flood their cars while trying to crank the engine. The released fuel soaks the SPs and prevents the voltage from sparking. This problem occurs mostly with cars that use carburetors, but it can also happen with those that operate on fuel injection systems. The only option is to clean or replace the spark plugs.
Protecting The Catalytic Converter
Catalytic converters are relatively sensitive to heat (and relatively expensive to replace). If an SP goes bad and misfiring occurs, excess fuel can filter into the exhaust and raise the temperature in the cat converter. If the temperature rises high enough, it can cause a partial or full failure in the cat’s substrate. New SPs help prevent excess fuel dumping, which prevents the catalytic converter from overheating and melting down.
If you’re using ordinary spark plugs, plan to have them replaced every 50,000 miles (or sooner). If you’re using a “life-long” model, replace them after 100,000 miles. They’re inexpensive and can help your engine operate at peak performance.