Fuel systems

"A car with a drink problem!"

Cars need a precise mix of oxygen and fuel to burn effectively.

Much of the engine tuning done by TorqueCars members involves increasing the cars capacity to burn the air and fuel mix, which must be supplied in an exact ratio.

Much attention is generally given to the air intake and we have discussed the various aspects of forced induction.

We should not overlook the fuelling as it is essential to keep the mix right. Power is lost when the engine adjusts itself to stop it running too rich or lean. Many power losses, which manifest themselves as flat spots, at certain points in the rev band can often be traced to a fuelling issue.

SAFETY NOTE: Manufacturers have started to introduce direct fuel injection in engines. This is where the fuel goes straight into the cylinder rather than being sprayed into the incoming air stream. Diesel engines first used this technology but many car makers are using direct injection on petrol engines in a bid to meet tight emissions standards. These direct injection systems operate at very high pressures and should only be maintained by a qualified mechanic.

Components of a fuel system

• Fuel pump - This is the essential and sucks the fuel from the tank piping it to the injectors.
• regulator valve - This adjusts the amount of pressure in the fuel system and directly relates to the throttle (accelerator) position. More throttle requires more fuel.
• Injectors - these squirt the fuel as a fine mist allowing it to mix with the intake air charge.
• Intake manifold - This is where the fuel mixes with the air before entering the cylinders. (Although manufacturers are now perfecting direct injection where fuel is sprayed directly into the cylinders.
• Return pipes - Excess fuel is returned to the tank. This process is carefully controlled and ensures that irregular pressure fluctuations do not happen.

So what can go wrong?

If the fuel pump is too weak the engine will lose fuel pressure at high revs. Fitting additional fuel pumps or larger fuel pumps will help to ensure a good delivery of fuel at the engine. Some cars experience starvation on long bends where the fuel pick up is on one side of the tank. If the tank is running low the fuel will flow to the other side of the tank causing the pickup to run dry. This was noted on some early Subaru Imprezas although most will now have  an uprated fuel pick up to address this issue.

Regulator valves are not known for their speed or smooth operation, especially when they get old. Fitting an uprated fuel pressure valve will greatly improve throttle response. Owners report a much snappier response when they put their foot down and problems such as surging and hesitancy in traffic are also improved.

Some drivers also report more top end power although theoretically the amount of fuel delivered is the same. This could be attributable to the improvement over a standard sticking hesitant fuel valve though.

Over time the injectors will clog up. This will reduce their ability to create a fine mist or fuel which mixes easily with the air. Instead a dribble of fuel is delivered which is then only partially burnt.

A fuel injector cleaner used regularly can really help to keep them operating at peak efficiency and TorqueCars fully endorse the BG44k product. Injectors are rated by cc - the amount of fuel they deliver. When substantially increasing engine power it becomes imperative to uprate the injectors. Look to other models in your manufacturers range for suitable uprated parts. A turbo charged 1.6l engine will easily require as much fuel as a naturally aspirated 2.0 engine.

Manifold shape is critical. The grooves and bumps on the surface provide more area to aid the evaporation of fuel into the intake charge mixture. For this reason you should avoid the temptation to polish the intake manifold, concentrate instead on the head of the engine and exhaust outlet if you have an overwhelming need to polish something.

Return pipes can get clogged up. This can cause all manner of problems in the fuelling and generally cause surges and make the engine run too rich. All fuel lines should be inspected and renewed if they show signs of fatigue.

When increasing the fuel pressure the fuel lines are typically the first thing to go. If they are not in perfect condition the extra pressure will highlight the weak spots and cause a leak. Air locks in the fuel lines are very undesirable and pumps can burn out or fuel starvation can happen. Never run a car with fuel injection on empty, the damage and inconvenience caused is really not worth it.

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This article is flagged for an update, so please pass on specific tips below that I can include. All articles, and content was written by me, Waynne Smith TorqueCars founder. Some outlines are just too general so I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. This entry was filed under Engine Mods, Intake & Exhaust, Tuning. You can leave a response below or join our forum to discuss this article and car modification in detail with our members.

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