The benefits of electronic fuel injection for farm machines are numerous. Whether your farm chores require an ATV, a UTV, a garden tractor, a compact utility tractor, or some combination of these, opting for machines with this option can make a big difference in performance.
A fuel injection system replaces the carburetor in a gasoline engine. While designs can vary, the basic idea is always the same: an electric system is used to precisely spray fuel under pressure into the cylinders of the engine, as opposed to a carburetor using suction to pull fuel into the cylinders.
Benefits of Electronic Fuel Injection
These systems come with many advantages, including the following:
Easier engine starting
These engines are easier to start, even in cold weather, thanks to the sophisticated sensors throughout the system that control the fuel/air mixture. There isn’t a choke control, so starting—in many cases—is as easy as turning the key and letting the engine roar to life.
Decreased fuel consumption
Electronic fuel injection is superior to a carburetor at mixing the ideal amount of air and fuel in each cylinder, and it can adjust that ratio depending on temperature, elevation above sea level, and the requirements of the engine at any given moment. This leads to a decrease in fuel consumption, which adds up to cost savings.
More power
These engines can also maximize power and torque. Generally speaking, an engine with electronic fuel injection will be more powerful than a similarly sized engine with a carburetor.
Lower emissions
These engines produce fewer emissions than a carburetor engine.
Less maintenance
Although electronic fuel injection systems are more complex than carburetors, they can actually go longer between regular maintenance cycles. And whereas carburetors require fine-tuning for best performance, these systems perform their own fine-tuning electronically.
Downsides of Electronic Fuel Injection
It should be noted that there are some disadvantages to these systems. One is complexity—they have a lot of high-precision parts, so there’s more that can go wrong compared to a carburetor. While this complexity generates the benefits outlined above, it also means these systems aren’t readily user-serviceable. Diagnosing and fixing problems—like malfunctioning sensors or clogged injectors that starve the engine of fuel—are tasks best left to professionals.
Electronic fuel injection systems are also more expensive than carburetors. If you’re shopping on a tight budget, you may opt to purchase a machine without electronic fuel injection to save on upfront costs, though you’ll be giving up a lot of benefits (like reduced fuel consumption and less frequent maintenance needs) that can generate cost savings in the long run, depending on how heavily you use the machine.
Takeaways
If you can afford an ATV, UTV, or tractor with electronic fuel injection, you’ll appreciate the many benefits the technology offers. The downsides are minimal and the upsides can save you money.
This article was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.
