Gone are the days of the carburetor unless you drive an older automobile. Today’s vehicles use fuel injectors to mix the fuel with the air in the combustion chamber. Most automobiles have direct fuel injection, which means the fuel is sprayed directly into each cylinder. Automobile Diagnostics lists the signs below of clogged or leaking fuel injectors. Either way, the injectors must be serviced or replaced in order to restore your engine’s performance.
Idling Roughly
The fuel injectors get clogged by carbon deposits that are a natural byproduct of combustion engines. Over-the-counter fuel injector cleaners aren’t always effective enough to remove all of the carbon that has been deposited onto the injectors. Clogged fuel injectors make it difficult for your vehicle to get the amount of gasoline it needs in the combustion chamber. Consequently, your vehicle will idle roughly.
Misfiring Engine
You will also notice that your engine will sputter or misfire when you have a problem with the fuel injectors. Again, the engine is running on more air than fuel if the injectors are clogged. If the injectors are leaking, the engine is getting too much fuel, and this, too, can flood it and cause it to misfire. It can also cause your vehicle to pick up speed sporadically as the engine surges.
Poor Gas Mileage
Anytime the engine is not running efficiently, your gas mileage takes a hit. This includes when you have clogged or leaking fuel injectors. If the injectors are clogged, your engine is burning through what little gas it’s getting more quickly. If the injectors are leaking, your engine is burning away the excess gas that it is receiving through the fuel injector leaks.
Sporadic RPMs
You may also notice your engine performance problems on your tachometer. As the engine revs up and down, your tachometer needle will bounce up and down. Sporadic RPMs indicate that there is an uneven amount of fuel being sprayed into the engine; specifically, the cylinders. Unfortunately, you will continue to have sporadic RPMs until such time as you get the fuel injectors cleaned or replaced.
Dead Engine
Finally, if you cannot get your automobile started, this is definitely a sign that there is a problem with the fuel making its way to the engine. This could be caused by clogged fuel injectors or another clog in your vehicle’s fuel system.
No matter the problem, Automobile Diagnostics in Columbus, IN, can fix it. Call us today to set up an appointment.
