A fuel injector is one of the modern inventions in the field of automotive engineering. The injectors are electronically controlled and are placed strategically to inject fuel into combustion chambers. It atomizes fuel and the engine’s air intake into the combustion chamber, optimizing combustion and fuel efficiency.
The constructional design of a fuel injector is similar to that of the nozzle of gardening nozzles. The significant difference is that the nozzles spray water over vegetation while fuel injectors spray fuel. However, the fuel injector’s parts have to be in good condition for the fuel injection process to run as intended.
But what are the parts of a fuel injector, and how do they function? Let’s get to know them.
What are the parts of a fuel injector?
They are the functional parts assembled to help achieve the aim of a fuel injector in a vehicle. A good fuel injector parts diagram readily shows these parts. They are:
Electromagnetic coil
Coils are responsible for the provision of the injector magnetic field.
Needle valve
The needle valve of a fuel injector regulates fuel flow via the injection system. One unique feature of the valve is that it has a small plunger that looks like a needle.
O-Ring seal
Almost every vehicle fuel injector has a fuel injector O-ring as a part. The O-ring seal seals the tip of the injector to ensure that the fuel is tightly sealed.
Plunger
Most injector plungers feature a conspicuous flange on the cup bottom to create a tight air seal to minimize splash-back during the action.
Spray tip
The spray tip is a fuel injector that helps atomize and distribute the fuel for combustion.
How does Fuel injection work?
Vehicle owners now seem to know much about how their vehicles work. However, one concern a lot of them have is how fuel injectors work to supply fuel to engines. Will marine fuel injector parts work differently from others? Well, let’s get right into the details.
Fuel injection systems work precisely to provide adequate fuel for every operating condition. The engine control unit (ECU) monitors most parts of the input sensors. It is capable of opening and closing multiple times in a second.
It works by fetching fuel from the fuel tank and moving it to the injectors or high-pressure pump. The fuel lines are responsible for that movement. Once the injector receives the fuel, the pressure regulator applies the appropriate pressure to open the needle valve. Without pressure build-up in the fuel, the needle valve will remain closed.
Once opened, fuel spraying at the nozzle outlet to form droplets into different cylinders takes place. And finally, combustion occurs with those droplets in the cylinder in the presence of air.
That is the general overview of fuel injectors’ work process, whether they are napa auto parts fuel injectors or others.
FAQs:
Q: Can I rebuild fuel injectors?
A fuel injector repair kit can solve minor issues like clogging, wearing off, or leaking seals.
A faulty fuel injector affects other engine parts and, eventually, gets damaged. A leaking fuel injector might be termed minor, but the likely outcome could be fatal, such as a car fire.
Nonetheless, early detection makes it possible to achieve fuel injector rebuild.
Q: What are the three most common problems with fuel injectors?
Fuel injectors are not designed to last forever and could develop a problem. However, the three most common problems are leaking injectors, dirty and clogged fuel injectors.
A dirty fuel injector could cause your vehicle to mimic vibrations and may cause the engine to misfire. That could result from a disbalance between the air and fuel inlet to the engine. The nozzle, for instance, can accumulate dirt, leading to partial blockage.
Once blocked, then it becomes hard for the leftover fuel to evaporate and could cause system blockage eventually. A leaking injector could be internal or external, which has the potential to cause a fire. If problems have been diagnosed and confirmed flawed, it’s best to opt for a fuel injector replacement if minor solutions won’t give results.
Q: What controls the fuel injection system?
Primarily, the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is the brain behind the operation of an injection system. It controls the fuel’s injection and the timing with which it ignites a spark. ECU uses a Crankshaft Position Sensor to decide the angle of the engine’s internal for the prompt action of the ignition system. It does that by signaling the fuel injectors to fire for the required time.
Interchangeably, it is called Engine Control Module (ECM). The four main parts it controls are air-fuel ratio, ignition timing, variable valve timing, and idle speed.
Q: How much does it cost to rebuild injectors?
A fuel injector replacement costs an estimated range of $250 to $500. However, the cost depends on several factors like location, the vehicle model, engine size, number of cylinders, and who is rebuilding it. For instance, the typical cost for fuel injector price autozone is between $47-$400, as seen on their site.
Some experts opine that fuel injectors parts and labor cost between $200 to $300 and $150 to $600, respectively. The availability and type of fuel injector kit also influence the cost. It is cheaper to rebuild fuel injectors yourself. Hence, it is risk-effective to hire a professional to rebuild them.
Q: How long do fuel injectors last?
Generally, fuel injectors last for a long time, but typically the average lifespan is between 70 000 to 100 000 miles. Note that some fuel injectors may last as long as your vehicle, but those are usually the best picks.
But as with most things, even humans, regular and adequate maintenance boosts longevity. Fortunately, keeping your injectors healthy is not effort-consuming. Hence, fuel injectors also tend to last long if they are paid attention to and given the care they deserve.
Final Words
Fuel injector parts are incredible innovations in the automobile industry as they ensure adequate fuel distribution for combustion. In addition, it makes life easier and more affordable by improving the efficiency and throttle response of carbureted engines.
More so, the fuel injection workflow is pretty easy to understand, making it easy for some people to attempt rebuilding it when faulty. But, again, employing the fuel injectors parts geek service is recommended when you suspect the need for a fuel injector lookup. Again, the cost of getting new ones may be high, but it is sometimes the only solution.