
Throttle body injection (TBI), also known as throttle body fuel injection, is a type of fuel injection system that has one or two fuel injectors mounted in a throttle body. It was an early version of fuel injection and was phased out of production cars by the mid-90s. However, many vehicles that employ this technology are still on the road, and TBI fuel injection conversion kits are available for older, carburetor-equipped cars. In this system, the throttle body controls airflow, while the injectors control fuel flow.
Characteristics and Values Table
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of fuel injection system | Throttle body injection (TBI) |
| Number of fuel injectors | One or two |
| Location of fuel injectors | Mounted in the throttle body |
| Function of fuel injectors | Deliver fuel into the air above the throttle plates |
| Airflow regulation | Throttle body controls airflow |
| Fuel flow control | Injectors control fuel flow |
| Fuel system upgrade | Fuel injection conversion kits can be used to upgrade from a carburetor to TBI |
| Examples of vehicles with TBI | Late 80s or early 90s cars, GM pickups with V6 and V8 engines |
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What You'll Learn

Throttle body injection (TBI)
TBI systems were used in a variety of different production vehicles during the late 1980s and early 1990s, including General Motors (GM) pickups with V6 and V8 engines. TBI served as a transition between carburettors and multiport fuel injection (MPI). Although TBI was phased out of production cars by the mid-1990s, many vehicles that employ this technology are still on the road today.
There are three primary types of fuel injection systems for gasoline engines: throttle body injection (TBI), multiport injection (MPI), and gasoline direct injection (GDI). Each system has its own unique advantages. TBI might not be the most efficient out of the three types, but it is still better than a carburettor.
Fuel injection conversion kits are available to update an engine's fuel system from a carburettor to fuel injection, and these kits typically employ TBI. Switching from a carburettor to an EFI throttle body can improve drivability and fuel economy, enhancing the overall driving experience.
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TBI injectors
Throttle Body Injection (TBI) is a type of fuel injection system that has one or two fuel injectors mounted in a throttle body. TBI injectors deliver fuel into the air above the throttle plates. From there, the air-fuel mixture enters the intake manifold, where it is distributed to the engine's individual cylinders. The vehicle's fuel pump moves fuel from the gas tank to the throttle body assembly. Then a computer, often referred to as the powertrain control module (PCM), activates the TBI injectors. The injectors spray fuel into the throttle body bore, right above the throttle plates.
TBI is a type of fuel injection system that served as a transition between carburetion and multiport fuel injection (MPI). It is found on older vehicles, typically those from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. TBI systems were used in a variety of different production vehicles during this time, including General Motors (GM) pickups with V6 and V8 engines.
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Direct injection
Gasoline direct injection (GDI), also known as petrol direct injection (PDI), is a mixture formation system for internal combustion engines that run on gasoline. GDI engines inject fuel directly into the combustion chamber, which is distinct from manifold injection systems that inject fuel into the intake manifold (inlet manifold).
In a direct injection system, air and gasoline are not pre-mixed. Instead, air comes in through the intake manifold, while gasoline is injected directly into the cylinder. This is in contrast to traditional indirect fuel injection systems, where gasoline and air are pre-mixed in a chamber outside the cylinder. Direct injection also allows for more accurate control over fuel metering and injection timing, resulting in more complete combustion and increased fuel efficiency.
The first GDI engine was introduced in 1925 for a low-compression truck engine, and it has since been used in various aircraft and automobile engines. Several German cars used a Bosch mechanical GDI system in the 1950s, and an electronic GDI system was introduced in 1996 by Mitsubishi for mass-produced cars.
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Intake valves
In modern engines, the throttle body has replaced the carburettor, and it regulates the airflow to the intake valves. The throttle body closely resembles a carburettor, and in throttle body injection (TBI), there is a fuel injector inside the throttle body. TBI systems have one or two fuel injectors, and they were common in vehicles from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s.
In direct injection engines, the intake valves are not washed with fuel, and this can lead to carbon buildup. This is because oil vapours can settle and solidify on the intake valves, causing carbon deposits to accumulate. This buildup can cause performance issues, reduced gas mileage, and even engine misfires. To address this, some manufacturers have reintroduced port injection, where fuel is sprayed onto the intake valve, in addition to direct injection. This helps to prevent carbon buildup by cleaning the intake valves.
Techniques for cleaning carbon deposits from intake valves include walnut blasting, which uses crushed walnut shells to remove the carbon without damaging the metal engine parts.
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Fuel injection conversion kits
TBI injectors spray fuel into the throttle body bore, right above the throttle plates. The air-fuel mixture then enters the intake manifold, where it is distributed to the engine's individual cylinders. TBI conversion kits can improve drivability and fuel economy, providing a better driving experience overall.
Holley offers a range of fuel injection kits and EFI systems, including the Terminator X and X Max GEN III HEMI Kits, which provide transmission control for pre-2009 GM 4L60E/4L80E Transmissions. Holley's kits also include features such as pound-per-hour and VE fueling strategies, Coyote Ti-VCT control, and integrated boost and nitrous control.
Another option for fuel injection conversion kits is CarParts.com, which offers TBI fuel injection conversion kits for a variety of makes and models. CarParts.com's kits employ TBI injection, which is a straightforward upgrade for vintage cars with carburetors.
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Frequently asked questions
Throttle body injection (TBI) cars have one or two fuel injectors mounted in the throttle body.
The throttle body regulates airflow to the intake valves.
In throttle body injection, the fuel is injected into the air above the throttle plates, outside of the cylinder. In direct injection, the fuel is injected directly into the cylinder.











































