Will a broken carbon canister affect engine power?
2 Answers
To some extent, a faulty carbon canister can affect the vehicle's power, but it won't hinder normal operation. However, a damaged carbon canister should be replaced promptly, as it can lead to increased pollutant emissions. A broken carbon canister may cause a gasoline smell inside the car or around the vehicle. If the carbon canister is damaged, the adsorbed fuel vapors inside will be directly released into the air, resulting in a strong gasoline odor in or around the car. The purpose of the carbon canister is to reduce vehicle emissions and improve fuel efficiency, so its failure does not significantly impact the car's power.
As a seasoned commuter driver with 10 years of experience, I've encountered situations where the carbon canister failed, and it really caused a noticeable drop in power. The carbon canister is designed to capture evaporated gasoline vapors from the fuel tank, preventing them from being directly released into the air and polluting the environment. If it malfunctions, excessive vapors can leak into the engine, disrupting the normal fuel-to-air ratio, which worsens engine performance. Acceleration feels sluggish, especially when going uphill or during rapid acceleration, with a noticeable lack of power. Fuel consumption also inexplicably increases, and the car feels sluggish while driving. When I took it for repairs and replaced the carbon canister, the power was restored, making driving much easier. This issue isn't a major one, and repairs aren't expensive, but delaying it could damage other emission components. I recommend that owners get their cars checked at a professional shop as soon as they notice unstable idling or reduced power to avoid issues during long-distance driving.