Ask The Editors: Fuel Injection Introspection
Dear ATVC:
It seems like more and more ATVs are coming with fuel injection. I’m not sure how I feel about all this high tech, computer controlled stuff. Are there any real advantages to fuel injection or is it just another reason to have to take my ATV to a shop when it needs repair?
There are certainly some advantages in the real world- namely saving you from having to make carburetor adjustments to compensate for things like elevation, temperature, humidity and modest modifications. Additionally throttle response across the entire RPM range is typically improved and fuel injectors are less susceptible to fuel varnishing that takes place during long periods of inactivity/ storage.
Of course, like most technology advances, there are some downsides to consider as well. Among these the need for a battery, fuel pump, thicker gas tank, high-pressure fuel lines, sensors, larger ECU and throttle body- substantial weight gains are a given!
And unlike a carburetor, which is an entirely mechanical device, fuel injection relies upon fragile electronics and sensitive connections. Your ATV’s computer receives data from sensors reporting the position of your throttle, intake air pressure, water temperature and so on, which allows for some automatic adjustment when installing a new exhaust for example. Surpass that range, however, and a laptop with custom software (or a dedicated tuner module) becomes the only way to compensate; a considerably pricier investment compared to brass jets of a carburetor.
In all many manufacturers have weighted in on the pros and cons of each fuel delivery method and the writing is on the wall: The carb’s days are numbered.
