Air Fuel Ratio

Lecture by : Dr. Muhammad Yusri Ismail

What is Air Fuel Ratio
 Fuel control according to engine state
The engine's operating state varies by the driver's intention and driving conditions. This makes the fuel injection control system's
calculation of an ideal fuel injection volume for varying engine operation state paramount. In general, engine operation states that
influence fuel injection volume control are categorized according to engine RPM and load.

a. At engine start-up
• Low engine RPM and no load
• Slightly rich air-fuel ratio (oxygen sensor off: no input signals from oxygen sensor)
b. Engine warm-up
• Driving time until coolant temperature becomes normal after engine start-up
• Air-fuel ratio kept at 12:1 to 15:1
• No feedback control until engine warm-up completion)
c. Idle engine
• Throttle valve closed, no load (RPM: 600-900)
• Lowest stable RPM achieved from a balance of output created from the combustion of
air sucked in through
• the throttle valve opening and loss caused by factors such as engine friction

• Light load (most driving states)

e. Full load
• Throttle valve fully open (WOT)
• Heavy engine load, very high engine RPM
f. Sudden acceleration and deceleration
• Air-fuel ratio deviates from target ratio; lean during acceleration and rich during decelera-
tion
• Fuel injected into the intake manifold attaches to the intake valve and the surrounding
area → The speed of attached fuel evaporation drops if intake pipe pressure is high and
attached area temperature is low
* Acceleration compensation: Attached fuel evaporation speed drops as intake pipe pres-
sure rises→ Lean air-fuel ratio from attached fuel volume increase → Fuel increase com-
pensation required
• The ECU stops fuel injection by injectors; fuel cut-off occurs during deceleration and at
high RPMs
* Deceleration fuel cut-off: If throttle valve is completely shut and engine RPM is above a
set value, deceleration (fuel supply not required) is recognized and fuel is cut off → Im-
proved fuel efficiency and cleaner exhaust gas
* High RPM fuel cut-off: If engine RPM is above a set value, e.g. 6,000 RPM, fuel is cut off
to suppress further RPM increase to prevent engine damage

Full Load

Load

Start
Stop
Partial load

Idle
30 400 1000 RPM
~35 ~450 ~1200
Stoichiometric-ideal

ECU uses oxygen sensor input to fine-tune fuel delivery.

Influence of mixture composition

An oxygen sensor's output signal changes
suddenly when closed to the Oxygen sensor Signal

stoichiometric ratio. This characteristic is

taken advantage of to compare the
oxygen sensor's output voltage and
standard voltage, and determine identify
dilution and concentration. An appropriate ECU Decision signal

compensation is made for concentration

(decrease) and dilution (increase).
Sometimes air-fuel ratio feedback control
is not required due to factors such as
oxygen sensor temperature, driving Fuel increase Feedback

stability and catalyst overheating. Compensation signal