For many maintenance items you’ll do in-car maintenance, there are a number things that should be performed for the car to be in good repair, and with that said, it is no surprise there are some services you may not have heard about.
One of them is fuel induction service, a standard service for cars that are direct injection engines. It is more of a cleaning service targeting pieces such as the intake manifold, throttle body, and intake valves.
This is a good question to be answered based on our extensive experience in the auto-engineering business.
An in-depth examination of this service will educate you on what it is, how it works, and what the purpose of it is for vehicles.
What Is The Fuel Induction Service?
To understand the fuel induction process, we will start from the engine itself, to understand how it operates on a primary level.
Here, in this section, we will be explaining the combustion of fuel which requires air being drawn into the induction area to ignite the fuel to start the pistons moving, and then transferring into motion to different parts of the car.
The throttle body is the most fundamental operating mechanism specifically found in combustion engines, restricting fuel or air from entering the combustion chamber.
The vehicle’s computer unit is the regulator or controller of the throttle mechanism ensuring that proper proportions of air and fuel are used. The computer unit links directly with the vehicles acceleration pedal, and it will depend on how much fuel is put in to control the amount of air entering the combustion chamber.
The air-fuel mixture is combusted in the engine every time the vehicle is started, and therefore as time goes by there will be soot buildup in the combustion areas of the engine as a result of not entirely burning the fuel.
As time goes by, the throttle and fuel injectors are most susceptible to buildup and will lead to issues such as a fuel smell inside of the vehicle. Issues such as the check engine light turning on which indicates that “something” is wrong with the engine and you must look into getting it diagnosed.
In the case of a problem, the next step is to look for ” fuel induction service near me” to point you in the right direction for a technician to help diagnose the problem for you.
While the alcohol must be taken out as the process does require cleaning of the throttle body or intake manifold for the carbon buildup in the engine to make sure your engine is running great.
Common Signs You Need a Fuel Induction Service
As with most car problems, you will see signs that hint that you have a carbon buildup issue needing induction.
The issue is that sometimes you may not think that you have this issue unless your mechanic point it out. Let’s look at some signs that may have you thinking about getting this engine maintenance service.
#1. Check Engine Turns on.
One of the first signs that will indicate you are having an engine problem is you will notice the check engine light has come on.
The carbon buildup may be inhibiting adequate airflow into the intake manifold. The carbon buildup may also cause hot spots where the engine can overheat.
This is one reason check engine turns on, and you want to check it out quickly before it continues to wear.
#2. Power Loss.
Power loss is another indication you have a problem with your vehicle’s combustion unit. You can realize a power loss when you accelerate or go uphill.
The power loss has to do with carbon’s effect on the air to fuel ratio being somewhat imperfect, so not all of the fuel burns. The energy produced may be inadequate.
#3. Poor Fuel Economy.
The dirt in the air inlets will not allow enough air to go into the combustion chamber, which means your fuel tanks will drain more negatively and supply more fuel in the combustion chamber.
Poor fuel economy generally leads to black smoke and high fuel consumption, which is worse than the average. Poor fuel economy means you have to pay more for fuel.
#4. Fuel Odor Inside The Vehicle.
The odor of fuel inside the vehicle indicates the need for a fuel induction service. The scent is caused by an irregular mixture of fuel due to the amount of fuel supplied into the chamber while the amount of air is exceptionally poor.
The additional fuel input may lead to a gasoline smell in the vehicle. At first, it may be considered tolerable but will soon be more than tolerable, especially when you accelerate the vehicle and additional carbon deposits get involved.
#5. Vehicle Vibrating While On Idle.
You might notice the vehicle vibrating while is at idle. There can be many causes of vehicle idling, which include worn out spark plugs, however, an irregular fuel supply can also present this issue as well.
Focusing on the carbon deposits, as mentioned, causes a flow of irregular air and coolant supply, especially if it is clogging the injectors, EGR valve, and air intake valves.
#6. Excessive Emissions.
Another one of the signs that you may require a vehicle fuel induction service is if you are experiencing excessive emissions. Emissions occur from improper burning conditions of fuel in the engine due to the insufficient supply of air for this process to occur effectively.
You may also notice evidence of soot or carbon build up in the exhaust pipe as well, and not just the residue from the direct emission of exhaust, but simply excessive traces more than normal.
Excessive emissions have a detrimental effect on your surroundings and could also land s a space of trouble with authorities if you do not stay on top of the problem as soon as possible.
#7. Rough Driving.
The car may be experiencing jerking, weak or not accelerate well and in extreme cases may stall, due to Failure of the combustion chamber or its components.
Your engine with all the coil packs advancing carbon wear could be overheating and you could have a bad time driving the car.
If you encounter a combination of these symptoms, it would be a good idea to consult your mechanic as soon as practical.
How to Do a Fuel Induction Service
If your engine system has dirt in it, the usual solution is to take it to a trustworthy mechanics shop to remedy the condition. However, sometimes you just want to get your hands dirty and do it yourself.
If you are planning on troubleshooting and resolving this issue at home, this guide will walk you through a fuel induction process, which is part of your engine restoration and rejuvenation process.
