| There are many factors that influence the | | | | Unfortunately, the olefins are left behind. They |
| performance of your vehicle's engine. For | | | | harden into deposits and over thousands of miles, |
| example, the oxygen sensors, valves, head | | | | begin to form an obstruction in the nozzles. The |
| gasket, and myriad other components must be | | | | problem occurs so gradually that drivers seldom |
| working properly if your engine is to perform | | | | realize it's happening. |
| efficiently. Having said that, many of the | | | | Gasoline contains special detergents and additives |
| engine-related problems that plague drivers are | | | | that are designed to keep the fuel injectors clean. |
| due to their fuel injectors (FIs). They become | | | | However, low-cost suppliers often reduce the |
| dirty over time. When that happens, you might | | | | level of these elements in order to cut costs and |
| experience a decline in the performance and | | | | preserve their profit margin. The irony is that |
| efficiency of your engine. | | | | many people buy low-priced gas to save a small |
| Below, we'll take a closer look at the effects a | | | | amount of money without realizing that doing so |
| dirty FI can have on your car. I'll describe what | | | | sets the stage for expensive repairs down the |
| happens when clogs develop and describe the | | | | road. |
| factors that contribute to obstructions. | | | | Cleaning The Fuel Injectors |
| When Fuel Injectors Become Clogged | | | | A lot of mechanics suggest cleaning your fuel |
| If you have ever seen an FI up close, you'll | | | | injectors every 30,000 miles to ensure they |
| already know that a small obstruction can cause | | | | remain unclogged and able to deliver an efficient |
| the air-fuel mixture to lean out. A lot of drivers | | | | spray pattern. If you have never taken the time |
| mistakenly think a significant blockage is | | | | to clean them, you will likely notice a marked |
| necessary in order to affect an injector's | | | | improvement in your engine's performance. |
| operation. In reality, the blockage may represent | | | | To start, if you lack experience working with |
| no more than ten percent of the nozzle's opening. | | | | cars, you should leave the cleaning to your |
| Even that can potentially lead to misfiring. As a | | | | mechanic. The job takes less than half an hour, |
| result, excess oxygen leaves the cylinder and | | | | but can seem complex, even when cleaning the |
| flows into the exhaust system. The oxygen | | | | FIs while they're in place. You'll need to use special |
| sensor takes note of the excess and reports the | | | | equipment to feed the cleaning agent to the fuel |
| lean mix to the computer. | | | | rail (while your engine is running). You'll also need |
| Within the closed feedback loop, the computer will | | | | to disengage your fuel pump and block the return |
| adjust to the lean mixture by sending more fuel | | | | line. As a side note, taking the fuel pump offline |
| to the injectors. Unfortunately, this does not | | | | may cause a fault code; it will need to be cleared |
| resolve the underlying problem. The issue is made | | | | after you've finished cleaning the FIs. |
| worse by an altered spray pattern. If the spray | | | | Once the cleaning agent has gone through the |
| pattern is affected due to a clog, the fuel will burn | | | | engine and your fuel injectors, engage the fuel |
| less efficiently in the combustion chamber. | | | | pump (clear the fault code, if necessary). You |
| The Root Cause Of Clogging | | | | should be able to examine the injectors to |
| Even though most modern FIs are designed to | | | | determine whether all obstructions have been |
| resist clogging, it happens frequently. The reason | | | | cleared. If a blockage persists, you may need |
| is due to the gasoline that flows through the | | | | remove the FIs in order to perform a more |
| system. The gasoline you buy at the pump is filled | | | | thorough cleaning. |
| with hydrocarbons. Within the hydrocarbons, there | | | | Dirty fuel injectors are a common problem, |
| are olefins, a waxy substance that contributes to | | | | especially in cases where drivers use low-priced |
| deposits that accumulate and clog the FIs. | | | | gasoline. Plan to have the FIs cleaned every three |
| When you turn your car off, the fuel injectors | | | | or four years to ensure they remain free from |
| remain extremely hot. The heat causes any | | | | clogs. |
| residual gasoline still within the nozzles to vaporize. | | | | |