by Richard Serra

Created on: November 04, 2011

Ever since the first automobiles hit the roads, delivery of fuel to the engine was a matter of some sort of device that would provide the right amount of fuel as needed to move the car along at different speeds.This has been done via device known as the carburetor.

As cars developed towards what were considered a modern automobile, engines became more complicated, and so did the system for fuel delivery.Although the technology improved over the years, the carburetor just wasn't the perfect solution for providing the proper air to fuel mixtures, and adjustments were needed periodically to provide the best performance as well as gas mileage.

Carburetors just did not meet the criteria for the needs of today's engines, and with economy and performance being the number one issue, it was doomed to being discontinued as a viable way of delivering fuel to the engine.

The many issues associated with the carburetor such as hard starting, choke sticking, acceleration problems, operating efficiently in extreme temperatures, fuel economy, and routine maintenance, prompted auto makers to find a better fuel delivery via eliminating the carburetor.

The idea was to provide fuel in a way that it is evenly distributed, and atomized so that there is complete combustion, with no waste of fuel. Hence the introduction of the fuel injector. A fuel injector provides the right amount of fuel for each cylinder via of acting like a high speed valve, and the computer controls the fuel injector. If any sensors relative to providing the computer information as to air/fuel mixture, the injectors won't supply the right amount of fuel to the cylinders and presents a problem as too much fuel can damage your cat converter.

The injectors are powered when you have the ignition on, and then the computer provides a ground for the injector which completes a circuit therefore allowing current to pass through the injector.The coil inside the injector is energized which then causes a sealing ball or disc away from it's seat.

Fuel is then able to flow through the injector and into the engine. The computer then removes the ground to the injector which allows the spring inside to force the ball or disc shut to stop the flow of fuel.This is done rapidly and precisely in that you don't even notice the pulses.

Like a light bulb that is going on and off sixty times a second, you don't notice it because it's doing it so fast.That's about it. That's also the why you should add cleaners to keep them functioning properly.

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