We all care about how our vehicle looks and functions, but most of us couldn’t care less about how the engine operates or any of the mechanics behind the functionality. But sometimes it can be interesting to learn about your vehicle. One question that many ask is “how does fuel reach my engine?” Prior to 1980, it was the carburetor that sent gas from the tank to the engine. Today, it does so through the help of the fuel system.
Some may think that the workings of the fuel system are more complicated than they really are. The truth is, it’s very easy to understand how fuel reaches the engine. Simply put, the fuel system collects gas from the fuel tank and transfers it to the cylinder chamber located in the engine. In more detail, the fuel sits in the tank until it is needed. Once it is, it is sprayed into the engine’s cylinder. Once the fuel reaches the cylinder it is vaporized and mixes with the air that is also in the chamber. Soon, the mixture of fuel and air will be burned, giving your vehicle the power it needs to run.
There are several different parts that make up the fuel system. Included within these are the tank, the pump, the line, the filter, and the injector. The fuel tank is what holds the fuel and the pump is what transfers the fuel through the filer and lines and into the injector.
As mentioned previously, the fuel system did not always work as it does now. In earlier days, it was the carburetor that powered the fuel system. However, as vehicles began to evolve, the functioning of the carburetor also needed to change. To be more specific, vehicle updates required manufacturers to add over 7 new circuits to the carburetor, making it way too complicated use. As such, it was eventually replaced with the fuel injection system which was much easier to manufacture, maintain, and repair.
Of course, today’s fuel injection system is significantly more efficient than the carburetor. Not only does it produce better gas mileage, but is also much more precise, injecting the exact amount of fuel that the engine needs.
Without your fuel injection system, your vehicle could not run. If there is a problem with your fuel injection system, your vehicle may not run efficiently. If you have any future issues with your fuel injection system, you should now know exactly where the problems could stem from.
See our post about Your Vehicle’s A/C System.