Affordable auto services

Posted on: 22 April 2021

Is your car's engine sputtering? Many different problems can cause your auto engine to sputter. The good news is that most of these problems can be corrected when identified and addressed early enough.

Keep reading on below to acquaint yourself with some of the most common culprits behind engine sputtering.

Dirty fuel injectors

Your car engine's fuel injectors serve the important purpose of spraying fuel into the combustion chamber. The fuel is then mixed with the air in the correct ratio and ignited by the spark plugs. Over time, the fuel injectors can become clogged with dirt and fail to ensure sufficient delivery of fuel into the cylinders in the combustion chamber. When this happens, you may experience a sputtering engine.

Cleaning the dirty fuel injectors can fix the problem, but if the problem is left unaddressed for too long, the injectors may need to be replaced. 

Dirty mass airflow sensor

Your engine generates power by burning a fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber. The mass airflow sensor regulates the amount of air that enters the fuel injection system to help maintain the correct fuel-air ratio. 

If this sensor gets dirty, it can send the wrong information to your vehicle's onboard computer, leading to too little or too much air being injected into the combustion chamber. This will result in an incorrect fuel-air ratio. This may cause your engine to sputter. The good news is that the problem can be resolved by cleaning the dirty airflow sensor.

Bad spark plugs

They may be small, but spark plugs are essential for ensuring the smooth and efficient running of your car's engine. When they're dirty or worn out from normal use, they may not create the ignition that ultimately triggers the combustion of the fuel-air mixture. This will result in inefficient burning of fuel, which may be accompanied by a sputtering noise coming from the engine while driving.

If your spark plugs look old or dirty, having them replaced can help to get your engine roaring normally again.

A sputtering engine is an obvious sign of a serious problem with your vehicle. If the problem is not identified and fixed quickly, it can result in an unexpected roadside breakdown, resulting in the need for car towing service and potentially expensive car engine repairs. If you have a sputtering engine, you should visit a car mechanic near you as quickly as possible to get the issue remedied.