High fuel consumption is a sign that your car engine is not working at its optimal performance, and high fuel consumption causes can vary. AT DNA Auto Centre Bosch Car Service, we are the only certified emissions test facility in KZN that can accurately measure the emissions from your vehicle’s exhaust system.
What high fuel Consumption causes?
Understanding high fuel consumption causes is crucial for effective vehicle maintenance.
High fuel consumption causes can stem from an engine burning the incorrect amount of fuel when all the parameters for combustion are not within specifications. When you notice that your vehicle is experiencing high fuel consumption, it indicates that there is an underlying issue that needs to be investigated.
Identifying high fuel consumption causes can help you avoid costly repairs in the future.
Unfortunately most RMI workshops are not equipped with the eauipment or the technical knowledge to fault find these issues. So we the purpose of edcuation we want to start this article of with basics or fundamentals regarding fueling systems and there operation
Fuel pressure issues are common high fuel consumption causes that should be examined closely.
Another of the high fuel consumption causes is an unmetered air intake, affecting overall efficiency.
1- Fuel Pressure or Low Fuel Delivery
My mentor once thought me a valuable leson in life, “Without Volume, pressure is nothing”. Checking fuel pressure is critical when testing the fuelling system. But you should also check fuel delivery or volumetric flow rate of the fuel systems. If there is a kink or restriction in the fuel system the pressure will rise but the flow rate to the rail will fall
Faulty oxygen sensors are significant high fuel consumption causes that can lead to engine inefficiency.
2- Unmetered Air Intake [Intake manifold Leak]
Blocked or worn fuel injectors are among the high fuel consumption causes that should not be overlooked.
Umetered air intake will reduce the AFR of the mixture entering the combustion chamber, This will require you to depress the accelerate more to gain the same power is there was not leak. The added demand for power will cause more fuel to be injected into the manifold or cyclinder head
Low compression in the engine is another one of the high fuel consumption causes that can hinder performance.
3 – Faulty or Defective Oxygen Sensor [O2 sensor]
Restricted catalytic converters are common high fuel consumption causes that can significantly impact vehicle performance.
Cooling system issues are also related to high fuel consumption causes that may lead to engine overheating.
The oxygen sensor monitors Air fuel ratio of the engine. This information is then sent to the ECU or engine control module. The ECU will then either increase or restrict air flow [Via the throttle shaft & secondary ari injection system] or increase / drecrease fuel volume via the fuel injectors. Also the Oxygen sensor has a heater element with helps speed up the heating of the sensor inorder to calculate AFR. This can only be done when the enge reaches operation temperature
4 – Blocked or Worn Fuel Injectors
The Fuel injector is an electronically control actuator that commonly opens with a switchable earth signal via the ECU. Most vehicle rely on negataive switch for fuel inejctors but this is not a rule. The durable of the pulse signal, usually in the form of a square wave & It controls the duration the injector is open. If the injector pintles or seats are damaged. Fuel can dribble from the injector when it is closed or the blockage can restrict fuel flow rate
5 – Low Compression or Cylinder leakage
An engine with low compression will have difficulty compressing the AFR [Air Fuel Ratio which is usually 14,1:1], This will cause a clow combustion force inside to be transferred to tye crankshaft. The low the force the hrader the engine has to operate to maintain its speed. the same will apply for a blown cyclinder head gasket or leakage insdie the cylinder head [Valves, seats]
6 – Restricted Catalytic Converter
Most vehicle owner decat or remove the catalytic converter from the vehicle and do not consider the ramification this has. Vehicles that has there catalytic converter removed and foolers fitted will burn more rich than others. The function of the bank 2 Oxygen sensor is to monitor catalytic efficiency in your engine. These foolers trick the ECU in thinking that the catalytic convert is still present however the ECU is smarter than this and will self adapt itself the the new incorrect data provided
7 – Cooling system issues or No Thermostat
Remember that we have stated the the engine can only calculated AFR once its has reached operation temperature. This is usually around 85 degrees celcuis. If the thermostat is removed the ECU will continously enrich the fuel mixture inorder to warn up the engine faster. With not restrcition the engine is going to continously try and enrich the mixture and the vehicles cooling system is going to work against this process in an infinite loop.
These are some of the most common high fuel consumption causes, but they are not limited to these factors only. Several other components and processes are involved. However, understanding high fuel consumption causes will help you maintain your vehicle better.
For more information call us on 0315691417 or email us on info@dnaautocentre.co.za
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