Katerina Swanson
The history of fuel-injected automobiles dates back to the early 1900s, with the first fuel-injected engines for passenger car use becoming available in the late 1930s and early 1940s. However, the use of fuel injectors in automotive engines became more prominent in the 1950s, with companies like Mercedes-Benz, GM, and Bendix Aviation introducing mechanical fuel injection systems. In 1957, the American Motors Corporation (AMC) introduced the Rambler, which was equipped with an electronic fuel injection system called the Electrojector. The following year, in 1958, Chrysler offered the Electrojector system on its 300D model, and this was also made available on the Dodge D-500, making it the first Dodge vehicle to use fuel injection technology.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Dodge started using fuel injectors | 1958 |
| Models | 300D, DeSoto Adventurer, Dodge D-500, Plymouth Fury |
| System | Electrojector |
| Type | First electronic fuel injection (EFI) system offered in a production vehicle |
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What You'll Learn
The first fuel-injected Dodges
The history of fuel-injected automobiles dates back to the early 1900s. Initially, fuel injection was used exclusively in aircraft engines, with the first use traced back to 1902. However, it wasn't until the 1950s that fuel injection started to be adopted for automobiles, with Mercedes-Benz and GM at the forefront of innovation.
In 1957, the American Motors Corporation (AMC) introduced the Rambler Rebel mid-size car with an electronic fuel injection system called the Electrojector. However, due to reliability issues, this model never made it past the pre-production stage.
In 1958, Chrysler became the first to successfully offer an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system to consumers. The Chrysler 300D, DeSoto Adventurer, Dodge D-500, and Plymouth Fury were the first cars known to use the Electrojector system, making them the first production electronic fuel injection automobiles. However, due to the primitive design of early EFI components, only 35 units were delivered to consumers, and most were eventually converted to carburetors.
The Electrojector was developed by Bendix, an American company that had been working on its own fuel injection system since the early 1950s. The Electrojector was the first attempt at regulating fuel delivery with electronically-controlled, electrically-activated port injectors. It used analogue electronics to sense intake manifold pressure, engine rpm, ambient air pressure, and temperature, and then used timed pulses to control the injectors.
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The Bendix Electrojector system
The Electrojector system had been in development since around 1951. It was the brainchild of Robert W. Sutton, assistant chief engineer of fuel systems engineering in the Bendix Eclipse Machine Division in Elmira, New York. By 1953-1954, Bendix had a working prototype of this new system installed in a 1953 Buick for preliminary demonstrations to automakers. However, the system was not yet ready for production. Nonetheless, it garnered some interest from the auto industry.
The Electrojector-injected engine was an option, rated at 288 bhp (215 kW). It produced peak torque 500 rpm lower than the equivalent carburetor engine. The cost of the EFI option was $395 and it was available on 15 June 1957. The system was intermittent, delivering fuel to each cylinder in timed pulses. The amount of fuel delivered to the intake port depended on how long each injector valve remained open. The injectors were spring-loaded active injectors, actuated by a modulator-controlled electromagnet. Pulse-width modulation was used to change the amount of injected fuel. The modulator received the injection pulse from an injection pulse generator that rotated in sync with the ignition distributor.
The system was short-lived and was dropped due to unreliability. It was also difficult to start in cooler temperatures. However, it inspired Bosch to develop the similar but more successful D-Jetronic system, introduced by Volkswagen in 1968.
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How fuel injection works
The history of fuel-injected automobiles dates back to the early 1900s. The first engine to use a pressurised fuel injection system was the British Herbert-Akroyd oil engine in 1891. In the 1930s and 40s, mass-produced diesel engines for passenger cars became available, becoming the first fuel-injected engines for passenger car use. In the 1940s, racers and hot-rodders began to experiment with mechanical fuel injection, primarily in endurance races.
In the 1950s, auto engineers began to replace carburettors with fuel injection systems, which had been successfully employed in WWII aircraft. Mercedes-Benz was the first to introduce a direct-injection system in 1955, squirting fuel into each cylinder instead of mixing it with air in the intake manifold.
In 1957, the American Motors Corporation (AMC) outfitted the Rambler with an electronic fuel injection system, called the Electrojector, on a 5.4-liter V8. By 1958, Chrysler offered the Electrojector system on its 300D, DeSoto Adventurer, Dodge D-500, and Plymouth Fury. These are considered the first production electronic fuel injection automobiles.
In the 1960s, mechanical fuel injection was used sparingly in the US, mostly in racing applications. European automakers such as Porsche, Peugeot, Audi, BMW, Aston Martin, Triumph, and Volkswagen experimented with mechanical fuel injection for production vehicles until the mid-1970s.
In 1976, Bendix, an American corporation, re-entered the EFI game with applications on Chevy's Cosworth Vega and two Cadillac V-8 engines. In 1986, a modern-style fuel injection system was introduced in the Fox-body 5.0-liter Mustang GT. Today, automotive carburetors are found only on vintage cars and in museums.
Now, onto how fuel injection works. Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel into an internal combustion engine, typically a reciprocating piston or Wankel rotary engine. All compression-ignition engines (e.g., diesel engines) and many spark-ignition engines (e.g., petrol engines) use fuel injection.
