5 things to know about fuel injections

We all have seen the general progression of manufacturers shifting towards the use of fuel injections over carburettors. The debate has spawned for years now between which are the better fuel delivery systems, and the battle tipping in the favour of fuel injections. The reason for later winning is apparent and there are a few things you must know about injection systems.



1.Smooth throttle response

Unlike carburettors, fuel injections have an electronically controlled brain. The conventional method of delivering a preset air fuel mixture by carburettors can now be monitored based on the throttle inputs by the rider. The motorcycle’s ECU uses an army of sensors and adjusts the air fuel mixture according to the demands by throttle. This ensures linear power delivery as opposed to abrupt conventional response.



2.Reduced emission

Because the air fuel mixture is constantly changed according to demands, the amount of un-burnt fuel leaving the exhaust is lesser in an engine equipped with fuel injection. Sensors keep an eye on the quantity and quality of air going into the engine, crank position, throttle position and oxygen sensors monitoring how well the charge is being burnt. The data is then analysed by the ECU which then decides the precise amount of fuel to be sent to the engine. Rather than pouring the engine in, it is atomized through the injector. The process means very little fuel is wasted thus reducing emissions considerably.



3.Improved fuel efficiency

As the amount of fuel being burnt varies with the throttle response, the ECU ensures the correct quantity of fuel variably. Lesser fuel for slight throttle, more fuel for pinned throttle. This will save fuel from burning away unnecessarily and staying in your motorcycle’s tank.



4.Reduced size

Another problem with carburettors is that they need to be sitting close to the cylinder, and it uses gravity to work. Because of this they need to sit above the engine to work properly. On the contrary, fuel injections take up lesser room in the engine compartment thus reducing space.



5.Easier cold starting

Although fuel injections are controlled by a computer and there is a separate fuel pump working for them along with data being fed by the ECU, because they run on electricity are much quicker in cold start. Carburettors are much fussy when it comes to cold starts. When the engine is cold, condensation causes the fuel to stick to the walls of the cylinder; hence, the mixture becomes too thin for the engine to start comfortably. This is where the choke comes in, pushing in additional fuel to thicken the mixture. As opposed to that, fuel injection makes the process much simpler enabling you to just hop on and get riding. An entire battalion of sensors calculate the amount of fuel required to start the engine and manage fuel mixture and rpm levels for you.