Sylvie Willis
Bosch has been a trailblazer in gasoline direct injection technology since its launch in 1951. The company's fuel injection systems are used in a wide range of vehicles, from compact cars to luxury coupes and contemporary cars. The technology was first developed for aircraft in the early 1930s to boost engine performance and was later adapted for use in automobiles. The first car to feature Bosch gasoline fuel injection was the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, which offered increased power and reduced fuel consumption. Over the years, Bosch has continued to innovate and refine its fuel injection technology, with the introduction of electronic components and advancements such as Twin Injection, Pressure Increase, and Open Valve Injection. Bosch's fuel injection systems have contributed to reduced emissions and enhanced driving dynamics, making them a key partner for many automotive manufacturers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First use of Bosch fuel injection | In aircraft in the early 1930s |
| First car with Bosch fuel injection | Gutbrod Superior, 1951 |
| First car with Bosch gasoline fuel injection | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, 1954 |
| First Bosch electronic gasoline injection system | 1959 |
| First Bosch Motronic digital engine management system | 1979 |
| First Bosch gasoline port fuel injection | N/A |
| Cars with Bosch L-Jetronic | 1980s-era European cars, BMW K-Series motorcycles, Kawasaki Z1000-H1 |
| Cars with Bosch LH-Jetronic | 1982 Volvo 240 (California models), Porsche 928, and other sports and luxury cars |
| Cars with Bosch K-Jetronic | Porsche 911T, Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6, Peugeot, Nissan, Renault, Volvo, Saab, TVR, Ford, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lotus, Ferrari |
| Benefits of Bosch fuel injection | Increased power, reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions, improved responsiveness, more dynamic handling |
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What You'll Learn
The first Bosch fuel injection car
Bosch has a long history of innovation in fuel injection technology, which began with the development of the gasoline injection process for aircraft in the early 1930s. After the fall of the Nazi regime in 1945, Bosch began to explore other applications for this technology, including cars.
The first Bosch fuel injection system for a car was developed in the 1920s, but it was not successful. However, Bosch continued to refine its fuel injection technology, and in 1951, the Gutbrod Superior became the first car to feature a Bosch gasoline fuel injection pump. This compact car, exhibited at the Frankfurt Auto Show, offered increased power and improved fuel efficiency compared to its carburetor-equipped predecessor.
In 1954, Bosch achieved a significant milestone with the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL gullwing. This luxury coupé, powered by a Bosch injection pump, offered impressive performance with its 215 HP engine, helping it gain popularity among well-to-do buyers. The success of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL demonstrated the potential of gasoline injection technology, and it gradually gained traction in the premium segment.
Over the years, Bosch continued to innovate and improve its fuel injection systems. In the 1960s and 1970s, stricter emissions laws were introduced, which fueled the demand for gasoline injection technology as it could be adapted for use with catalytic converters, significantly reducing emissions. The introduction of electronic control systems in the 1970s and 1980s further revolutionized fuel injection, with Bosch playing a pivotal role in the development of electronic engine management systems.
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Jetronic technology
The first gasoline fuel injection pump for the Gutbrod Superior car was introduced in 1951, and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL with Bosch gasoline fuel injection followed in 1954. However, the technology only proved its feasibility in the luxury class, with the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, which offered far greater engine power. The first prototypes for electronic gasoline-injection systems were developed in 1959, when Bosch bought and converted a Mercedes-Benz 300 into a test vehicle.
The K-Jetronic is a mechanical fuel injection system from Bosch that injects continuously and needs no form of drive whatsoever. The fuel is supplied by an electrically-driven fuel pump, which develops the pressure necessary for injection. The fuel is injected by solenoid-operated fuel-injection valves into the cylinder intake ports. The injection valves are controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) and the amount of fuel injected depends on how long the valves stay open. The L-Jetronic is an electronically-controlled fuel-injection system where the amount of air drawn in by the engine is directly measured by an air-flow sensor. The L-Jetronic used custom-designed integrated circuits, resulting in a simpler and more reliable engine control unit (ECU) than the D-Jetronic.
The D-Jetronic was a further refinement of the Electrojector fuel delivery system developed by the Bendix Corporation in the late 1950s. The LH-Jetronic was mostly used by Scandinavian car manufacturers and by sports and luxury cars produced in small quantities, such as the Porsche 928. The LE-Jetronic has three variants: LE1, the initial version; LE2 (1984), which featured cold start functionality integrated into the ECU; and LE3 (1989), featuring a miniaturized ECU with hybrid technology, integrated into the junction box of the mass airflow meter.
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The use of electronic components
The first attempt to use gasoline injection technology in cars was met with challenges. In 1951, Bosch introduced the first gasoline fuel injection pump for the Gutbrod Superior car, but it wasn't until 1954 that they found success with the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. This luxury car, with its impressive 215 HP, showcased the potential of Bosch's injection technology, offering increased engine power and improved fuel efficiency.
The real breakthrough for gasoline injection technology came with the introduction of stricter emissions laws in the late 1960s and 1970s. This gave Bosch's gasoline injection system a distinct advantage as it could be seamlessly adapted for use with catalytic converters, which significantly reduced emissions. The development of the Motronic digital engine management system in 1979 by Bosch marked a significant milestone, firmly establishing the role of electronics in air-fuel mixture technology.
