What is the Fuel-Injected System in Bikes?

• Since the late 1930s, diesel engines have come with fuel injection systems.
• Petrol-powered engines did not adopt this technology until the 1950s.
• Even though fuel injection bikes were more sophisticated and performed better, manufacturers continued using carburettors.
• In recent years, fuel injection systems have become more common on two-wheelers.

• The engine’s combustion chamber combines air with fuel to produce combustion.
• Fuel injection systems are significantly more complicated than entirely mechanical carburettors.
• Although fuel-injected automobiles came on the market in the 1950s, they were widely available in the late 1990s.
• If the combustion chamber mixes and burns air and fuel more effectively, the more powerful and responsive the two-wheeler will be. The pollution will also be lesser. Manufacturers of small-capacity two-wheelers have traditionally used carburettors to mix fuel and air.
• Growing demand for more efficient engines and advanced technology has led to the adoption of fuel injection.
• For the last decade, fuel injection system bikes in India have become a prominent feature on mainstream motorcycles.
• In India, all two-wheelers come fitted with a fuel injection system after April 1, 2020 (BS-VI standards' implementation date).

• The two-wheeler fuel injection system consists of various electronic components and sensors.
• A fuel pump controls the flow of fuel to the combustion chamber. Inside the bike's fuel tank is this fuel pump.
• The Electronic Control Unit (ECU) controls the fuel supply to the combustion chamber.
• This electric brain constantly monitors and calculates to deliver the best air-fuel mixture.
• In addition to throttle position, engine speed, temperature, and load, the complex calculations also include other parameters.
• Fuel injection is carried out directly into the cylinder chamber by the nozzle.
• As a result, the ECU controls the injectors to deliver the fuel at the optimum rate for maximum combustion efficiency.

The below table outlines the significant differences between the carburettor and fi system in bikes.

A fuel injection system for bikes has many advantages over a carburettor system. Listed below are the benefits of fuel-injection bikes.

• Fuel injection systems can precisely measure the fuel to inject into a combustion chamber using complex sensors and computing power.
• Consequently, the engine burns less fuel, making it more fuel-efficient. It is also accurate to extract the best performance from fuel injection systems.
• The ECU will immediately inject fuel if it detects a high throttle position, increasing power output. Pollution from fuel injection systems is much lower.
• Due to its accuracy, the system would not waste fuel that would otherwise go unburned in a carburetted system. By doing so, the engine consumes fuel, making every drop count while conforming to emission standards.
• The adaptability of a fuel injection system to various riding conditions is another advantage.
• In modern fuel injection systems, oxygen monitoring constantly occurs to add suitable air to the air-fuel mixture for optimal performance. This has a distinct advantage at higher altitudes, where oxygen levels drop dramatically.
• The thinner air at higher altitudes requires manual tuning or larger fuel jets on traditional carburetted motorcycles. Still, fuel-injection motorcycles adapt automatically to these adverse conditions and perform well regardless of the altitude you ride. Also, fuel-injected systems function better when one exposes a bike to various temperatures or humidity.
• A fuel injection system also has a sharper and quicker throttle response since the electronic response to the throttle position is faster than a mechanical linkage.
• Moreover, fuel injection systems require no maintenance and are less likely to malfunction.
• It is also possible to tune the fuel injection systems for different maps.
• Depending on one's needs, one can customise these maps. By injecting more fuel into the system, one can increase the engine's power or make it leaner to improve fuel efficiency.
• It is common among tuners who want to improve the engine's power without modifying it mechanically. A selectable power mode is also available on two-wheeler models, such as the TVS Apache RR 310.
• ECUs control fuel injection according to the method selected. As a result, this allows one to use different drive modes depending on the riding conditions.

The advantages of fuel injection systems over carburettors are apparent, but they also have some disadvantages.

• They are more expensive than carburettor systems, and there was a price hike in many BS-VI two-wheelers after incorporating fuel-injection systems.
• In addition, each fuel injection system is unique and needs specific tuning with various tools and knowledge.
• Finding the correct map for a particular application can be time-consuming and complex.
• Repairing or replacing the fuel injection system is quite expensive if it fails.
• One minor failure of a component or part could lead to multiple problems because of the high dependency on technology.
• While fuel injection systems have some disadvantages, their advantages outweigh their shortcomings by a wide margin.
• Despite their ease of maintenance and tuning, carburettors are old and outdated.
• Make sure to purchase two-wheeler insurance when you check the fi system on bikes. You can protect your motorcycle and finances with Tata AIG's bike insurance policy. You can also compare two-wheeler insurance policies with Tata AIG before selecting insurance for your 2-wheeler.

Finally, fuel injection systems are essential for today's two-wheelers, combining outstanding performance, refinement, fuel efficiency, responsiveness, and adaptability. This new technology may increase the complexity and cost of the engine. It is, however, worth the additional complexity and expense to switch over from carburettors in the short and long run.