Symptoms of clogged injectors
The injector is a component in the Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system tasked with spraying pressurized fuel into the combustion chamber. The air and fuel mixture must spread out as a mist so that the air and fuel mixing process takes place perfectly.
The air and fuel mixture in the form of mist will be easier to burn to produce better combustion. Of course, these conditions will also affect the overall engine power.
With perfect combustion in each engine working condition, the engine power will be more optimal with cleaner exhaust emissions, and more economical fuel consumption.
The injector requires pressurized fuel, clean, and following the specifications required before it sprayed into the combustion chamber. Also, the injectors have tiny and fine holes (ports) so that the pressurized fuel spray can produce a better fuel mist.
The number of injector holes depends on the needs of the vehicle manufacturer. Some injectors have 2, 4, 6, even 12 holes in one injector. These holes will function to produce fuel mist into the combustion chamber. See the image below
Because these injector holes are so small, its often become clogged, either by dirt from the fuel or due to dirt from the combustion chamber. As a result, the engine will be experiencing problems. Here are the symptoms of a clogged injector that you will encounter.
1. The engine vibrates at a certain rpm
The first symptom due to a clogged injector is that the engine will be vibrating at a certain engine rpm. If the injector is dirty, generally engine vibrations will occur at low engine RPM. Starting from Idling rpm at 800-1000rpm to medium rpm at 1000-2500rpm.
If more than one injector, the engine vibration that occurs will be very pronounced, especially when driving. This problem will disrupt the car's running due to engine rotation which is also choked up due to dirty injectors.
2. The exhaust fumes smell sharper and more pungent
The next symptom of a dirty injector that will occur in your car is that the exhaust fumes have a sharper and more pungent aroma than usual. The strong aroma that comes from your car's exhaust results from the incomplete combustion in the combustion chamber.
In addition to clogging the fuel spray, dirty injectors often make sprays that should be in the form of fog, turning into a splash.
The fuel that splashes out of the injector port will not be easy to burn completely. The effect is that the fuel favour that comes from incomplete combustion will come out along with the combustion smoke.
Also Read:3. Fuel consumption is more wasteful
Dirty injectors can also result in more wasteful fuel consumption than usual. This symptom will appear due to the impact of engine power that does not follow the driver's expectations, so the driver has to press the gas pedal even more so that the engine power needed is appropriate.
4. The engine becomes difficult to start
The next symptom of a dirty injector that will occur in your car is that the engine becomes difficult to start, either when it's cold or when it's hot.
This symptom appears due to the fuel supply to the injector being less (due to dirty and clogged) so that the mixture between air and fuel is no longer ideal (the term is called a lean mixture). When a lean mixture occurs at the start of the engine, the engine becomes difficult to start.