What are the differences between a carburetor and electronic fuel injection?

[LaDiana]

The differences between a carburetor and electronic fuel injection are as follows: Difference 1: Different fuel supply methods: The carburetor mainly relies on the negative pressure in the intake tract to operate, while electronic fuel injection uses the ECU's internal program to control the injector's pulse width to adjust the fuel injection quantity. Difference 2: Different power outputs: The carburetor provides relatively less power; electronic fuel injection delivers relatively more power. The carburetor is a mechanical device that mixes a certain proportion of gasoline and air under the vacuum created by the engine's operation. As a precision mechanical device, the carburetor uses the kinetic energy of the incoming air stream to atomize the gasoline. Electronic fuel injection is a type of engine that does not require pressing the accelerator when starting. It features cold-start enrichment and automatic fast idle functions, ensuring smooth engine starts whether the engine is cold or warm.

[JackRose]

As someone who has been driving for over a decade, I can say the difference between carburetors and fuel injection is night and day. I used to drive my dad's old Toyota with a carburetor – starting it in winter was pure torture. You had to pump the gas pedal forever to warm it up, and when cold, it shook like crazy while guzzling fuel at alarming rates. But with modern fuel-injected cars, just turn the key and it fires right up – smooth and instant, with way sharper throttle response. The fuel injection system uses computers to monitor engine conditions and automatically adjusts fuel delivery, making it both fuel-efficient and eco-friendly. Filling up the carbureted car always hurt my wallet, whereas the fuel-injected one costs half as much for the same distance. Nowadays, cities enforce strict emissions standards, and carbureted cars often fail inspections or get scrapped. Young buyers should avoid vintage cars – fuel injection is the hassle-free king. Even when I mod cars, upgrading fuel injection components is always my first move.

[NevaehLee]

In my thirty years of repairing cars, carburetors were easy to fix—just disassemble and clean the filter screen. However, they had frequent issues, with the air-fuel mixture becoming unstable whenever the temperature changed, often causing problems during summer overheating. EFI vehicles have more components, like fuel injectors and sensors, and require computer diagnostics to read fault codes, making them a bit more complex. But they are less prone to failure and generally require minimal maintenance. I remember repairing EFI cars wasn’t costly, as the parts were durable and needed fewer adjustments. Carburetor vehicles required frequent spark plug changes, while EFI systems were much more stable. Nowadays, repair shops are fully equipped with EFI diagnostic tools. I recommend car owners regularly inspect their fuel systems to prevent aging and leaks. These differences make me feel that EFI represents technological progress. When it comes to repairs, EFI systems are more hassle-free and labor-saving.

[TaylorMarie]

I study automotive history, and carburetors were once the mainstream, relying on vacuum suction to supply fuel, simple but crude. After the 1970s, environmental awareness increased, and electronic fuel injection (EFI) emerged. In the 1980s, automakers like Mercedes-Benz took the lead, making fuel injection control more precise and solving the waste and emission issues of carburetors. I've researched that EFI uses electronic systems to monitor air and temperature, offering better adaptability, while carburetors require manual adjustments, which is troublesome. Nowadays, it's rare to see new cars with carburetors on the road—their phase-out was inevitable. When I work on classic car modifications, I always recommend switching to EFI systems for a more modern driving experience.