What Can Fuel Flooding of an Engine Cause?
by Nicole Hamilton
Vehicle engines must have an appropriate amount of air and fuel to run. An engine flooded with too much fuel will not start normally. Cars with carburetor engines commonly flood with fuel, but it can also occur on vehicles with fuel injection systems.
Symptoms
An engine flooded with fuel will cause the vehicle to smell of gas. The engine will crank but not start, and may sputter. Black smoke may come out of the tailpipe once the vehicle is started.
Causes
One cause of fuel flooding is pumping the gas pedal while starting the engine. Pumping the pedal creates excess gas in the engine that can soak the spark plugs. Wet spark plugs cannot generate adequate voltage to form a spark, which prevents ignition. Another cause is dirty fuel injectors, since they can remain open and allow too much fuel into the engine.
Solutions
Let the vehicle to sit 15 to 20 minutes with the hood open to allow the excess fuel to evaporate. Next, try starting the vehicle again and do not pump the gas pedal. Removing the spark plugs will allow them to dry faster. Perform regular vehicle maintenance on the fuel system to keep it clean.
References
Writer Bio
Nicole Hamilton has been a content writer since 2005. She uses her journalistic style to create informative articles for websites such as PencilsandPixelsArt.com. Hamilton earned an Associate of Science in multimedia design from Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Florida.
