Keeping your car running properly requires preventative maintenance and regular servicing. No only should you perform routine services, such as changing the oil, along with other professional services to keep the engine running correctly, a vehicle’s fuel system is an important component that must also be maintained on a regular basis. At AME Automotive, we are the best car mechanics in Canning Vale, Perth and we specialise in professional car servicing and fuel system cleaning. Without regular maintenance, fuel injectors can develop faults or become clogged, read on for our guide to fuel injectors and the signs you should be aware of that indicate you are in a need of a fuel system service.
What Are Fuel Injectors?
Fuel injectors are an essential part of your car’s engine, delivering fuel at the right time to ensure clean and efficient combustion. Fuel injectors receive and spray petrol (or diesel) into the engine in the form of a high-pressure mist. Fuel injectors are controlled by the engine computer to ensure fuel is delivered at the right time, in the right amount and at the correct pressure, angle and spray pattern. There is one injector per cylinder that delivers fuel to the engine, so if you drive a 4-cylinder car you will have 4 fuel injectors.
Signs and Symptoms of Clogged or Faulty Fuel Injectors
Sometimes fuel injectors can develop faults which impact on their performance or cause breakdowns. This is often due to them becoming clogged with debris, although some mechanical and electrical issues can also affect them. The following signs indicate that a fuel system cleaning is needed:
Check Engine Warning Light – The most common sign of a bad fuel injector is the check engine warning light, which appears on the dashboard. While there are a few different reasons why a check engine light can illuminate, it will definitely switch on when the injector is not performing as it should, that is delivering too much or too little fuel.
Misfiring Engine – If the engine does not get enough fuel sprayed into it due to a clogged injector, then the engine will misfire as you drive. Your vehicle will struggle to accelerate or there will be a pause after you step on the accelerator pedal.
Rough Idle – If your car’s idle noise has changed and idling feels rough, the fuel injectors may not be delivering fuel as they should. While several faults can cause a rough idle noise, including a bad spark plug or a dirty air filter, blocked injectors are one of the most common reasons for this.
Engine Stalling – If your engine randomly stalls or cuts out without you doing anything to cause it, this could be due to a lack of fuel reaching the engine from the injectors. If too little fuel is reaching the combustion chamber, the engine will stall.
Poor Fuel Economy – A clogged, leaking or faulty fuel injector can lead to a significant drop in fuel economy. This is because the engine is not getting the right amount of fuel it needs for combustion, so it will place more demand on the injector to supply it with additional fuel. This results in poor fuel economy.
Maintaining Fuel Injectors
When a fuel system gets clogged, it affects the performance of your vehicle. Not only may you have issues with loss of power and stalling, but you may also notice your fuel costs increase and if left untreated, it can result in serious issues with your vehicle’s operation. The simplest way to clean and maintain fuel injectors is to book your vehicle in for a car service with a qualified car mechanic.
Ensure your vehicle can operate with efficiency by booking for a car service today. AME is Perth’s leading automotive service centre, specialising in log book servicing, fuel system cleaning and repairs, air-conditioning, tyre and wheel alignment. For the best car service Thornlie and Canning Vale locals trust, get in touch with AME today online or call us on (08) 9455 3225.