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The entry of spark plugs and injectors is essential to ensure the proper functioning of your vehicle. These elements play an important role in fuel combustion and influence the direct emission of gaseous pollutants. In this article, you will provide all the necessary information on their operation, solutions to prevent them from clogging and how to maintain these crucial engine parts.
Understanding how spark plugs and injectors work
Spark plugs and injectors each have a different, but complementary role in the fuel combustion process inside the engine.
Spark plugs:
The spark plug ensures the ignition of the air-fuel mixture in the engine’s combustion chamber. Here are the main stages of its operation:
- Electricity is sent through the ignition coil to the spark plug;
- An electric arc forms between the two electrodes of the spark plug;
- This electric arc ignites the air-fuel mixture and starts the combustion process.
Proper functioning of spark plugs is crucial to guarantee optimal combustion and minimize polluting emissions.
Injectors:
The injectors, on the other hand, serve to spray the carburetor into the engine cylinders, creating an even mixture with the airflow. The different types of injectors are:
- Mechanical injectorsused mainly on older diesel engines and carbureted gasoline engines;
- Electronic injectorspresent on modern engines with direct or indirect injection, diesel or gasoline.
Proper operation of the injectors ensures combustion efficiency and reduces carburetor consumption and polluting emissions.
There are signs of contamination and problems with the spark plugs and injectors
However, spark plugs and injectors can become clogged with temperatures and performance can be degraded. The following signals indicate a potential problem with the spark plugs:
- Difficult starts or engine speed;
- Loss of power or gap when accelerating;
- Increased fuel consumption;
- Emissions of polluting gases are increasing.
Concerning the injectors, the problems can be experienced:
- Decrease in engine performance or responsiveness;
- Fuel accumulator consumption;
- Pollutant emissions in the bull market;
- Unusual noise from the injector (clicking for example).
Solutions to avoid enlargement of spark plugs and injectors
When problems with spark plug and injector enlargement occur, the result is:
Use a quality carburetor
Choose carburetors from major brand service stations, guaranteeing superior quality.
Add regularly and cleaning product
Occasional use of a spark plug and injector cleaning additive helps prevent them from clogging.
Maintain good circuit hygiene
Drive in a flexible and anticipatory manner, avoiding sudden accelerations and respecting the engine’s optimal consumption ranges.
Perform maintenance on spark plugs and injectors
Carrying out regular maintenance is essential to ensure the longevity of your spark plugs and injectors as well as the proper functioning of your vehicle. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in your car’s maintenance booklet regarding replacement or inspection intervals for these elements. For an examination of the car, you can compare offers from garages and automobile centers before purchasing it.
Spark Plug Maintenance
Spark plug replacement is usually scheduled for 30,000 to 60,000 km, depending on the engine type and the quality of the plugs used. A visual inspection allows you to check the general level of the candles and to adjust the preference, the display between the electrodes.
Injector maintenance
For the injectors, a professional thread can be made in the workshop to remove deposits that could block the orifices. This is effective according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or the symptoms of malfunction detected.
Controlling the ignition and injectors is not crucial to ensure the performance of your engine, optimize fuel consumption and minimize polluting emissions. It is important to remember that the entry of your car is important!