If the engine is the heart of your car, think of the fuel injection system as its main artery: It is your car’s source for delivering fuel, or pumping the blood, to the engine. This used to be the carburetor’s job. But today, most cars use fuel injectors making service on the injection system a required part of your vehicle’s maintenance. But how do you know when it needs resuscitating?
First, it is good to know that fuel injection maintenance is not something you need to consider as frequently as say, oil changes. Generally, your vehicle’s injection system is good for the first 50,000 miles. At that point, you might want to consider a cleaning especially if you notice your car is:
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Hesitating
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Having trouble starting
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Getting poor gas mileage
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Overall sluggish
These are all signs of deposit buildup, which can occur naturally over time. And it is no wonder, considering the fuel injection process:
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First, gas is pumped from the tank when you start the engine
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Next, it goes through filters, rails, and the injectors
▪ The injectors pump fuel into the engine’s combustion chamber, where it mixes with air and is ignited by the spark plugs creating combustion
The heat generated by this process is intense, and the burning fuel can leave hardened carbon deposits on pistons, valves and fuel injector nozzle heads. The result can be restricted fuel flow and the need for occasional maintenance.
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