If you’ve been wondering why your car is no longer getting good gas mileage, there may be something more fundamental than just lousy driving habits and high gas prices; the culprit could be dirty fuel injectors. If you think your fuel injectors might be dirty, it’s not just an annoying problem; it can also mean costly repairs down the road if you don’t take care of the problem right away. Here are four signs that dirty fuel injectors could be affecting your engine, and tips on what you can do about it today.
Poor Gas Mileage
If your gas mileage has fallen off a cliff in recent months, your fuel injectors may have begun to get clogged up. If you notice reduced fuel economy coupled with a sputtering engine, your car’s injectors could be dirty. This buildup will lead to poor combustion efficiency, which results in poor gas mileage. So give yourself some breathing room by having them cleaned out professionally.
Rough Idle
One of the most common issues with dirty fuel injectors is that they can lead to a rough idle. When your car has dirty fuel injectors, you may notice a rough idle and hesitation when taking off from a stop. You may also experience difficulty restarting after stopping or stalling at intersections. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy for your mechanic to tell if your fuel injectors are dirty just by looking at them, so cleaning them won’t be much trouble.
Misfires
If your car misfires, it could be related to dirty fuel injectors. When your car’s engine misfires, the combustion of the fuel-air mixture does not work correctly. When your vehicle’s fuel injectors are dirty, the flow of fuel to the cylinders will be restricted. Dirty fuel injectors can also cause idle problems and rough engine performance. Misfires are an indication that something is wrong with your engine, and should not be ignored.
Hesitation When Accelerating
Dirty fuel injectors cause hesitation when accelerating. As a result, you’ll feel like your car isn’t accelerating as it should, and you won’t get as much power from your engine. This could make it challenging to drive at high speeds or accelerate uphill. While it’s tempting to think that your car needs an engine tune-up, many vehicles have fuel injectors that clog over time, causing hesitation when accelerating and eventually stalling out when stopping at a red light.
If you notice any of the symptoms of dirty fuel injectors, it’s best to address them right away. See your auto care professional get your vehicle running its best again.
