Dirty fuel injectors affect your vehicle’s engine more than you realize. Over-the-counter cleaners are not as effective as professional cleanings. On average, it’s a good idea to have your fuel injectors cleaned every 30,000 miles. If you haven’t done so, we here at Del Hatt Automotive caution that you might experience one or more of the following signs that your fuel injectors are dirty.
Engine Stalls
The fuel injectors have special nozzles that allow them to spray gasoline into your vehicle’s combustion chamber so it can be mixed with air and ignited by the spark plugs. This is the detonation your engine needs to create combustion to start and run. If the fuel injector nozzles are clogged by carbon buildup, which happens over time, they won’t be able to spray gasoline into the combustion chamber. A consequence of this is that your engine will stall or you won’t be able to start it.
Acceleration Problems
You may also notice acceleration problems before you actually have to deal with the stalled engine. Every time you request more power from your automobile – step down on the accelerator – the fuel injectors spray more fuel into the combustion chamber to accommodate the need for the extra power. If they are clogged, you may notice that your vehicle does not respond as quickly as it used to when you accelerate. It may sputter and hesitate to pick up speed.
Performance Issues
The performance issues when driving with dirty fuel injectors are not limited to your vehicle’s acceleration. Your engine may also sputter and act is if it’s going to stall at high speeds. This sputtering indicates that your engine is being fuel-starved. It’s not getting enough gasoline, and as a result, it’s losing power in spurts. Dirty fuel injectors are not the only reason why your engine might sputter, so it’s important to have it checked as soon as possible to find the source of the trouble.
Rough Idling
Your engine also needs a steady stream of gasoline when you are sitting at an idle. If it does not get that steady stream, it will sputter then, too. If you’ve ever had a vehicle that idles roughly, you know what this feels like. When you’re sitting at a stop with the engine running, it should be smooth and you shouldn’t hear any strange noises. Rough idling will make your vehicle vibrate slightly, and you might hear the engine struggling to keep running without stalling.
Gas Guzzling
Finally, the more your engine tries to run without enough gasoline the more gasoline it will actually use. Because the engine is not receiving the right amount of fuel and air, its efficiency will go down the tank, no pun intended. Consequently, you will notice that you are stopping at the service station to fill up more often than you normally would. Any time an automobile loses its fuel economy, there’s something going on underneath the hood that needs to be addressed.
Stop by or call Del Hatt Automotive in Poughkeepsie, NY, if you suspect your fuel injectors are dirty or clogged. We’d be happy to inspect your engine and restore its optimal performance.
