Since the invention of internal combustion engines, engineers worldwide have been working hard to create an efficient fuel system. Due to the large number of cars, the pollution level in many countries has risen to a dangerous level, so many countries have changed their emission regulations to control pollution. As a result, lots of adjustments are needed for different types of motor vehicles.
A number of car manufacturers have started switching to fuel injection systems instead of carburettor systems, as precise fuel control is needed now. A “1406 carburetor” produced by a Chinese business called OSIAS can regulate the engine’s air-fuel ratio. A fuel injection system is also responsible for this.
Does that mean the carburettor and fuel injection system are the same? The carburettor is responsible for transporting the air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber through mechanical parts. The fuel injection system also does the same, but it is controlled by various electronics.
What is a Carburettor?
A carburettor is a tool that feeds a mixture of air and gas to a bike’s spark-ignition engine.
The basic parts are:
- A choke
- An idling chamber
- A storage chamber
- A venturi-shaped restriction
- An accelerator pump
- A main jet.
When the engine starts, the choke regulates the air intake and directs rich fuel into the cylinders. As the system warms up, the throttle gradually opens, and the primary gasoline jet is engaged, injecting fuel into the inlet to energize the vehicle.
How Does Carburettor Work?
The fundamental feature of a carburettor engine is to mix air and gas in a selected ratio and deliver it to the motorbike’s combustion chamber. It turns off the airflow to the combustion chamber, mixes the gas, and feeds it to the engine. When you squeeze the motorcycle’s throttle, the carburettor airflow rises, producing air suction and providing fuel for quicker acceleration.
Technically, the carburettor is a tube that regulates gas flow to the engine so that you can improve air speed. The part that restricts the gas is referred to as the venturi. As air velocity increases, a low-pressure gap builds up, making it easier to take fuel from a jet near the venturi.
Benefits of Carburettors
While most modern motors employ gas injection structures, carburettors offer several benefits, making them an important component in internal combustion engines.
This includes:
- Simplicity: Carburettors are less complicated to construct than digital fuel injection structures, resulting in cheaper production prices.
- Cost-effective: Carburettors are more price-effective than fuel injection structures because of their simplicity in manufacturing.
- Easy to maintain: Carburettors are easy to restore, requiring only fundamental mechanical information and no specialised diagnostic tools.
Cons of Carburettors
Carburettors have disadvantages that have led to their replacement by more advanced fuel injection systems.
The drawbacks of employing carburettors include:
- Inefficiency in fuel delivery: Fuel injection systems can modify fuel supply in real-time depending on sensor inputs, while carburettors may struggle to deliver the ideal air-fuel mixture for engine performance.
- Susceptible to environment: Changes in temperature and altitude can significantly impact carburettor performance, ultimately affecting engine economy.
- Frequent maintenance: Regular maintenance is necessary for carburettors to perform properly, which can take time. Components can become blocked or just wear out more quickly than fuel injection systems.
- Emissions control challenges: Carburettors are less effective than fuel injection systems at controlling exhaust emissions.
