Until the 1980s, vehicles used carburetors to supply the engine with the proper fuel and air mixture to make it run. For the past 40 years or so, a new kid on the block has replaced the humble carburetor. 

Cue the Fuel Injector. 

As long as they stay clean, your fuel injectors will provide the perfect amount of petrol to your car’s engine. When they get dirty, clogged, or fail, they need to be replaced by your dependable auto repair shop in Calgary.

9 Indications that Your Fuel Injector May be Bad

An Engine Control Unit (ECU) sends signals to the fuel injectors to spray the right amount of petrol at the right time into your engine. When things are not working correctly, you will notice some interesting, maybe even disturbing things happening, including:

1. Your Engine Stalls or Idles Rough: When your engine does not get the correct amount of fuel, or the supply is uneven, your revolutions per mile (RPM) will drop. You may notice that your engine runs ‘rough.’ If the RPM gets too low, the engine will stall.
2. Engine Vibrations: Each cylinder depends on the injector to deliver the right amount of fuel. When this does not happen, the cylinder cannot fire, resulting in a ‘hiccup’ or vibrations at the end of a cycle without petrol.
3. Misfires: Clogged injectors will misfire while you drive. Your car will fight to accelerate, and you will notice a pause after depressing the gas pedal. Misfiring may result in an overheated engine, among other problems.
4. Illuminated Check Engine Light: This handy little dashboard light warns you of a myriad of issues your vehicle is dealing with. A bad fuel injector is one of them. Lack of fuel lowers the efficiency of the engine, triggering the light to come on.
5. Fuel Leak: When there are cracks in the fuel injector, gas will leak from the body. One indication of this is when you find petrol on the exterior near the fuel rail.
6. Gas Odor: The lack of gasoline getting burned then results in the noxious smell gas gives off. It could be from a damaged injector or one that is stuck open. It may also be a fuel line issue or a faulty sensor.
7. Surging Engine: Too much gas in the engine cylinder may cause a surge which will cause much slower acceleration. Your RPM will fluctuate drastically, as well.
8. Poor Fuel Economy: An insufficient balance of fuel leads to poor gas mileage. Your care will require more supply resulting in burning up fuel faster, but not necessarily more efficiently. A bad injector will lie to the ECU and trick it into thinking your car needs more gas than it really does.
9. Emissions Test Failure: Since fuel is being burned less efficiently, your truck’s emissions will increase, and it may burn out the catalytic converter.

Save Your Vehicle – Have Your Fuel System Inspected by Lakeview Automotive

Prevent disaster by conducting some preventative maintenance. Run a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through your engine about the same time and frequency that you do an oil change. Have your trusted team of mechanics at Lakeview Automotive in Calgary conduct a professional cleaning. Sometimes, things go too long, and the injectors can no longer be cleaned but, instead, will need replacing. Whether you need fleet services or work done on your personal vehicle, we can replace your fuel injectors and get you back on the road fast. Give us a call and enjoy the difference of working with a Calgary mechanic that is passionate about working on Fords, Subarus, and all other makes of cars and trucks.

Call us at 403-242-1575 or book an appointment with our full-service auto repair shop in Calgary.