The fundamental function of a fuel injection system is to spray pressurised fuel into the engine. A device such as a fuel pump is needed to pressurise the fuel. The system must determine the appropriate amount of fuel to be supplied and control the fuel flow.
In a direct fuel injection system, the fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber under extremely high pressure and directly into the incoming air stream. This is more efficient than indirect fuel injection, boosting power and economy, and reducing emissions.
The computer gets a reading from an air sensor, telling it how much air is coming into the engine. It then looks up the amount of fuel needed for that amount of air in a lookup table. The computer then allows that much fuel to pass into the injectors and on into the cylinders. As the car warms up, it takes readings from the exhaust gas sensors or the exhaust temperature sensors to determine if the engine is running lean or rich, and makes adjustments accordingly.
The quantity of fuel that reaches the injector is precisely controlled by an ECU, which considers air temperature, throttle position, engine speed, engine torque, and exhaust data to regulate the supply at each intake stroke. Air arrives via the intake manifold and is drawn into the engine past the intake valve or valves.
The term fuel injection encompasses various systems with different functional principles. The only thing all fuel injection systems have in common is the absence of carburetion. There are two main functional principles: internal and external mixture formation systems. External mixture formation systems are called manifold injection systems, which can be multi-point or single-point injection. Internal mixture formation systems include direct and indirect injection, with common-rail injection being the most common variety of direct injection.
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The history of fuel injection
In the 1950s, auto engineers began adopting fuel injection technology, ditching carburetors in favour of the increased precision and efficiency offered by fuel injection. Mercedes-Benz was a pioneer in this regard, introducing a direct-injection system in its 300 SL sports car in 1955. American Motors Corporation also introduced an electronic fuel injection system, called the Electrojector, on its 1957 Rambler. However, this system had teething problems, especially in cold weather conditions.
By 1958, American Motors had improved the Electrojector system, and Chrysler offered it on several models, including the Dodge D-500. These were considered the first production electronic fuel injection automobiles. The 1960s saw mechanical fuel injection used sparingly in the US, mainly in racing applications, due to its primitive design. European automakers began experimenting with mechanical fuel injection for production vehicles towards the end of the decade.
In the 1970s, fuel injection began appearing in mainstream cars, and automakers struggled to design carburetor technology that met clean air demands. The increased computing power and smaller size of EFI modules in the 1980s made fuel injection the standard, as it offered better control and more consistent performance. Since the mid-1990s, it has been mandatory for all newly introduced engines in Europe to be fuel-injected. Today, all cars are fitted with electronically controlled fuel injection systems, and carburetors are only found in vintage cars and museums.
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Fuel injection vs carburetor
The debate between fuel injection and carburetor has been going on for a while among automobile industry engineers and fans. Both systems are essential for controlling the fuel-air mixture that powers internal combustion engines. However, there are significant differences in their effectiveness, performance, and environmental impact.
Fuel Injection
The fuel injection system is a complex set of electronics and sensors that revolutionized how engines work by increasing economy, performance, and lowering emissions. It replaces the conventional carburetor system, delivering fuel to the engine cylinders with more precision and control. The basic idea is to accurately measure and time the gasoline injection into the intake manifold or combustion chamber, resulting in optimized combustion, increased power output, and improved fuel economy. The system also adjusts to changing environmental factors like temperature and altitude, ensuring consistent performance.
The first electronic fuel injection (EFI) system offered in a production vehicle was introduced by Bendix, an American corporation, in the 1950s. This system, called the Electrojector, was the first attempt at regulating fuel delivery with electronically-controlled, electrically-activated port injectors. It sensed intake manifold pressure, engine rpm, ambient air pressure, and temperature, and used this data to send timed pulses to the injectors.
Carburetor
The carburetor is a straightforward and cost-effective mechanical component that mixes the right amount of gasoline and air before sending it to the engine cylinders. It uses concepts from the 19th century, operating with vacuum and air pressure differentials to regulate fuel flow. While carburetors were once the standard, they have been largely replaced by fuel injection systems due to their inaccuracy in maintaining constant air-fuel ratios, especially in varying temperature and altitude conditions.
Comparison
Fuel injection systems offer several advantages over carburetors, including increased precision, performance, and efficiency. They provide better fuel economy, higher power output, and reduced emissions. However, some argue that a well-tuned carburetor can flow more fuel at full throttle and high RPMs, and they have a nostalgic appeal for vintage automobile enthusiasts due to their distinctive engine sound. Additionally, carburetors can be repaired at home, whereas fuel injection systems may require specialized knowledge and equipment.
Dodge and Fuel Injection
In 1958, Chrysler offered the Electrojector fuel injection system on several of its vehicles, including the Dodge D-500. This was considered one of the first production electronic fuel injection automobiles. However, due to design issues, only 35 units were delivered to consumers, and most were eventually converted to carburetor systems.
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Frequently asked questions
Dodge started using fuel injectors in 1958 with the Dodge D-500.
The first car known to use an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system was the 1958 Chrysler 300D.
Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine by the means of a fuel injector. The injector is located in the combustion chamber, inlet manifold, or throttle body.
Fuel injection was appearing in mainstream cars by the 1970s. Since the mid-1990s, it has been impossible to buy a new car without fuel injection in Europe. All of today’s cars are fitted with electronically controlled fuel injection.
