Friday, May 17, 2013

Car Features - Electronic Fuel Injection vs. Carburetor System

Here at The Ultimate Used Car Guide, there are numerous vehicles that have their fuels being delivered via electronic fuel injection and carburetor system. This article aims to help you arrive at a wise decision especially on the financial and emotional aspect of buying a car.

Some vehicles mentioned in this article have links to their corresponding Car Profiles, with some having a link to their respective reviews.


FUEL INJECTION
Majority of new vehicles nowadays (and some high end variants of mainstream models prior to 2005) have this technology installed in their engines.

HOW IT WORKS?
Basically, the injector would supply fuel by spraying pressurized ones into the intake manifold straight to the front of the intake valve. This one has the capacity of opening and closing the valves numerous times.

Give the injector some energy, an electromagnet moves a plunger which results to the opening of the valve. With this in mind, pressurized fuel is released out of the nozzle. Why does the nozzle exists? This is done to make the fuel be atomized to look fine as mist and the burning process is easy.

How does the system determine the fuel needed by the engine? The pulse width is responsible for this and the ECU (electronic computer unit) is responsible for this. These injectors are placed in the intake manfold to spray the fuel directly to the intake valves. The fuel rail, a pipe, does the task of supplying pressurized fuel.

ADVANTAGES:
  • Great and smooth acceleration
  • More power is delivered
  • Fuel economy is better
  • Low emissions
  • Automatic adjustment 
  • More easier to start
DISADVANTAGES:
  • Expensive to maintain
  • When water damage happens, fixing this is a huge trouble (remember Ondoy?)
Examples of Vehicles With This Technology:
CARBURETOR
The standard fare in most vehicles sold in the 70s and 80s, a base model partner in the 90s, and in the obsolete stage in the early 00s. 

HOW IT WORKS?
The carburetor has three main functions, combining gasoline and air which creates a top combustible mix, moderates the fuel and air ratio, and controls the speed of the engine. It mixes the fuel and air to the right tune to run properly. Too much fuel will cause the engine to "run rich" and emit smoke, not run, stall, or the most occurrence is consume more fuel. Less fuel will cause the engine to "run lean" and can cause engine damage.

The piston in the engine would make the cylinder move down towards the intake stroke which creates air that derives from the cylinder and intake manfold. A vacuum is made that invites air from the carb. An airflow that passes through the carburetor causes fuel to withdraw from the carburetor which passes to the intake manfold and intake valves before going to its last destination, the cylinders.

So after that, the choke (the one that you push) regulates the right mixture of air and fuel. Fuel is brought to the carburetor by the fuel pump and placed in the bowl. Fuel must be in constant level, when it is below a certain level the float lowers and opens the valve to allow fuel. Have it full, the supply will be shut.

ADVANTAGES:
  • Simple layout
  • Easy to maintain
  • Easy to tweak
  • Performance wise, this is great
DISADVANTAGES:
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Not adaptable to E85 or biofuels
  • First time owners aren't welcome
Examples of Vehicles With This Technology:
  • 1997-2005 Toyota Corolla XL/XE/LE (last sold in 2005, mainly to taxi fleets)
  • 1993-1997 Toyota Corolla XL/XE
  • 1998-2001 Nissan Sentra FE (last sold in 2001, dropped in the following year and indirectly replaced by the Sentra GL in 2003)
  • 1991-1999 Nissan Sentra JX/LEC/EX Saloon (LEC continued until 1999, with other models dropped in 1995)
  • 1993-1999 Mitsubishi Lancer EL /EX (renamed as EX in 1997)
  • 1996-2002 Mitsubishi Lancer EL (1996-1999)/GLX (1999-2002) (carburetor engine option dropped for the next generation model in 2003)
  • 1991-1995 Honda Civic LX and hatchback
  • Mazda 323/323 Familia GL
  • Kia Pride (last sold in 2003 and replaced by the Picanto in 2004)
  • Toyota Liteace
  • Nissan Vanette
  • Hyundai Excel
  • Suzuki Supercarry
  • Daihatsu Hijet
  • Daihatsu Feroza
  • Daihatsu Charade
  • Fiat Uno
  • Pre-1993 Toyota Corona
  • 1987-1992 Mitsubishi Galant Super Saloon 1.8
  • 1987-1999 Mitsubishi L300 Versa Van (there is a 2.0 gasoline engine option)
  • 1995-2004 Toyota Hiace GL (no more gasoline engine option in the next generation model)
  • 1988-1992 Toyota Crown Deluxe
  • Mazda 323F Astina
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_injection
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-injection3.htm
http://www.enginebasics.com/Engine%20Basics%20Root%20Folder/Fuel%20Injectors.html
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060901221650AAlc21d
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question377.htm
http://www.nationalcarburetors.com/carburetor.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carburetor
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