Bosch's Jetronic technology, introduced in the 1960s, became a cornerstone of automotive electronics. The L-Jetronic system, in particular, was widely adopted in 1980s-era European cars and even BMW K-Series motorcycles. This technology utilized custom-designed integrated circuits, resulting in a more reliable and simplified engine control unit (ECU). The LH-Jetronic variant, with its hotwire anemometer technology, found favour among Scandinavian car manufacturers and producers of sports and luxury vehicles.
Bosch's gasoline injection technology has continued to evolve, with the company offering innovative solutions such as gasoline port fuel injection and gasoline direct injection. The former has gained popularity due to its low costs and reduced technology requirements, while the latter is prized for its ability to lower fuel consumption and emissions while enhancing driving dynamics through the direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber. Bosch's contributions to the field of electronic fuel injection have been significant, shaping the automotive industry and paving the way for the advanced electronic management systems seen in vehicles today.
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Gasoline port fuel injection
Bosch's gasoline port fuel injection technology offers significant cost advantages over high-pressure direct injection systems. As a low-pressure system (with a system pressure of approximately 6 bar), gasoline port fuel injection operates with a simple operating strategy. The system omits the need for complex high-pressure control requirements (up to 350 bar), high-pressure pumps, high-pressure sensors, volume control valves, and high-pressure injectors for multi-point injections. This results in a less complex injection control by allowing variances in the injection time frame.
The fuel injector in the gasoline port fuel injection system sprays fuel before the inlet valve, creating a homogeneous mixture with the added air. This air-fuel mixture is generated outside the combustion chamber in the intake manifold. During the intake stroke, the mixture flows through the open inlet valve into the combustion chamber, where it is ignited by an ignition spark and burned. The fuel injectors are selected to ensure that the fuel demand of the engine is always met, even at full load and high rotational speed.
Bosch's gasoline port fuel injection technology offers several benefits. Firstly, it tolerates fuel of lower quality, reducing the risk of engine problems due to impure or low-quality fuel. Secondly, the system has excellent tightness, with leakage values reduced by a factor of 10 compared to industry-specific thresholds. This reduction in leakage contributes to lower fuel consumption and emissions. Additionally, the system's good mixture homogenization results in fewer particles, lower noise levels, and reduced fuel consumption during low engine load due to lower friction loss.
Bosch combines gasoline port fuel injection with gasoline direct injection in an innovative partnership. By combining two separate approaches for fuel injection, the strengths of each system complement each other, resulting in advantages in fuel consumption and emissions under partial and full load. Gasoline port fuel injection shines in partial-load operation with reduced friction losses, while direct injection excels near full load with an increased knocking limit.
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The future of gasoline 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 (petrol). GDI has been in development since the 1930s and was first introduced in cars in the 1950s. However, it was only in 1996, with Mitsubishi's electronic GDI system for mass-produced cars, that the technology began to be rapidly adopted by the automotive industry.
The future of GDI looks promising, as it is seen as a way to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. GDI technology can increase engine efficiency and specific power output, while also reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. This is particularly important as legislation aimed at reducing exhaust particulates places new challenges on internal combustion engines. GDI can also be adapted for use with catalytic converters, which are now essential in every new car.
Bosch, a leader in GDI technology, has been developing and refining the system since the 1950s. Their portfolio includes functional areas such as fuel supply, fuel injection, air management, ignition, engine management, and exhaust-gas treatment. Bosch's experience and expertise in GDI technology will be crucial in further optimizing engine operation and meeting future emissions targets.
However, there are some challenges and concerns associated with GDI. At low piston and engine speeds, the relative air/fuel velocity is low, which can cause improper fuel vaporization and lead to carbon build-up. Additionally, GDI does not have the valve cleaning action provided by introducing fuel upstream of the cylinder. Furthermore, researchers have estimated that the shift from traditional port fuel injection (PFI) engines to GDI technology could nearly double the premature mortality rate associated with vehicle emissions.
Despite these concerns, GDI is still regarded as an important technology with major potential. Ongoing developments and innovations in the field will likely address some of these challenges and further enhance the benefits of GDI systems.
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Frequently asked questions
The first car to use Bosch fuel injection was the 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.
Bosch first developed the gasoline injection process for aircraft in the early 1930s. After World War II, the aerospace industry declined, and Bosch looked for other applications of the technology. The company first tried using fuel injection in cars in the 1920s, but without success. It wasn't until 1951 that Bosch launched gasoline direct injection for cars, with the Gutbrod Superior being the first car to feature it.
Bosch fuel injection works by injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, creating a homogenous mixture with the added air. This results in reduced fuel consumption and emissions, as well as enhanced driving dynamics.
Jetronic is a trade name for a manifold injection technology for automotive petrol engines developed and marketed by Bosch from the 1960s onwards. It was a pioneering technology that paved the way for the success of electronic systems in cars. Jetronic has several variations, including L-Jetronic, which was used in many 1980s-era European cars, and LH-Jetronic, which was used by Scandinavian car manufacturers and in sports and luxury cars produced in small quantities.
