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Functions of Carburetors
• A Mixing Valve
• Mixes Fuel & Air
• Meters Fuel Flow
• Atomizes Fuel for Use
• Controls Air Flow
– Engine Speed
Ways to Classify Carburetors
• Size: (2)
• Air Flow Direction: (3)
• Fuel Type: (4)
• Barrels: (3)
• General: (3)

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Carburetor Parts & Their Functions

• In order to understand
how each part of a
carburetor works you
should first build one.
• Building a carburetor on
paper will allow you to
see how each part works
and why it is needed.
Step #1: Air Horn

• Simple Round
Metal Tube
• Flange Bolts to
Intake Manifold
• Serves as an Air
Passage for Air
Entering the Engine
Step #2: Fuel Bowl

• Attached to Air Horn

• Holds a Supply of
Gas
• Float Inside Bowl: (3)
• Vent: (2)
Step #3: Main Discharge Tube

• Allows Fuel to be
Transfered from the
Fuel Bowl to the
Air Horn.
Step #4: The Venturi
• A vacuum is needed
to transport the fuel.
• The engine doesn’t
create enough
vacuum by itself.
• The Venturi increases
air speed: (4)
Step #5: Secondary Venturi

• Creates more vacuum.

• Position: (2)
• Multiples the vacuum.
• “Booster Venturi”
• Some carburetors have
a 3rd venturi.
 Step #6: Air Bleed
• Reduces droplet size
• Introduces a stream of air into the fuel traveling up
the main discharge tube.
• Smaller droplets carry into the engine properly.
Step #7: Jets

• Introduction: (1)
• Purpose &
Operation: (4)
 Step #8: Choke Valve

• Purpose: (2)
• Placement: (1)
• Operation: (2)
 Step #9: Throttle Valve
• The Engine Will Now
Start!
– How will it Run?
• Throttle Butterfly
Controls the Engine’s
Speed: (3)
 Circuits

• The carburetor is complete but it still far

from perfect!
• What are Circuits?
• Types of Circuits: (7)
• Purpose of Circuits: (1)
 Engine Problems Kept on Track
By Circuits:
• Idle:
• Partial Throttle Operation:
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• High Speed Full Power:

• Acceleration Hesitation:
• Rich Mixture for Cold Starting:
Small Engine Carburetors

• Types:
– Float Type
– Suction Type
– Pulsating Suction Lift Type
– Diaphram Type
Float Type Carburetor

• Now Common
on Briggs &
Stratton Engines
• Fuel Bowl &
Float System: (6)
Suction Type Carburetor: (Vacu-Jet)

• Common in older
Briggs & Stratton
engines.
• Suction tubes pull
the fuel up.
Pulsating Suction Lift Carburetor:
(Pulsa-Jet)

– Briggs & Stratton Pulsa-Jet

– Has a fuel pump built in: (1)
– Provides more Hp than a suction type: (2)
– Allows the air tube in the carb. to be larger b/c
the fuel does not have to be lifted so far.
Diaphram Carburetor

– Has flexible diaphrams: (1)

– Allows function at any position
– Popular on 2-cycle engines
Despite all of it’s advances the carburetor is still a compromise of efficiency.
The carburetor’s limitations have pushed the industry towards fuel injection.
injection
Fuel Injection Arrangements

• Direct Fuel Injection:

• Throttle Body Fuel Injection:
• Multi-Point (Port) Fuel Injection:
 Direct Fuel Injection
– Fuel injected directly
into the combustion
chamber.
– Fuel injector nozzle is
also located in the
combustion chamber.
– Very common in diesel
engines.
 Throttle Body Fuel Injection
– Injectors are located in the
throttle body.
– Throttle body is the intake
cavity or intake manifold.
– The Carburetor is removed
from the intake manifold and
simply replaced by a fuel
injection system.
– Disadvantage: (1)
 Multi-Port (Point) Fuel Injection
– Uses one injector located:
• At the mouth of the intake
valve -or-
• At the mouth of an individual
intake port that is connected to
only one intake valve.
– Much more efficient
– Chrysler began this in the
late 70’s, Ford mid 80’s,
Chevy Vortex
 Methods of Fuel Injection
• Mechanical: (2)
• Electronic Fuel Injection: (4)
– Advantages: (9)