Rajan Wilcox
The first fuel-injected engines for passenger car use were mass-produced diesel engines, which became available in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The first of these was the Cummins Model H diesel truck engine, introduced in America in 1933, followed by the Mercedes-Benz OM 138 diesel engine in 1936. During World War II, several petrol engines for aircraft used direct-injection systems, and by 1943, Rolls-Royce Merlin and Wright R-3350 had switched from traditional carburetors to fuel injection. In the late 1950s, fuel injection was introduced in passenger car petrol engines and gradually gained prevalence until it had largely replaced carburetors by the early 1990s. The first mass-produced petrol direct-injection system was developed by Bosch and introduced in the 1950 Goliath GP700 small saloon. The first four-stroke direct-injection petrol engine for a passenger car was released in 1955 in the Mercedes-Benz 300SL sports car. In 1957, the American Bendix Electrojector system was introduced, using analogue electronics for the control system, and in 1958, the Chrysler 300D, DeSoto Adventurer, Dodge D-500, and Plymouth Fury became the first cars known to use an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1954 |
| Model | Mercedes-Benz 300SL |
| Type | Sports car |
| Engine | Four-stroke direct-injection petrol engine |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
| Fuel Type | Petrol |
| Injection Type | Mechanical |
| Injection System | Bosch mechanical K-Jetronic |
| Horsepower | 283 |
| Engine Size | 283 cubic inch |
| Country | Germany |
| Availability | Not mainstream |
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What You'll Learn
- The first fuel-injected car was the Mercedes-Benz 300SL in 1954, though it was not mainstream
- The first mainstream fuel-injected car was the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
- The first mass-produced fuel-injected engine was the Mercedes-Benz OM 138 diesel engine in 1936
- The first electronic fuel injection system was offered by the 1958 Chrysler 300D, DeSoto Adventurer, Dodge D-500, and Plymouth Fury
- The first mass-produced petrol direct-injection system was developed by Bosch and used in the Goliath GP700 small saloon in 1950
The first fuel-injected car was the Mercedes-Benz 300SL in 1954, though it was not mainstream
The first fuel-injected car was the Mercedes-Benz 300SL in 1954. However, it was not mainstream. In fact, the first mainstream fuel-injected car was the 1966 VW Squareback, due to its use of electronics.
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was a sports car and the first four-stroke direct-injection petrol engine for a passenger car. The engine suffered from lubrication issues, as the petrol diluted the engine oil. As a result, subsequent Mercedes-Benz engines switched to a manifold injection design.
The idea of fuel injection has been around for over a century, with the first fuel injection system that resembled those of today invented by British engineer and engine builder Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1885. The first mass-produced fuel-injected engines for passenger cars were diesel engines in the late 1930s and early 1940s. During World War II, several aircraft engines used direct-injection systems, and by 1943, the Rolls-Royce Merlin and Wright R-3350 had switched from traditional carburetors to fuel injection.
Fuel injection was introduced in petrol engines in the early 1950s and gradually gained popularity until it largely replaced carburetors by the early 1990s. The primary difference between carburetion and fuel injection is that fuel injection atomizes fuel through a small nozzle under high pressure, while carburetion relies on suction created by intake air accelerated through a Venturi tube to draw fuel into the airstream.
In the 1980s, increased computing power and smaller sizes of EFI modules allowed for better control in the fuel injection system and more consistent performance in engine design. This, along with the environmental benefits of fuel injection, contributed to the decline of carburetors.
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The first mainstream fuel-injected car was the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette
The history of fuel injection in cars is a long and winding one, with the idea having been around for over a century. The first fuel injection system resembling those of today was invented by British engineer Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1885. However, the first mainstream fuel-injected car was the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette, which came with a 283 engine and 283 horsepower. This was a significant development, as it offered one horsepower per cubic inch, a big deal at the time.
The Corvette's Rochester fuel injection system was not without its problems, however, as it gained a reputation for being unreliable, especially as the system aged. Despite this, the Corvette was a step forward in automotive technology, and the electronic systems offered as retrofits on US V-8s were simpler and better than mechanical systems.
The move towards fuel injection in cars began in the early 1900s, with the first mass-produced diesel engines for passenger cars becoming available in the late 1930s and early 1940s. During World War II, several aircraft engines used direct-injection systems, and by the early 1950s, fuel injection was introduced in passenger car petrol engines, gradually gaining prevalence until it largely replaced carburetors by the early 1990s.
The development of fuel injection systems continued, with Bosch introducing the L-Jetronic system in 1974, which used an air flow meter to calculate the amount of fuel required. This was widely adopted in European cars during the 1970s and 1980s. The increased computing power and smaller size of EFI modules in the 1980s further contributed to the success of fuel injection systems, as they allowed for better control and more consistent performance.
In conclusion, while the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette may have been the first mainstream fuel-injected car, the development and adoption of fuel injection technology in automobiles was a gradual process spanning several decades, with contributions from engineers and manufacturers worldwide.
