Air Intake and Fuel Delivery System

How Do the Air Intake and Fuel Delivery System Work?

Today, nearly every single modern vehicle uses an internal combustion engine in one form or another. Of all the hundreds of different moving parts within a common internal combustion engine, perhaps two of the most significant are the air intake and fuel delivery system. Our engines need fuel to run and air to trigger the combustion. Without them, an engine is nothing more than a large piece of scrap metal. Here’s a look at how air intake and fuel delivery systems work in car engines:
Air Intake

A standard air intake works by sucking warm air into the engine, which it can then use to oxygenate the gas inside of it. Of course, this is done to cause an ignition, providing the power the engine needs to run. Common air intakes may be fairly long, with several twists or chambers to help stifle their loud sound. While a quieter engine is probably ideal for most people, others are not satisfied with stock air intakes, most of which do not take full advantage of a vehicle’s potential horsepower.
Aftermarket Intakes

With so many people looking for power in their engines, the aftermarket industry for air intake systems has grown exponentially over the past several years. Many auto enthusiasts believe that buying an improved air intake is actually the easiest way to get the most horse power out of your engine, usually allowing 5-10 greater horsepower. Aftermarket air intake systems typically work by providing increased airflow through a more direct route into the engine. There are also cold-air intake systems that offer even better performance, as cool air contains more oxygen than warm air.
Fuel Delivery

In most vehicles today, fuel delivery is handled by a complex nozzle and valve, typically referred to as the fuel injector. It works by mixing fuel and air in engines, creating the combustion they require to operate. Fuel injectors are carefully tuned to each specific type of engine and the kind of fuel they will run off of. Today, they are electronically controlled to regulate the timing and amount of fuel allowed to enter the engine. There are aftermarket fuel injectors available for some vehicles, although they are not as easily installed as air intakes.
Fuel Injector Repair and Safety

Believe it or not, fuel injectors are one of the few parts in a vehicle that will probably never need replacing and require very little maintenance. Very little should ever go wrong with it and they really don’t even need to be cleaned. There are fuel injector cleaners, but most auto experts find that they aren’t very useful. Should you ever want to examine your fuel injector, be aware that they can be dangerous if handled improperly. Residual pressure and fuel may remain in the injector, which can act as a hypodermic jet injector and cause serious injury.

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