What is the function of a vehicle's air flow meter?
2 Answers
The function of an automobile air flow meter is to detect the intake air volume of the engine. It converts the information about the amount of engine intake air into electrical signals and transmits them to the ECU. Here is some relevant information: 1. Vane-type air flow meter, the structure of the vane-type air flow meter is simple, with high reliability, but it is large in size, has high intake resistance, and responds slowly; Karman vortex air flow meter, the so-called Karman vortex refers to the phenomenon that when a cylindrical or triangular object is placed in the fluid, two rows of vortices rotating in opposite directions and alternately appearing will be generated downstream of this object. 2. Ultrasonic Karman vortex air flow meter, ultrasonic transmitting and receiving probes are installed opposite each other on both sides of the downstream pipeline of the Karman vortex generator. Due to the influence of Karman vortices on air density, the time for ultrasonic waves to travel from the transmitting probe to the receiving probe will be delayed compared to when there are no vortices, resulting in a phase difference. By processing this phase signal, the vortex pulse signal can be obtained.
As someone who tinkers with cars, I consider the air flow meter vital for engine performance. It's this nifty sensor placed near the air intake that measures how much air flows into the engine—think of it like a speedometer for air. That info gets relayed to the car's brain (the ECU), which uses it to calculate the perfect fuel-to-air ratio. Without this balance, things fall apart: you get sluggish acceleration, choppy idling, and worse fuel economy. I've seen cases where a dirty or faulty sensor causes engines to hesitate or stall, especially in heavy traffic. In modern cars, it also helps control emissions, ensuring cleaner exhaust. That's why I suggest checking it during routine services; a quick spray with sensor cleaner can prevent gunk buildup and keep your ride running sweet and efficient.
