Your carburetor is responsible for combining the appropriate amount of fuel and air. There has to be a specific ratio of both maintained at all times, and the carburetor is one of the components that help achieve this balance. The carburetor is also responsible for controlling your engine speed.
Three types of carburetors are used in modern vehicles today. They include a 1-barrel carburetor, a 2-barrel carburetor, and a 4-barrel carburetor. The type of engine your car has dictates the type of carburetor it needs. Higher-performing machines will typically require multiple carburetors to provide the right amount of fuel.
Symptoms of a Failing Carburetor
- Lower Gas Mileage - If you’re getting poor gas mileage, it could be an indicator that your carburetor is taking in more fuel than necessary.
- Black Exhaust Smoke - If your car is burning extra gas, some of it can end up in your cylinders. As a result, it may come out of your exhaust pipe as a thick, black cloud of smoke. This symptom can harm your spark plugs, waste your gas, and pollute the air.
- Rough Idling - Your engine could idle too slow, shake, or sputter when you release your foot from the gas. This problem is a telling sign that your motor is getting an inadequate air-fuel mixture.
- Hard Starts - If your vehicle is reluctant to start when the engine is cold, it could be that the air-fuel ratio is corrupted. If you have difficulty starting your car on cold mornings, it could be traced back to a choke mechanism within the carburetor that failed to close. The failed mechanism would result in too rich of a fuel mixture.
If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, then you probably have a bad carburetor. Unless you are a highly skilled mechanic, dealing with a failing carburetor may be beyond your capabilities. The good news is that the carburetor problem is fast and reasonably inexpensive to repair. We invite you to bring your vehicle to STR Automotive to get your carburetor repaired. Give us a call or visit us today!