The injector has replaced the carburetor on gasoline engines for several years. This allows better control of combustion and, therefore, the consumption of an engine. The injection is, therefore, essential on different engines, which is why the injection pump was created. But what is the difference between these two elements? This article tells you more about fuel pumps vs fuel injectors.
What is an injection pump?
An injection pump is an integral part of a car’s engine system. It carries the fuel to the injectors. Its specificity is that it precisely adjusts the necessary dose of fuel to be injected.
Thanks to it, the production of unburnt substances at the time of exhaust is reduced. This then results in both insufficient fuel consumption and fewer pollution emissions.
How does an injection pump work?
The injection pump works very simply. It receives the fuel extracted from the tank by the supply pump then, thanks to the production of pressure, it will supply the injectors with fuel. It is, therefore, the turn of the injectors to evaporate the fuel so that it mixes with the air.
What are the different types of injection pump?
For vehicles running on gasoline, there are three types of injection pump:
- The direct injection pump;
- The single point injection pump;
- The multipoint injection pump.
On the side of vehicles running on diesel, injection pumps allow the pressurization, dosing and distribution of fuel to the injectors. The goal is simple: generate power. There are then three types of injection:
- The high pressure injection pump with pump injector: its pressure is between 1600 bars and 2000 bars;
- The high pressure common rail injection pump: its pressure is also between 1600 bars and 2000 bars;
- The rotary or in-line injection pump: its pressure is between 100 and 250 bars.
What are the symptoms of a damaged injection pump?
Certain symptoms are there to alert you to a malfunction in your injection pump. So, if you notice one or more of the following signs, it’s time to go to your mechanic.
- The engine management light comes on;
- A strong smell of fuel comes from the car;
- Difficulty when trying to start;
- Loss of power when driving;
- You feel jerks when you accelerate;
- You notice abnormal smoke from the exhaust.
- What are the possible breakdowns?
When the fuel is pumped and built up under pressure using the injection pump, it is then distributed to the various injectors or common rails of the engine following a defined cycle and with an optimum dosage. So, the most common breakdowns are for example:
- A problem with the various solenoid valves of the injection pump:
- A leak from the injection pump;
- Clogged fuel filter;
- Early aging of certain injection pump components;
- A drop in injection pump pressure;
Please note, current injection pumps do not tolerate impurities or water in the fuel circuit. It is therefore essential to use a regular injection system cleaner. This can limit premature deterioration of the injection pump and injectors.
How much does an injection pump cost?
The prices of an injection pump vary from approximately $1000 to $3000 depending on the car brand. Replacement times may also vary depending on the breakdowns observed.
Indeed, on most breakdowns, the manufacturer’s recommendations require replacement of the injection pump, the replacement of all the fuel pipes, the tank as well as the injectors.
What is a Fuel Injector
Injectors are one of the most important parts of your engine. While the injection pump transports the necessary quantity of fuel to the injectors, the latter in turn have the role of transmitting the fuel to the combustion chamber. So, if you are looking for where the injectors are located, note that they are connected to the cylinder head.
The function of the injectors is to spray fuel at the end of the compression cycle. In addition, on the most recent vehicle models, injection is managed electronically in order to maximize fuel consumption and engine capabilities.
How does an injector work?
The engine in your vehicle is a combustion engine. That is to say, it works thanks to the explosion of a mixture of fuel and air. To form this mixture, it is necessary for the fuel located in the tank to be conveyed to the combustion chamber.
The injector is therefore a part of your engine which is an integral part of the engine system. It sprays fuel into the combustion chamber and is located at the final end of the fuel supply line, after the injection pump.
A pump, called a booster pump or fuel pump, has the function of transferring fuel from the tank into the supply line. This passes through the fuel filter then arrives at the injection pump, which pressurizes it and sends it to the injectors.
Furthermore, to spray the fuel, the injectors are made up of small tubes. Thus, the fuel is injected in the form of droplets into the combustion chamber. This makes it possible to control the quantity of fuel and therefore the quality of the air and fuel mixture.
In addition, on certain current vehicles, the injection is checked by an electronic system. The latter makes it possible to reduce fuel consumption and the expulsion of polluting emissions by refining the quantity of fuel injected by the injectors into the engine.
Different types of injectors
There are two types of injection:
Direct injection
The injector and combustion chamber on an engine are directly linked and spray fuel into it. Thus, the quantity of fuel injected is better checked, which helps reduce fuel consumption and therefore pollution of the car.
Indirect injection
On an indirect injection gasoline engine, the injector is located above the valve for gasoline engines and in the combustion prechamber for diesel engines. The fuel thus injected into the intake duct, vaporization then occurs before the fuel/air mixture enters the cylinder.
Furthermore, there are also different types of injectors. The most common is the solenoid injector, the heart of which is composed of an electromagnet.
In fact, the latter is powered by an electric current, which allows it to open and close a valve to destabilize the pressure exerted at the ends of the needle. This then causes the fuel to vaporize through the injector.
We also find the piezoelectric injector, the most recent, which works thanks to the effect of the same name. This applies an electrical voltage to crystalline plates which cause expansion and begin the process of opening the injector.
What are the symptoms of leaking fuel injector?
In some cases, an injector leak is linked to a problem with the O-ring. You should therefore not have difficulty recognizing an injector leak since the symptoms are relatively simple to detect:
- You smell fuel in the passenger compartment;
- You lose power when you accelerate;
- You notice some sort of black sludge in the injection well.
In any case, if you detect a leak in the injection system, do not delay in having your car checked by a mechanic to avoid much more costly repairs later.
What are the symptoms of faulty or damaged fuel injector?
A faulty injector can cause serious damage to your car. Starting with the deterioration of the catalytic converter. Indeed, if the injector lets diesel or gasoline pass into the exhaust line, you risk causing serious damage to this part.
Whatever happens, at the slightest problem, you will have great difficulty moving as the power losses are so significant. In extreme cases, an injector failure can cause a piston to crack or your engine to break down. The bill then becomes much higher. This is also the reason why it is recommended to have your injectors maintained.
How much does an injector cost?
The price of an injector depends on the engine of your vehicle (petrol or diesel), the type of injector or even the engine capacity. On average, the cost of a new injector varies from $60 to $400.
The price for changing an injector ranges from $196 to $200. This price may in fact vary depending on the make, model of your car and the cost of labor in your garage.
Additionally, it is often suggested to change all the injectors at once, even though this is not mandatory and such a change is a result of why you need to change your injector.
In summary, the injector and the injection pump are both among the most important parts of your engine. The injection pump transports the necessary quantity of fuel to the injectors.
The injectors, in turn, have the role of transmitting the fuel to the combustion chamber so that it mixes with the air. These two pieces therefore play the role of complementarity.