Carburetors have been around almost as long as the car itself. Its functionality can be explained as a device that delivers the correct amount of fuel to the engine according to the air that is forced through the engine by atmospheric pressure. The initial cost of a carburetor engine is almost five times cheaper than an electronic fuel injected one, although maintenance costs could perhaps set one back a bit. The clear advantage of a carburetor engine is that it is not restricted by how much gas is pumped from the fuel tank. This means that any modifications to the cam in an attempt to make the engine "breathe better" will allow the cylinders to pull more fuel through the carburetor resulting in a more dense explosive mixture in the combustion chamber. The end result… unrivaled power!
The carburetor does, however, come with a host of disadvantages. Firstly, with the way the world is moving toward lower gas emissions, driving a car with a carburetor engine may get you locked up in certain countries. Secondly, fuel economy is definitely not something that you can expect from your standard carburetor. You would have to almost indefinitely be tuning your carburetor engine to offset changing weather and atmospheric conditions. Finally, with the current unpredictable fluctuations in gas prices worldwide, maintaining a carburetor engine would eventually only be an option for car enthusiasts who are not adversely affected by erratic world markets.
Fuel Injection
Direct Fuel Injection Engine
Direct Fuel Injection – This type of fuel injection is the latest in fuel injection technology common in the more recent two and four stroke petrol engines. Similar to diesel engines, fuel is injected via a common rail line directly into the cylinder. The cost of this type of fuel injection system is comparatively higher as a result of the custom cylinder head configuration and the fairly sophisticated injector used. Fuel efficiency, high power output and lower gas emissions are clear advantages of direct fuel injection. The fuel requirements and injection timings can be precisely controlled according to the load conditions. Engine speed determined by Ignition timing and fuel injection functionality is carefully controlled by the EMS (engine control unit).
Port Fuel Injection – This is perhaps the most common type of fuel injection system found worldwide. Fuel is injected at each intake Port Fuel Injection (4)port usually located at the cylinder head and intake manifold. The inherent design of this type of fuel-injection system allows for quite a bit of flexibility in intake-manifold design. The improved engine-breathing in this regard allows for super- and turbo-charging modifications to be exceptionally feasible.
Throttle Body Injection – Throttle body injection is the closest in design to a normal carbureted engine. The fuel injector nozzles inject fuel above the throttle blades. The fuel and air mixture is then carried through the intake tract to the combustion chamber. These injection systems were more commonly found in the 1980 to 1995 timeframe. The greatest advantage of this system was that it was comparatively low cost and many of the supporting components such as the intake manifold, air filter, and fuel line routing which could be reused.
Port Fuel Injection – This is perhaps the most common type of fuel injection system found worldwide. Fuel is injected at each intake Port Fuel Injection (4)port usually located at the cylinder head and intake manifold. The inherent design of this type of fuel-injection system allows for quite a bit of flexibility in intake-manifold design. The improved engine-breathing in this regard allows for super- and turbo-charging modifications to be exceptionally feasible.
Throttle Body Injection – Throttle body injection is the closest in design to a normal carbureted engine. The fuel injector nozzles inject fuel above the throttle blades. The fuel and air mixture is then carried through the intake tract to the combustion chamber. These injection systems were more commonly found in the 1980 to 1995 timeframe. The greatest advantage of this system was that it was comparatively low cost and many of the supporting components such as the intake manifold, air filter, and fuel line routing which could be reused.
Conclusion
It’s clear that steps being made in the development of fuel injection systems are paving the way for enhanced performance, reduced fuel emissions, and enhanced engine reliability. However, for the diehard carburetor fanatic who cannot substitute for the power high and maximum power output thrill that only a carburetor engine can offer, I fully empathize.
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