Clogged fuel injectors are a natural byproduct of engine combustion. The injectors are clogged by carbon deposits created when gasoline burns. The injectors can be clogged in their open position or stuck shut. Either situation will cause engine performance issues. Demore’s Automotive lists how you can tell whether your fuel injectors are clogged.
Acceleration Trouble
Your vehicle needs a fresh injection of gasoline every time you step on the accelerator. If the fuel injectors are clogged, your vehicle will not be getting the gas it needs to generate the power to go faster. The result is a sluggish response to your acceleration commands, including when you are stopped or when you are trying to pick up speed on surface streets or highways.
Bad Gas Mileage
Fuel injectors clogged in the open position can affect your gas mileage. Your engine is getting too much gasoline from the open fuel injectors and it will burn off the excess. This will reduce the gas mileage you get out of each tank, as will the engine working too hard if the injectors are clogged partially closed and stressing the engine out. Your engine needs gas to start and continue to run.
Hard Engine Starts
Depending on how badly your fuel injectors are clogged, you may not be able to get your car started at all. You may get a sign that the injectors are starting to have problems if your automobile has suddenly become harder to start every time you turn the key in the ignition. Hard engine starts or a dead engine can indicate that there is no fuel or that the engine is flooded.
Performance Issues
Engine performance issues can also occur when your vehicle is in motion. Clogged fuel injectors will either push too much gasoline into the engine and make it surge, or it won’t be getting enough gasoline into the engine and the engine will sputter and threaten to stall. You may feel your engine surge and sputter as you drive along, which indicates a fuel imbalance.
Rough Engine Idles
Your engine should always idle smoothly and you shouldn’t hear any strange sounds. A rough engine idle can be caused by problems with the injectors, other issues with the fuel system, an exhaust system problem, or a transmission problem. In the case of the injectors, clogged ones cannot maintain a steady stream of gas and your engine will idle roughly as a result.
Call or stop by Demore’s Automotive in Palmer, MA, if you suspect your fuel injectors need to be cleaned. A professional cleaning can restore their functionality and your engine’s performance.
