Nowadays, vehicle engines are run by fuel injection which allows fuel to pass through it towards the internal combustion engine. Basically, your car engine computer fires high pressure fuel through a small nozzle at set times and intervals to maximize your engine’s performance.
As a replacement to the old-school carburetor, most modern gasoline engines now use fuel injection, especially diesel engines. However, despite how amazing it sounds for an upgrade, it does come with a drawback—It’s prone to clogging. As most car owners know, fuel tanks can collect some dirt and the fuel even comes with contaminants from the gasoline station. Now, when the filter fails to do its job properly then the fuel injector gets clogged. This then results in too little or too much fuel flowing into your engine which is never good.
When this happens to your fuel injector, do you know how it affects your car? Do you know the signs that say your fuel injector is actually acting up? A failing fuel injector actually brings up all sorts of performance and engine issues to your vehicle which can not only be annoying but alarming when left unattended for a while. Here are the signs that you should watch out for so that you can take your ride to your trusted car repair shop and get the problem fixed right away.
Your Engine’s Performance Becomes Noticeably Not At Its Best
If you’ve had your car for a while now and drives it fairly regularly, you get a good sense of your car’s capabilities and limitations. Because of this, the instant your car behaves differently than it usually does, you’ll be able to notice it right away. You’ll know its performance is not quite right. That’s because a failing fuel injector upsets the engine’s air-fuel ratio which is very important when it comes to performance.
If your car loses power when you try to accelerate, your fuel system could be malfunctioning which is keeping your engine from drawing more fuel to accelerate. Fuel system may malfunction because of a clogged injector, leaking fuel line, or gummed-up filter or kaput fuel pump. While you may be able to fix the problem yourself if you’re familiar with this and you have the proper tools, make sure you have the right diagnosis and skills before you proceed. Otherwise, it may be best to consult a professional especially if the problem is a bit more complex than usual.
If your car surges suddenly, then loses steam just as quickly, it might be the result of too much fuel being injected into the engine. It can feel like an up-and-down motion inside the car. Conversely, a sign that too little fuel is making its way to the engine is when you experience delayed or choppy acceleration. This is what’s known as a misfire.
Another engine-related issue that can stem from a failing injector is poor fuel economy. As the injection process becomes erratic, fuel may be lost or leaked in the engine. If too much fuel is being injected into your engine, your precious gas is being wasted.
Your Car Has Trouble Starting
Do you find it difficult to start your car recently? Well, surprise, that could be another sign that your fuel injector is not working properly. When your engine doesn’t get the right amount of fuel, you’ll hear sputtering or misfiring every time you turn the ignition. This, too, happens when your injector is clogged.
The Car Has Trouble Idling
When your car is idle at a stop light but the engine is not running smoothly or you’re even feeling some shaking, it is very likely that your fuel injector is malfunctioning. A consistent amount of fuel has to flow into your engine when your vehicle is idling, but that doesn’t happen with a faulty fuel injector. This does not only need a lot of work but as well as expertise to diagnose and solve. Therefore, it would be best for you to take your car to the mechanic for a car repair.
You Start To Smell Something Odd Coming From Your Car
If your car is carbureted it’s normal to smell a hint of gas but if your drive fuel injected vehicles you shouldn’t be able to sniff any. So, getting a really strong gas odor should send you into investigation mode to look for the culprit because this smell is not good in any way. Leaky fuel lines, stuck injectors, bad fuel pressure regulator, and other issues can cause leaks which can get to the entire engine and bring raw gas scent. Take your car to car servicing right away when this happens to get the problem fixed.
Check Engine Light Is On
This light doesn’t go off for no reason at all. So when it does, don’t assume that whatever problem that it may be telling you about can wait, because if it can, it wouldn’t be switched on. Many of the issues it detects relate to power loss, so do not ignore this ominous light.
In the case of your fuel injectors, a misfire or an electrical issue can send a warning signal to the engine computer, which then triggers your car’s ‘check engine’ light. Like a foul smell, this, too, should be attended to as soon as possible.
The Exhaust Is Releasing Smoke Even When Idle
Thick smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe is always a sign of trouble. There are a number of causes, but faulty injectors can also be a culprit. If you think your car might have a faulty fuel injector, get it checked out by an expert mechanic as soon as you can before it gets a whole lot worse.
The Cars blog 