Can You Continue Driving with a Faulty Fuel Injector?
2 Answers
It is not recommended to continue driving with a faulty fuel injector. A car with a faulty fuel injector may start, but it will experience severe shaking, inability to accelerate, lack of power, and significantly higher fuel consumption. In severe cases, it can damage the engine. The performance of the fuel injector plays a fundamental role in the power output of each engine. A fuel injector is essentially a normally closed valve, meaning the valve remains closed when there is no input control signal. The opening and closing of the valve are controlled by the movement of a valve needle. When the ECU issues a fuel injection command, the voltage signal causes current to flow through the coil inside the fuel injector, generating a magnetic field that lifts the valve needle, opens the valve, and allows fuel to be sprayed through the injection port.
I once had an issue with the fuel injectors in my previous car. It happened on the highway when I suddenly felt the engine shaking like a tractor, with no power during acceleration. Thinking carefully, a faulty fuel injector means fuel can't be sprayed properly, causing some cylinders to malfunction, and the car might stall while driving. If you insist on continuing to drive, at most move it a short distance to a safe spot—never drive long distances or on highways. Uneven engine load can easily damage the cylinder block and pistons, leading to much more expensive repairs. I remember the towing fee was only a few hundred, but if I had kept driving and ruined the engine, the repair cost would have been over ten thousand. Quickly find a reliable repair shop for an inspection—replacing a fuel injector isn't actually complicated. Don’t take big risks to save on small things.
