What is the problem of engine flooding?
2 Answers
So-called engine "flooding" is a human-induced phenomenon that mostly occurs in carburetor engines. Single-cylinder diesel engines are prone to failing to start normally during winter. The reason is that the winter temperature is too low, and the engine cannot reach the required compression ratio for starting, preventing the diesel from burning properly. The solution is to avoid giving fuel and let the engine idle to warm up, expelling excess fuel from the cylinder. Improper operation: When cold-starting an engine equipped with a manual or semi-automatic choke, the driver pulls the choke button to close it. After starting, the button should be slowly pushed back until the choke is fully open after the engine warms up. However, in actual operation, the driver may continuously press the accelerator pedal and sometimes forget to push back the choke, causing the cylinder to suck in excessive fuel and "flood" the engine, making it difficult to start. Improper adjustment: For engines equipped with an automatic choke, although the choke has an automatic opening and closing function during startup, if the fast idle speed is improperly adjusted or the linkage valve is improperly adjusted, the mixture may become too rich, causing the engine to "flood."
When I first started driving, I had no idea what 'flooded engine' meant. Later, I learned it's when too much fuel gets into the cylinders, preventing the car from starting. This usually happens when you press the accelerator too aggressively during startup, causing the ECU to misinterpret the need for more fuel. As a result, the fuel injectors go into overdrive, flooding the cylinders with fuel that the spark plugs can't ignite. The symptoms are quite obvious: when you turn the key, the starter motor cranks, the engine sputters a few times and then stalls, accompanied by a strong gasoline smell. If this happens frequently, it might indicate a faulty sensor sending wrong signals, such as a malfunctioning mass airflow sensor. To prevent this, avoid pressing the accelerator during startup, especially when the engine is cold. For maintenance, regularly check the spark plugs and fuel system. While a flooded engine isn't a major emergency, it should be addressed promptly to prevent fuel from contaminating the engine oil and causing damage. A simple fix is to wait a few minutes for the fuel to evaporate before trying again, or to press the accelerator all the way down while starting. Remember not to attempt continuous starts to avoid draining the battery.
