Most automobiles these days are equipped with direct fuel injection. This means the fuel is directly sprayed into the cylinders by the fuel injectors. It’s important to have your fuel injectors cleaned every 30,000 miles to maintain proper fuel flow. Mike’s Auto Service & Repair advises that eventually, the injectors can get clogged or they will spring leaks. Here are signs this is happening in your automobile.
Dancing Tachometer
If the injectors are clogged, the cylinders are not getting a steady stream of fuel. Consequently, as the fuel makes its way into the cylinders in spurts, your RPMs will increase. This will make your tachometer needle dance up and down while you are driving your automobile. If you suspect you do have a problem with your injectors, keep an eye on your tachometer to see what the needle is doing.
Misfiring Engine
This uneven influx of fuel can also cause your engine to misfire. Your engine will surge forward and then stutter and slow down. This will happen more frequently the faster you go. This can be very frustrating because you cannot rely on your engine to operate efficiently when it is running in this condition. Until you have the injectors cleaned or replaced, you will have engine performance problems.
Poor Fuel Economy
These engine performance problems or leaking fuel injectors will reduce your fuel economy significantly. With gas prices what they are these days, this can create a huge issue for your household budget. Anytime your engine runs inefficiently, it burns more fuel. Consequently, until you have the fuel injector issue addressed, you will head to the service station more often.
Rough Engine Idle
If the injectors are unable to supply the necessary fuel to the cylinders, your engine’s idle will also be affected. It will be rough and unpredictable. This is easy to notice because you will feel your vehicle vibrate while you are sitting at a stop. You may also hear the engine cutting in and out.
Dead Engine
Finally, if the injector nozzles are completely clogged, your engine isn’t getting any fuel. You don’t need us to tell you that if this is the case, you won’t be able to start your car, truck, or utility vehicle. When the injectors are clogged this badly, they need to be professionally cleaned.
Call Mike’s Auto Service & Repair in West Springfield, MA, today if your vehicle is experiencing any of the problems listed above. We’d be happy to inspect your injectors and clean or replace them if necessary.