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The first mass-produced fuel-injected engine was the Mercedes-Benz OM 138 diesel engine in 1936
The OM 138 was not the first fuel-injected engine, however. The idea of fuel injection has been around for over a century, with the first fuel injection system that resembled those of today invented by British engineer Herbert Akroyd Stuart in 1885. This discovery came about when Stuart accidentally spilled kerosene into a pot of molten tin, learning that liquid kerosene is reluctant to ignite, but its vapours will. This led to the construction of the hot-bulb engine, which entered production in 1891.
Despite this early innovation, it wasn't until the 1930s that fuel injection began to be used in vehicles. The Cummins Model H diesel truck engine was introduced in America in 1933, and the OM 138 followed in 1936. During World War II, several aircraft used direct-injection systems, including the Junkers Jumo 210, Daimler-Benz DB 601, BMW 801, and the Shvetsov ASh-82FN. By 1943, the Rolls-Royce Merlin and Wright R-3350 had switched from carburettors to fuel injection, and the Mitsubishi Kinsei 60 series engine used a direct-injection system from 1940.
Fuel injection was introduced in passenger car petrol engines in the early 1950s, gradually gaining popularity until it largely replaced carburettors by the early 1990s. The first mass-produced petrol direct-injection system was developed by Bosch and used in the 1950 Goliath GP700 small saloon. The first four-stroke direct-injection petrol engine for a passenger car was released in 1955 in the Mercedes-Benz 300SL sports car.
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The first electronic fuel injection system was offered by the 1958 Chrysler 300D, DeSoto Adventurer, Dodge D-500, and Plymouth Fury
The first electronic fuel injection (EFI) system was introduced in 1958, and it was offered in four cars: the Chrysler 300D, DeSoto Adventurer, Dodge D-500, and Plymouth Fury. This system, known as the American Bendix Electrojector, represented a significant advancement in automotive technology, as it utilised analogue electronics for the control system, marking a shift from the purely mechanical carburettors that were commonly used at the time.
The Electrojector system was initially intended for the Rambler Rebel mid-size car in 1957, but reliability issues prevented its implementation. However, the following year, the aforementioned Chrysler Corporation vehicles successfully adopted the Electrojector, becoming the first cars to use an electronic fuel injection system. This system revolutionised fuel delivery by electronically monitoring and calibrating the air-fuel mixture, ensuring a precise match to the engine's requirements.
The Electrojector patents were subsequently sold to Bosch, a company that had already made a name for itself in the field of fuel injection. Bosch further developed the Electrojector into the D-Jetronic system, which was produced from 1967 to 1976. The D-Jetronic built upon the foundation laid by the Electrojector, employing engine speed and intake manifold air density to calculate the optimal amount of fuel to be injected.
The first fuel-injected engines for passenger car use emerged even earlier. The Mercedes-Benz OM 138 diesel engine, introduced in 1936, became one of the first fuel-injected engines used in mass-produced passenger cars. During World War II, several aircraft engines, such as the Junkers Jumo 210 and Daimler-Benz DB 601, utilised direct-injection systems. The Rolls-Royce Merlin engines in British fighter planes, however, retained carburettors despite facing challenges with fuel supply during dogfights.
The evolution of fuel injection technology continued, with Bosch introducing the L-Jetronic system in 1974, which used an air flow meter to calculate the required fuel amount. This system gained widespread adoption in European cars during the 1970s and 1980s. The increasing computing power and miniaturisation of EFI modules in the 1980s further propelled the success of fuel injection systems, offering better control and more consistent performance.
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The first mass-produced petrol direct-injection system was developed by Bosch and used in the Goliath GP700 small saloon in 1950
The Goliath GP700, a two-stroke, front-wheel-drive car with a transversely mounted engine, was unveiled in 1950. The 25hp 668cc engine was not very economical, so Goliath's development team approached Bosch to collaborate on a new fuel system that would boost efficiency and output. Bosch had been developing a mechanical GDI system for cars since the 1930s and soon designed a direct injection system suitable for mass production.
In April 1951, Goliath unveiled its direct-injected GP700 Sport at the first Frankfurt Motor Show. The benefits were significant: power rose by 10% and fuel consumption decreased by 32% compared to the previous carbureted engine. Only 27 of these elegant little coupes were built, but Goliath made its injection system available on the saloon version and later on its larger 845cc engines.
The Goliath GP700's direct injection system was essentially a specially lubricated high-pressure diesel direct-injection pump governed by the vacuum behind an intake throttle valve. An added benefit of the system was having a separate tank for the engine oil, which was automatically added to the fuel mixture, removing the need for owners to mix their own two-stroke fuel blend.
The Goliath brand became the first automaker besides Gutbrod to present a vehicle with direct petrol injection. The Gutbrod Superior engine received the system in 1952, and a Bosch mechanical direct-injection system was also used in the straight-eight used in the 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 Formula One racing car.
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Frequently asked questions
The first fuel-injected car was the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gull Wing, released in 1954.
Fuel injection entered the automotive market in the late 1950s. However, it only became commonplace in petrol engines relatively recently.
The first mass-produced fuel-injected engine was the Mercedes-Benz OM 138 diesel engine, which was introduced in 1936.
