Tag: Fuel Injection
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.
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The Essence Of Direct Fuel Injection
by admin on Mar.24, 2009, under Car Maintenance, Car Tips
The Essence Of Direct Fuel Injection
Originally, gasoline engines solely used carburetors to prepare the air and gas mixture. However, the relative inaccuracy of this method has led to the development of direct fuel injection, resulting in a more efficient burn and lower emissions. Below, I’m going to explain how the system works as well as its pros and cons. It is likely that a greater number of vehicles will be built with this type of engine in the future, so it’s worthwhile to understand its operation.
How Direct Fuel Injection Works
In most gasoline-fueled cars, the engine operates on a four-stroke cycle. In a four-stroke engine, during the first step the intake valve opens and the cylinder is filled with a mixture of gas and air. Next, the valves close and the piston moves up, compressing the mixture. After that happens, ignition is triggered, sending the piston downwards in what is known as the power stroke. Lastly, the exhaust valve opens and the piston travels upward, forcing out the waste fumes.
In a carbureted vehicle, the fuel blend is mixed before entering the cylinder on the first stroke. With direct injection, the gas is sprayed into the cylinder while the air enters via the intake manifold.
Advantages
There are a number of benefits to a direct-injected engine. The primary advantages involve improved fuel economy and greater power output. Each burst of gasoline is precisely measured and timed by the onboard computer, translating into greater efficiency and less pollution. In addition, the ultra-fine droplets and even the dispersal created by the system has a cooling effect on the engine that increases power across the entire RPM band.
When it’s running, the computer is continually varying between different air-gas ratios to ensure the best performance. The three modes are “full power,” “ultra lean burn,” and “stoichiometric.” During a full power burn, the mixture is richer, enabling the car to accelerate faster and prevent knock. “Ultra lean burn” pushes the ratio as high as 65:1, providing emission reductions under low-stress situations. “Stoichometric” mode runs the engine at a 14.7:1 mixture, the optimum combination that ensures a 100% burn, used for moderate-stress situations.
Disadvantages
Unfortunately, direct injection systems are more expensive and complex to build, resulting in a concentration among high-performance cars and trucks. Another drawback to these systems is the component durability. The assembly must be able to handle high-pressure gasoline as well as the heat and pressure in the cylinder for extended periods of time. Furthermore, the assembly must be very accurate in order to direct the spray properly. This tight tolerance can also make the assembly unreliable, especially if the engine is routinely placed in high-stress situations or driven for long distances.
Even though prices currently remain relatively high for these systems, their improved performance and fuel efficiency is likely to spur their adoption in additional car models. Before long, carburetors will be a distant memory.
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