Just as North America is rediscovering diesel, automakers are digging into the technology to improve gasoline engines.
In the 1980s, fuel injection changed the gas engine landscape. Instead of relying on a relatively inefficient and quirky carburetor to draw air and fuel in to an engine, it was found that you could exercise more control if you injected the gasoline into the engine.
Diesel fans nodded their heads. That’s how diesels do it.
In the past couple of years, it’s been found to be more efficient to inject the gasoline directly into the engine’s cylinders, instead of into an intake manifold.
Again, taking a page from the diesel book.
As a result, gasoline engines are getting mileage and power results that are generally reserved for diesel engines. Almost all of the automakers have taken notice. Gasoline Direct Injection engines are available from Ford, Mercedes, Mazda, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Bentley and others. Mileage, power, and reliability are all working together to make these cars popular among consumers.
As with any new technology, there are growing pains. Gasoline Direct Injection requires precise, computer-controlled injection action, and because the injectors are directly attached to the cylinders, they’re subject to a lot more heat and vibration than conventional injectors, which are separated from the combustion chamber by the closure of the intake valve. The stress that the injectors undergo makes them the part of the system most prone to failure. Many shops that deal with gasoline engines lack the sophisticated test equipment required to diagnose problems with these injectors.
Because most of the work we do at Western Turbo is focused on diesel engines, which have used direct injection technology for decades, we have the skills and expertise to diagnose fuel injector problems, and rehab many units that would be discarded by service providers who can’t.
We can use our sophisticated equipment to test a set of injectors by measuring output of fuel for atomization, strength, and spray pattern.
Western Turbo has a state-of-the art repair facility at 325 Eagle Drive in Winnipeg.