What Is a Fuel Injector Anyway?

You probably know that your car cannot run without fuel injectors, perhaps the key component of its fuel delivery system, and you probably know that fuel injection systems were invented as a replacement for carburetors. But can you completely answer the question, “What is a fuel injector?” If you’re a little fuzzy on what a fuel injector actually is and what fuel injection does, here’s a little crash course.

How Fuel Injectors Work

A fuel injector is basically a pressure valve that makes sure the combustion chamber has just the right mix of oxygen and fuel by precisely controlling the amount of fuel that goes into each cylinder, with the help of the car’s onboard computer (this computer is also called an ECU, or Electronic Control Unit). This has proven to be a far more efficient solution than the carburetor, which simply involved unloading a large amount of fuel into the combustion chamber whenever the engine required it.

This was a tremendous waste of fuel and resulted in increased unhealthy emissions, as well as greater costs for the gas-buying consumer. It was a rough analog technology, replaced by a precise digital one.

Pros and Cons of Fuel Injectors

The advantages of fuel injectors — specifically, better power delivery, greater fuel economy and lower emissions — are well worth the changeover from the carburetor system. However, a downside of fuel injectors is that they can become clogged and dirty over time, especially if you’re not using the highest-quality gasoline or if you have a direct injected car, where the fuel injector itself is subject to combustion byproducts. This can result in sluggish acceleration, rough idles, poor MPG and overall reduced performance.

If you are experiencing a loud or sluggish engine, a knocking sound or poorer gas mileage than you expect, there’s a strong chance that clogged or dirty fuel injectors are responsible. It’s time for an easy fix.

Keeping Fuel Injectors Operating at Maximum Efficiency

The best way to make sure your fuel injectors are doing their job as well as possible is by making sure your gas is as high-quality as possible. Some fuel injector treatment additives will just make sure your fuel injectors are clean (and some, in our testing, do very little at all), but for a whole system cleaning that helps keep your gas purer and keeps everything clean for a longer time, we recommend adding Rislone Complete Gasoline Fuel Treatment System at least every 5,000 miles. (That’s right, you don’t need to use it every time you get gas.)

It’s easy to install (as simple as adding the formula to your gas tank) and can make a huge difference in the performance and overall fuel economy of your car. To find a Rislone dealer near you, just input your location into the simple Rislone locator now. We have this product available at almost all major auto parts stores, as well as some big box retailers (like Wal-Mart) as well.

Have questions about our product, its formulation, or what you can expect from it? Hit us up on Facebook, or contact us via our website. We have a dedicated QA/Customer Support team who will be happy to help you out.