What does throttle mean in a car?
2 Answers
In a car, the throttle refers to the throttle valve adjustment, which regulates the engine's intake of combustible gas. Simply put, pulling it out is equivalent to stepping on the accelerator—the more it's pulled out, the greater the throttle. Below are the specific functions of the engine throttle valve: 1. Control carburetor flow: It regulates the amount of air entering the carburetor to adjust the air-fuel mixture concentration. Typically located at the bottom, the higher the position, the less air enters. When the weather gets colder and the air-fuel mixture concentration decreases, adjusting it upward can change the mixture concentration, making the car easier to start. 2. Deliver air-fuel mixture and expel exhaust gases: The valves are divided into intake valves and exhaust valves. The intake valve's role is to draw the air-fuel mixture into the cylinder for compression and combustion, while the exhaust valve's function is to expel the burned exhaust gases and dissipate heat.
I often tinker with car parts. The throttle is the pedal that makes the car go faster, located next to the brake. When you press it, it opens the engine's intake valve, increasing the air-fuel mixture, causing the engine to rev higher and the car to accelerate. Over time, if you feel the throttle response is sluggish, it might be due to a dirty throttle body with dust blocking the intake or a faulty sensor sending inaccurate signals. I once experienced a stuck throttle, which was quite nerve-wracking, but thankfully I quickly released the pedal and checked it. Modern electronic throttles are much more advanced than the old cable-controlled ones, using computer control for greater precision, but they're more prone to malfunctions. Regular cleaning can prevent major issues and keep the car running smoothly and comfortably.
