HowStuffWorks "How does a carburetor work?"
[http://www.howstuffworks.com/] SUBSCRIBE Adventure Animals Auto Culture Entertainment Health Home & Garden Lifestyle Money Science Tech Video Shows Quizzes Auto Basics Tech and Transport Auto Parts & Systems Auto Racing Buying & Selling Car Models Driving & Safety Fuel Efficiency Motorcycles Trucks Under the Hood Home / Auto / Under the Hood / Engines / Engine Performance How does a carburetor work? Page 1 How does a carburetor work? 2 Inside a Carburetor 3 Carburetor Tuning 4 Lots More Information Image Gallery: Classic Cars Image Gallery: Classic Cars Next Up Engine Performance Quiz How Fuel Injection Systems Work HowStuffWorks Forums: Which do you prefer: Fuel injection or carburetion? If you have read the page entitled How Car Engines Work , you know that the idea behind an engine is to burn gasoline to create pressure, and then to turn the pressure into motion. A remarkably tiny amount of gasoline is needed during each combustion cycle. Something on the order of 10 milligrams of gasoline per combustion stroke is all it takes! The goal of a carburetor is to mix just the right amount of gasoline with air so that the engine runs properly. If there is not enough fuel mixed with the air, the engine "runs lean" and either will not run or potentially damages the engine. If there is too much fuel mixed with the air, the engine "runs rich" and either will not run (it floods), runs very smoky, runs poorly (bogs down, stalls easily), or at the very least wastes fuel. The carb is in charge of getting the mixture just right. On new cars, fuel injection is becoming nearly universal because it provides better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. But nearly all older cars, and all small equipment like lawn mowers and chain saws, use carbs because they are simple and inexpensive. Go to the next page to check out the inside of a carburetor. Print Cite This! Close Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks article: "How does a carburetor work?" 10 May 2000. HowStuffWorks.com.
14 August 2014. Citation & Date Feedback Page 1 How does a carburetor work? 2 Inside a Carburetor 3 Carburetor Tuning 4 Lots More Information More To Explore More Great Links Top 10 Green Driving Tips 5 Scariest Stunt Car Feats The Ultimate CarStuff Fan Quiz 5 Warning Signs You Need New Tires 10 Most Expensive Classic Cars Watch American Chopper videos >> You Might Also Like How Rotary Engines Work A rotary engine is an internal combustion engine, but it's not like the one in most cars. Learn about the unique rotary setup and how it compares performance-wise to a piston engine. Car Smarts: Diesel While diesel earned itself a bad reputation for spewing soot in the early days, improvements have made it much cleaner. Test your knowledge of all things diesel with this quiz. Popular Articles How does the intake manifold affect your engine? How is diesel fuel injection different? How does engine placement affect handling? Most Popular Most Watched Most Popular 10 Tips for Buying a Salvage Auto How Windshield Wipers Work Top 10 Alternative Fuels on the Road Right Now The Ultimate Automotive Physics Quiz 10 Amazing Car Security Systems Most Watched Understanding Cars Auto Parts & Systems Deconstructed Wrecks to Riches: Rebuilding Classic Cars Car Accident Videos Bikes, Hacks, Trikes and Choppers Don't Miss Vote: What’s the coolest fictional spacecraft? Quiz: Can you face these haunted hotels? CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS HOWSTUFFWORKS NEWSLETTER THE LATEST AND GREATEST SUBSCRIBE HOWSTUFFWORKS Adventure Animals Auto Culture Entertainment Health Home & Garden Lifestyle Money Science Tech MORE STUFF Blogs HSW Tools RSS Maps Podcasts Quizzes Newsletters Video HSW Brazil HSW China STUFF WEBSITES BrainStuff CarStuff Fw:Thinking Stuff Mom Never Told You Stuff of Genius Stuff They Don't Want You to Know Stuff to Blow Your Mind Stuff You Missed in History Class Stuff You Should Know CUSTOMER SERVICE Advertising Contact Us Help CORPORATE About Us Careers @ HSW Privacy Policy Visitor Agreement TAKE US WITH YOU FOLLOW US Copyright © 1998-2014 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace LLC