What are the reasons for incomplete fuel combustion in a car engine?
4 Answers
Incomplete fuel combustion in a car engine can easily lead to engine damage and fuel line blockage. It is necessary to regularly clean or replace valves and pistons, and clean the fuel lines. The reasons for incomplete fuel combustion in a car engine are as follows: 1. The gasoline does not reach optimal atomization, and the gasoline molecules are not fine enough. 2. Poor air-fuel mixture ratio, and insufficient oxygen for combustion due to air pollution. 3. The ignition efficiency of the car itself decreases. During the driving process, there are often many electrical devices in use, especially under low-speed driving conditions, the ignition energy will decrease.
Last time my car was emitting black smoke and I took it for repair, the old mechanic said incomplete combustion was mostly due to a messed-up air-fuel mixture ratio. For an old car like mine, clogged fuel injectors are the most common issue, leading to poor atomization and overly large fuel droplets that can't burn properly. Spark plugs with worn-out electrodes and incorrect gaps can fail to ignite, and leaking high-voltage wires are also common. Another time, the oxygen sensor was faulty, and the computer had no idea how to adjust the fuel quantity. The most troublesome issue is leaking valves, where insufficient cylinder pressure directly snuffs out the flame. If you notice a strong gasoline smell, rough idling, less water dripping from the exhaust pipe, and black residue, check the air filter and intake pressure sensor immediately.
With a decade of car repair experience, I've seen all kinds of combustion issues. The key lies in three systems: fuel delivery, ignition, and intake. When fuel pump pressure is insufficient, fuel atomization suffers, leaving unburned droplets on cylinder walls. Aging ignition coils weaken sparks, especially noticeable during cold starts. Carbon buildup in the throttle body restricts airflow, with turbocharged vehicles being more vulnerable. Last time, a tuned car had ECU remapping issues causing erratic air-fuel ratios - the exhaust even spat sparks. Recommendation: always read trouble codes first, then check cylinder compression and sealing. For older vehicles, regular spark plug replacement and intake cleaning are crucial.
I've found combustion issues can be categorized into hard failures and soft faults. Hard failures like worn piston rings causing insufficient cylinder pressure or deformed valves failing to seal properly require major overhauls. Soft faults are easier to address: inferior gas station fuel with gum deposits clogging injectors; spark plugs getting soaked from constant short-distance driving; or airflow meters misreporting data due to willow catkin contamination. Here's a clever trick: take a highway run at high RPMs - if blue smoke persists, trouble's brewing. Always choose premium fuel brands and use fuel system cleaner every 20,000 km to maintain clean fuel lines.
