Auto Facts for Motorists: Gasoline Direct Injection
Question:
My new car has a “GDI” engine. What does that mean to me and other Appleton, Green Bay, Neenah, Stevens Point, Stevens Point, and Weston motorists with this new type of engine?
Auto Select Answer:
GDI stands for Gasoline Direct Injection. It’s a type of fuel injection system that is becoming very popular on modern engines.
Let’s talk about the two most common forms of fuel injection. Port Fuel Injection has been common in vehicles for the last several decades.
With Port Fuel Injection, there is a small port just outside the cylinder on the engine:
• The fuel injector squirts a bit of gas into this area just before the intake valve opens
• When the valve opens, air enters the port and mixes with the gas and then flows passed the valve and into the engine
• The gas and air mixture is compressed by the piston
• The spark plug fires, igniting the gas which pushes against the piston thus powering the engine
With Gasoline Direct Injection the process is a bit different:
• First, there is no port outside the cylinder
• When the intake valve opens, air is drawn into the cylinder
• The air is compressed by the piston
• At the correct time, the engine management computer signals the fuel injector to spray gasoline directly into the cylinder (hence, Gas Direct Injection)
• The pressurized gas and air are ignited by the spark plug, powering the engine
So why did automobile manufacturers move to GDI? Well, by injecting the gas directly into the engine, the management computer is able to time the injection event more precisely. Also the gas sprayed directly into the engine cools the compressed air enough to allow for better combustion. This adds up to more power and better MPG for a given engine size.
Now these two types of fuel delivery systems call for different kinds of fuel injectors. Port fuel injectors squirt their fuel at 40 to 65 pounds per square inch – that’s like the pressure in a bicycle tire.
GDI injectors operate at over 2,000 pounds per square inch. Of course it’s always important to keep your fuel injectors clean – but it’s even more important for GDI injectors. When they become contaminated, the affect performance and gas mileage.
Speaking of fuel system cleaning, different cleaners and cleaning processes are required for GDI engines. Intake valves get a fair amount of carbon build-up over time. With port injection, some gasoline flows over the valve when it opens to let in the gas and air. This has a cleaning effect – which doesn’t occur with GDI. So pouring a bottle of fuel system cleaner in your gas tank will not reach the backside of those intake valves. A professional fuel system cleaning process at Auto Select in Schofield will take care of that concern for Schofield motorists.
So, GDI will continue to be more prevalent in WI on everything from compact cars to pick-up trucks. Ask your Auto Select service specialist if your family car could benefit from a fuel system cleaning.
Give us a call at your Auto Select