Car Parts Plus

Diagnosing Problems With Your Car’s Fuel Injectors
Your engine’s performance is dependent on the air-fuel mixture that fills each cylinder’s combustion chamber. An optimal blend helps to ensure peak efficiency. Gas is delivered through a set of fuel injectors (FIs); the amount is controlled by data sent to your vehicle’s computer (i.e. engine controller) by a number of sensors.

Assuming the sensors are working properly, the correct amount of gas is normally sprayed through the nozzles of the FIs. However, problems can occur that lead to a lean mixture (i.e. too little fuel). If the mixture leans out, you may experience misfiring and even detonation, which can eventually damage your engine.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at the reasons this problem occurs. I’ll explain why fuel injectors can become clogged over time and how you can keep them clean for better engine performance.

Deposits And Clogs

Clogging occurs due to the buildup of deposits within the nozzles of the FIs. It doesn’t take a large obstruction to have an impact on your vehicle’s performance. If one of the nozzles suffers a 10% blockage, it can cause a misfire.

The most common cause of clogging is the presence of hydrocarbons within gasoline. Hydrocarbons contain a waxy material called oilfins. During operation, heat is generated around your fuel injectors as the hydrocarbons burn. When you turn your car off, residual heat cooks the oilfins and hardens them. As the heat dissipates, the oilfins form deposits within the openings of the nozzles. These deposits block the passage of gas.

On most small 4-cylinder vehicles, the second and third FIs are exposed to the most heat. As a result, they are the most susceptible to clogging. In larger engines, the fuel injectors in the middle are likewise more vulnerable to clogging.

Gasoline typically contains detergents that are designed, in part, to wash the injectors and keep them free of obstructions. However, some gasoline companies cut corners to save costs and under price their competitors. They do so by reducing the level of detergents in their gas, or by using lower-quality detergents.

Keeping The Injectors Clean

It’s worth having the FIs checked every 30,000 miles to ensure that the nozzles have not become clogged with deposits. If they have become clogged, your mechanic should be able to connect them to a cleaning machine and run detergents through them. It’s a simple procedure and should take less than 30 minutes.

If you were experiencing misfires due to a lean air-fuel mixture, the cleaning procedure should be able to resolve them immediately. If the deposits are stubborn, your mechanic may need to perform multiple cleaning cycles.

There may be times when your fuel injectors are so badly clogged that the detergents are ineffective for removing the deposits. If that’s the case, your mechanic will need to remove the FIs and clean them using specialized equipment.

Keeping your fuel injectors clear of obstructions will improve the overall performance of your car’s engine. If you notice misfiring or signs of detonation, ask your mechanic to check for clogs within the nozzles.

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What To Do When Your Tire “Blows Out”

Would you know what to do if you had a blowout while driving? Most drivers have never gone through the experience and would likely react in the opposite manner than they should. Unfortunately, that reaction can lead to a serious traffic collision. In this article, I’ll explain the factors that can cause a tire to “blow out” (they might surprise you). I’ll also describe what you should do when it happens in order to maintain control of your vehicle.

Nature Of The Problem

It’s worth spending a moment to properly define a blowout. At its most basic, it is a rupture through which air quickly escapes to the point that the wheel is unable to support the weight of the vehicle. Aside from driving over a nail or any object that creates a large gash in the rubber, most people don’t realize how a blowout happens.

A lot of motorists think a blowout occurs because there is too much pressure in the tire. They believe the pressure builds until the rubber develops a weak spot at which point it ruptures. In truth, the problem is due to the tire having too little pressure, not too much. When this happens, the rubber flexes beyond its normal elasticity. If the vehicle is overloaded, friction and heat can build up to the point where the steel netting and the rubber separate. A rupture becomes imminent.

Maintaining Control And Ensuring Your Safety

One of the reasons many people do not know how to react properly to a blowout is because the quality of tires sold today is much higher than the quality of those sold a generation ago. They rarely blow out. The drawback is that it happens so seldom that few drivers know how to respond in a way that lets them maintain control of their car.

When a blowout occurs, a motorist will instinctively remove their foot from the gas pedal, press the brake pedal, and try to maneuver the car to the side of the road. On the surface, this sounds appropriate. However, doing those things will actually reduce the level of control the motorist has on his vehicle.

The proper procedure to follow is to keep your foot on the gas pedal when a tire blows out, even though doing so seems counterintuitive. You’ll likely feel a pulling sensation to the side. Counter it. If your car pulls to the right, gently guide the steering wheel to the left; that will help you maintain control. You’ll find that your car stabilizes after a few moments. Once it does, decelerate slowly while guiding your vehicle over to the side of the road.

By keeping the right amount of pressure in your tires (check your owner’s manual for the right psi), you can avoid experiencing a blowout. That said, it’s impossible to plan for everything, including nails and other sharp objects on the road. If it happens, follow the steps above to ensure your safety and that of your passengers.

For Discounts on new tires and the best tire deals online check out the Discount Tires from Tireteam.com

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