Just as human beings need food to survive, cars need fuel to operate. An internal combustion engine, for instance, requires the use of either gasoline or diesel. But while this is fairly basic, most people wonder how does this fuel get fed into the system so it can be turned into the energy that powers the motor?
While the entire fuel system is a rather complex collection of components, one of the most vital parts is the fuel injection system. This is what controls the delivery of fuel into the cylinders where it is then combusted and turned into energy. In the olden days, this job was taken care of by the carburetor. However, as time went on and engines became more sophisticated, the flaws of the carburetor eventually surfaced—more specifically, its inability to deliver the precise amount of fuel to each cylinder.
The solution was the fuel injection system. This system uses a nozzle to inject or spray the exact amount of fuel into each cylinder. To help ensure this, most, if not all new engines utilize an electronic control unit or computer brain. This essentially uses a host of sensors that monitor different variables. These, in turn, tell the fuel system how fuel to inject into the cylinder or combustion chamber.
There are many types of fuel injection systems. Earlier examples were mechanical, while the later models now use electronic systems. Then there are indirect and direct fuel injection. Without getting too technical, each one difers in how fuel is introduced into the system. And yes, each one has its benefits and disadvantages.
Photo by: Paolo Lesaca )Suzuki Vitara engine)
