What is a fuel injector?

A fuel injector is a special type of solenoid valve whose activation is controlled by the Engine Control Unit (ECU). Fuel injectors are in charge of delivering the necessary amount of fuel to the engine in addition to ensuring homogeneous atomization of the air-fuel mixture.

Although that definition is technically correct, it leaves some gaps that should be clarified. What is a solenoid? ECU, what is that? Let's analyze the fuel injector in more detail.

Formally speaking, fuel injectors are considered 'actuators'. As such, they don't send information to the ECU, their role is just blindly obeying ECU orders.

That's why the technology behind the fuel injector focuses on improving their manufacturing process, their mechanical and electrical efficiency, and their size.

In this section, you will learn a little more about the two main aspects surrounding the fuel injector: its mechanical side and its electrical side.