Carbureted Engine VS Fuel Injected Engine

Carburetors and fuel injection are two main fuel delivery systems used in internal combustion engines. If you are a car enthusiast and have wondered how they work? What is the difference between a carbureted engine and a fuel injected engine? Read on to find out.

 

 

What is a carburetor

In the early 1990s, carbureted engines were widely used in cars. Its main function is to deliver the air-fuel mixture to the cylinder. Compared to fuel injection, carburetors are a simple process. Basically, you step on the accelerator and the carburetor opens to deliver fuel to the cylinder.

 

Sounds simple, right? Actually, it is not. Let's read on.

How a carburettor engine works:

 

Air enters the carburettor through the air filter - the velocity increases as it passes through the venturi, creating a low pressure area - the low pressure area draws fuel from the float chamber and mixes with the air through the nozzle - the mixture enters the engine cylinder through the intake manifold for combustion.

 

Carburettor engines can have either a single or dual cylinder

 

Single-chamber carburettors have only one venturi in operation, while dual-chamber carburettors have two venturis for extra power.

 

Some cars also have 4 chambers, two of which (primary chambers) are always in operation, while the other two (secondary chambers) are only opened when accelerating to get more power.

 

What is fuel injection？

In the 1970s, with the development of the automobile industry, the fuel supply method changed from carburetor engine to fuel injection engine, and it became a world of fuel injection cars.

 

Compared with carburetor, fuel injection system is more precise in producing air-fuel ratio.

 

 

How a fuel injection engine works:

The engine control unit (ECU) calculates the required amount of fuel based on sensor data - the fuel is pressurized and delivered to the injector - the injector sprays the fuel into the intake manifold or combustion chamber in an atomized form - the air-fuel mixture is ignited by the spark plug for combustion.

 

There are many options for fuel injection systems

• Single-point or throttle body injection: This is the earliest and simplest type of fuel injection.
• Electronic fuel injection: The engine control unit (ECU) accurately controls the amount of fuel injection based on sensor data, which is the mainstream technology in modern cars.
• Sequential fuel injection: Each injector nozzle is triggered independently, and fuel is injected in sequence according to the timing sequence to improve combustion efficiency.
• Direct injection:Fuel is injected directly into the compressor, improving fuel efficiency and power output while reducing emissions.

 

What is the difference between a carbureted engine and a fuel-injected engine?

There are reasons why carburetors are gradually being phased out, but it is undeniable that the old carbureted engines still have certain advantages over their successors.

 

Let's continue to analyze the differences and advantages and disadvantages between carbureted engines and fuel-injected engines. Which one is a better choice?

 

 

Advantages of carbureted engines

• Simple and low cost
• Low maintenance cost
• Suitable for old models of engines
• You can adjust the carburetors according to your needs to get more power

 

Disadvantages of carbureted engines

• Poor fuel efficiency
• May suffer from severe vibration and spark plug contamination
• High emission pollution
• Unstable mixture ratio under different working conditions
• Regular maintenance and replacement are required
• Difficult to start in cold weather

 

Advantages of fuel injection engines

• Higher power and fuel economy
• Faster power response
• Provide precise air-fuel ratio
• Less maintenance frequency
• No problems starting in cold conditions, and no manual choke required

 

Disadvantages of fuel injection engines

• High maintenance costs in case of failure
• High maintenance technical requirements

 

Features	Carbureted engine	Fuel injected engine
Fuel supply method	Premixed through carburetor	Direct injection
Fuel efficiency	Lower	Higher
Emission pollution	Higher	Lower
Maintenance difficulty	Easy	Complex
Power performance	Unstable	Stable
Cost	Lower	Higher
Technical complexity	Easy	Advanced

 

 

Which is better?

The best option is generally considered to be the fuel injection system - electronic fuel injection.

 

Electronic fuel injection is far and away the most popular alternative at the moment, and while carburetors are easier to maintain, the fuel injection system works better, making up for its complexity and expensive maintenance costs. No automaker would choose a new car with a carburetor.

 

Despite this, carburetors can still be found in older cars because it helps keep the price down, and their drivers like to tinker and manipulate them to get more power or more mileage.

 

 

Summary

Carburetors are the oldest and simplest fuel system, while fuel injection is the latest technology. Both systems have their pros and cons. In the long run, fuel injection is better than carburetors.