Chapter 5

A carburetor is a mechanical device designed to use pressure differentials to:

1. Meter Fuel: Deliver the precise amount of fuel required for the engine's current operating
condition.
2. Vaporize Fuel: Convert liquid fuel into a fine mist or vapor to mix effectively with air for
efficient combustion.

The carburetor adjusts the air-fuel mixture according to the engine’s requirements,
which vary based on load, speed, and environmental conditions:

1. Idle (Low Engine Speed)

 Engine Demand:
o At idle, the engine operates at low speed with minimal load.
o The engine needs a small but stable supply of fuel and air to maintain smooth
operation.
 Carburetor Response:

o The throttle valve is almost closed, restricting airflow.

o An idle jet supplies a slightly richer air-fuel mixture (more fuel than air) to keep the
engine running smoothly and prevent stalling.

2. Acceleration (Sudden Increase in Speed or Load)

Engine Demand:

o When the driver presses the accelerator, the engine requires a burst of power.
o This demand for power necessitates a richer mixture to provide more fuel for
combustion.

Carburetor Response:

o The throttle valve opens wider, increasing airflow.

o An accelerator pump injects extra fuel into the air stream, creating a richer air-fuel
mixture that enhances power delivery.
o This prevents hesitation or lag during acceleration.

3. Cruising (Constant Speed or Light Load)

Engine Demand:

o When cruising at a steady speed, the engine requires a leaner air-fuel mixture (more
air, less fuel) for better fuel efficiency.

Carburetor Response:

o The throttle valve maintains a steady position.

o The carburetor adjusts fuel delivery to provide a nearly stoichiometric air-fuel ratio
(approximately 14.7:1 for gasoline), ensuring efficient combustion.
4. High Load or Maximum Power

Engine Demand:

o During heavy loads, such as uphill driving or towing, or at high speeds, the engine
requires maximum power.
o This demands a richer mixture to supply more fuel for combustion and help cool the
engine.

Carburetor Response:

o The throttle valve is fully open, allowing maximum airflow.

o The carburetor delivers a richer air-fuel mixture to ensure the engine has enough
energy for high-power output.

5. Cold Starting

Engine Demand

o During a cold start, the engine needs a richer air-fuel mixture because fuel does not
vaporize easily at low temperatures.

Carburetor Response:

o The choke valve partially closes the air intake, reducing airflow and enriching the
mixture.
o This enriched mixture helps the engine start quickly and run smoothly until it warms
up.

A Single Point Injection System (also called Throttle Body Injection (TBI)) is a
type of fuel injection system that uses a single fuel injector to deliver fuel to all the
cylinders of the engine.

Stratified vs. Homogeneous Charge Operation in EFI

Stratified-Charge Operation:

o Only the air-fuel mixture near the spark plug is ignitable.

o The rest of the chamber contains fresh air and residual gases, with minimal unburned
fuel.
o Provides a lean overall mixture, ideal for idling and part-throttle operation.
o Reduces fuel consumption and emissions.

Homogeneous Charge Operation:

o The air-fuel mixture is uniformly distributed throughout the combustion chamber.

 o All fresh air in the chamber participates in combustion.
o Used during wide-open throttle (WOT) for maximum power output.
o Ensures consistent and efficient combustion under high load.

fuel tank is a safe container for storing flammable liquids, designed to store and
deliver fuel to an engine.

Key Requirements:

 Safe Fuel Storage: Prevents sparks and ensures safe storage of fuel.
 No Leakage: Prevents fuel leakage and minimizes evaporative emissions.
 Gauging: Measures or evaluates the remaining fuel in the tank.
 Venting: Manages fuel vapors to avoid over-pressure, often through valves.
 Fuel Feeding: Delivers fuel to the engine via a fuel pump or pressurized gas.

An electric fuel pump is used in fuel-injected engines to transfer fuel from the tank
to the injectors.

Key Features:

 High Pressure Delivery: Delivers fuel at 2 to 6 bar (depending on application) for proper
injection.
 Mounted Inside the Tank: Commonly located within the fuel tank for ease of fuel supply.
 Dual Pump Systems: Some vehicles have two pumps—one inside the tank (transfer pump)
and one outside (main pump).
 Variety of Designs: Older systems use a positive displacement "roller cell" pump, while
modern systems use a "turbine style" fuel pump.

Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is an embedded system that controls electrical

systems in a vehicle.

 Engine Control Unit (ECU): Manages engine functions like fuel injection, ignition timing,
and other parameters to ensure optimal engine performance.
 The ECU reads data from sensors and adjusts engine settings based on pre-calculated values
in multidimensional maps.
 It helps improve performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions.

Engine Sensors

1. Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor:

Function: The MAP sensor measures the pressure or vacuum inside the
engine's intake manifold.

Relation to Engine Load:

o High pressure (low vacuum) = High load = Rich fuel mixture.

o Low pressure (high vacuum) = Low load = Lean fuel mixture.

 Working: The sensor detects changes in pressure and converts it into a signal
that the ECU interprets to adjust the air-fuel mixture accordingly.

Usage: The MAP sensor is commonly used in D-type EFI engines, where it
helps monitor intake air volume as it changes with engine load. It is also
referred to as a vacuum sensor.

2. Oxygen Sensor:

Function: The Oxygen Sensor measures the oxygen content in the engine's
exhaust gases.

Location: It is mounted in the exhaust system, typically before the catalytic

converter.

Voltage Output:

o The sensor's voltage changes with the oxygen content in the exhaust:
 Lean mixture (more oxygen) = Lower voltage.
 Rich mixture (less oxygen) = Higher voltage.

ECU Control: The ECU receives the signal from the oxygen sensor and
adjusts the fuel injector timing to maintain the optimal air-fuel mixture.

Closed-Loop Operation:

o When the ECU adjusts the air-fuel ratio using the oxygen sensor’s feedback, the
system is operating in closed loop.

Operating Temperature: The sensor only generates accurate signals when it

reaches a minimum temperature of 398°C (750°F).

Efficiency: Proper operation is crucial for maintaining an accurate air-fuel

ratio, particularly during warm idle and cruise conditions.

Location: Typically located in the exhaust manifold collector to maintain the

required temperature and ensure a representative sample of exhaust gases from
all cylinders.

3. Engine Temperature Sensors:

Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor: Monitors the engine coolant

temperature, which is essential for controlling various engine functions.

o Cold Engine: Low resistance.

o Hot Engine: High resistance.
 Thermistor: The ECT sensor uses a thermistor, a type of resistor whose
resistance varies significantly with temperature. It has a Negative
Temperature Coefficient (NTC), meaning its resistance decreases as the
temperature rises.

Function and Importance:

o Fuel Vaporization: Less efficient when the engine is cold.

o Internal Friction: Higher during cold operation, increasing the engine's load.
o The ECM relies on the ECT sensor to adjust systems such as fuel injection, ignition
timing, variable valve timing, and transmission shifting based on the engine
temperature.

Location: Typically located near the cylinder head water outlet to accurately
monitor engine coolant temperature.

Critical Role: The ECT sensor ensures that the engine reaches and maintains
the correct operating temperature, allowing the ECM to make necessary
adjustments for optimal performance and fuel efficiency

4. Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor:

 Measures the amount of outside air entering the engine.
 Operates with an air flap or door that adjusts a variable resistor.
 Helps the ECU determine the right amount of fuel for combustion.

5.