Step 1: Cleaning the Throttle Body.
You will need your fuel induction service kit which includes a good cleaner, a rug or shop towel, various general mechanics tools where needed to access certain areas of the engine bay, and lastly you need to always have some compressed air available.
The first part of this process is to clean the throttle body, as part of the maintenance process. You will disconnect the air duct from the throttle body and then clean it thoroughly using your cleaner and rag.
You will want to ensure that there is no residue left on this engine part, no carbon in sight, or grime of any degree for that matter. Compressed air will also assist in the process to eliminate debris and lubricants.
Step 2: Clean Upper Cylinders & Intake Valves.
Once clean, we will direct our efforts to the upper cylinders and the intake valves by introducing our cleaner to the intake manifold, where it will concentrate on the intake valves.
Once added, a cleaner will break up the residual carbon deposits and push it out the exhaust pipe system with clean components.
How Often Is A Fuel Induction Service Needed?
A fuel induction service does not need to be frequent; however, it is advisable to have it performed at the recommended interval of 6000 miles. It can always be done concurrent with other maintenance procedures, such as an oil change.
Just like other maintenance services, the timing of the induction service is all about the condition of the vehicle. A few models (especially the older ones) may even have faulty systems, which can lead to needing fuel induction services more frequently as the engine will perform considerably better with the procedure.
There are many Reddit discussions on fuel induction service, and many of them say that it is okay to have it done prior to the recommended 6000 miles. The service is more of a precaution being that you may be observing symptoms of an engine that is performing poorly.
There is a lot to gain from this vehicle maintenance process, including an effective method to clean the fuel tank! Let us take you through some other benefits you get from the induction.
- Smooth and fast acceleration.
- Improved fuel economy and engine performance.
- Optimum air-fuel balance in the system.
- Reduced emissions.
- The throttle, intake valves, and injectors will be clean and less likely to wear.
- A smooth driving experience, especially in the case of diesel induction service, targeting diesel-run vehicles.
Fuel Induction Service vs. Fuel Injection Service
It’s easy to confuse fuel injection with fuel induction and think you can use the terms interchangeably. They don’t mean the same thing as both refer to two different services, but the two do almost the same thing; they clean parts of the engine.
Fuel injection services focus on specifically the fuel system geared toward the fuel injectors and the injectors part of the internal combustion engine.
Fuel injectors can also get carbon deposits overtime, causing similar issues (poor fuel economy, low power on acceleration) caused by carbon deposits on the throttle body or intake manifold.
What is the difference then? The difference is in what they are cleaning in the combustion assembly. Fuel induction service only cleans the air inlets of the combustion assembly removing carbide deposits in the throttle body, air intake valves and intake manifold.
Fuel induction services, in short, clean the air intake side of the combustion assembly, while fuel injection services clean the fuel system while cleaning from the fuel injectors and lines.
Both services are required if you want a proper air/fuel mixture burning efficiently that affords a smooth drive.
Fuel injection service kit is needed to clean out the fuel lines. The piece of kit that you can count on is the Autool C-100 a multi-functional kit with different types of adapters to work with EU, US and Asian automotive vehicles. The Autocool C-100 will work with gasoline injectors and be relatively easy to use.
FAQs.
Q: How Much Is A Fuel Induction Service?
The cost of a fuel induction service discourages many people from having the service done at a shop and do it themselves. Most garages and auto-repair shops offer a fuel induction service for approximately $150 to $200 and it can take around 20-minutes to complete.
Taking into consideration that the cleaner only costs around $10 to $15, it’s easy to see why most people are willing to do it rather than paying so much money at a shop.
Q: What Is Included In A Fuel Induction Service?
During the fuel induction service, the goal is primarily to clean the air inlet unit. In doing so, the throttle mechanism, intake manifold, and intake valves will be cleaned and checked for any maintenance. This service is an important maintenance service that will help keep your engine well maintained.
Q: Is A Fuel Injection Service Necessary?
Yes, a fuel injection service is important and helps reduce the carbon build-up build-up from the engine.
Once carbon build-up gets out of hand, you might find that your engine is wearing out quickly, has performance issues with acceleration, and you are creating higher emissions. Having this performed as a regular maintenance service will help prevent all of the above issues.
Q: How Often Should You Get Your Fuel Injection Service?
You should have the fuel injection service done every 60,000 miles your vehicle has been driven. You may need to perform this service sooner if you have an older car where carbon build-up is more likely.
Q: How Much Does A Fuel System Cleaning Cost?
The fuel injection service costs about $50 to $80 depending on where you have it done. The fuel injection service is an important maintenance service that helps keep fuel lines clean by removing carbon that builds up over time.
Final Word
Fuel induction service is an essential service, or more like engine performance restoration service, as too much carbon built-up in the system can affect the engine.
Considering what this service is all about, you can see why it is a good idea to do this once a while, especially after about 60000 miles.
You can do it on your own, and the highlighted steps can help you know how to pull it off. If you do not know how to about it, you might as well search for professionals to help you prevent harming your engine.