Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Basic quantity, fuel: Notes
The mass air flow sensor grounds the control module input with a frequency that is dependent on the mass air flow. When the mass air flow increases, the frequency will also increase. The control module converts the frequency to grams air/second (g/s).
Most interesting, however, is the air mass that is drawn into each cylinder, as it is to this air the petrol is to be added. The control module registers the air mass drawn in during one engine revolution. As the engine is 4-cylinder 4-stroke, two cylinders must have drawn in air simultaneously during this engine revolution. The air mass passing the mass air flow sensor is divided by two so that the control module will be aware how much each cylinder has drawn in. The unit has now changed to milligrams air/combustion (mg/c).
To achieve lambda = 1, there must be a specific fuel/air ratio, namely 1 kg fuel to 14.7 kg air. As we know how much air has been drawn into each cylinder per combustion, the control module can easily calculate how much fuel is to be injected into the cylinders each time. The milligrams air/combustion is divided by 14.7 and the result is the number of mg fuel/combustion to be injected into the cylinder.
The following text is an account of why the basic fuel quantity must sometimes be adjusted to a leaner, or most often, a slightly richer mixture so that the engine will run smoothly and emissions will be kept within required limits.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
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