Your car’s fuel injectors (FIs) spray gas into each cylinder’s combustion chamber through the intake valve. The amount of gas sprayed through each nozzle is carefully calibrated by your vehicle’s computer based on data it receives from several sensors. The right blend of fuel and air ensures your engine operates efficiently for any given set of driving circumstances.
In order for this process to work, the nozzles of your FIs much be completely clear of restrictions. Any obstruction will prevent the calibrated amount of gas from being sprayed into the combustion chamber. This affects your engine’s efficiency and performance, and can cause problems with its emissions output. You may experience a misfire from a lean mix (i.e. too little gas), hesitation, and idling problems.
Below, we’ll start by taking a look at the factors that can cause obstructions in your fuel injectors; I’ll reveal one influence you may find surprising. I’ll then explain how to remove the clogs and help your engine operate at its peak level of performance.
How The Injectors Become Clogged
Obstructions are due to deposits, as opposed to debris that finds its way into the nozzles. Deposits form as the result of the hydrocarbons contained within the gas. These compounds come in varying densities with thicker – or heavier – densities generating more energy and heat during combustion than lighter ones. Olefins are a type of hydrocarbon, and are usually the cause of obstructions that form in the fuel injectors. The following is a brief explanation regarding how this occurs.
Residual gas is left behind on your vehicle’s FIs whenever you turn your engine off. Because there is a significant amount of heat surrounding the injectors, the residual gasoline immediately begins to evaporate. The problem is, when it does so, it leaves behind olefins. These hydrocarbons are waxy, which is the reason they do not evaporate. Instead, the surrounding heat cooks and hardens them. Over time, the olefin deposits accumulate in the nozzles and form obstructions.
The blockage does not need to be large to affect your engine’s performance. If the olefin deposits restrict even ten percent of a single nozzle, you might experience a misfire.
Inexpensive Fuel: A Surprising Catalyst
Millions of people choose cheap gasoline over name brands when filling their tanks. Even though doing so saves money at the pump, it’s a bad idea. It increases the chances your fuel injectors will become clogged. Here’s why:
Suppliers often lower the price of their gasoline by cutting certain corners. One of these corners is the detergents contained in the gas. Detergents are included in fuel to help prevent additives from accumulating on the valve stems, and to clean the nozzles of the FIs. Unfortunately, they’re costly. Thus, cheap gasoline usually contains fewer detergents – or lesser quality ones – which allows deposits to accumulate more quickly.
Removing The Obstructions
The simplest approach to cleaning your fuel injectors is to have your mechanic do the job. If you prefer to do it yourself, you’ll have two main options from which to choose: cleaning the FIs while they remain installed or doing so after removing them from your car. The former option involves disengaging your fuel pump and letting your engine idle while running a cleaning solution into the fuel rail. You’ll need to use special equipment that can pressurize the solution. The drawback with this approach is that large obstructions may not be cleared away properly.
Removing the FIs prior to cleaning is the method used by most mechanics. However, this is only feasible if you have access to the proper equipment. The advantage is that it can clear any blockages that exist in the nozzles, regardless of their size or obstinacy. The drawback is that the necessary equipment is cost-prohibitive for most people.
If your fuel injectors have become clogged, have them cleaned or replaced. Otherwise, your engine’s performance and efficiency will continue to suffer.
For all your auto body parts needs visit the leader in parts Everdrive.com. The best place for Discount Tires