Fuel injectors work quietly in the background, delivering a precise spray of fuel into the engine thousands of times per minute. When they start to get dirty or clogged, the change is not always dramatic at first. Instead, you get a collection of small symptoms that slowly chip away at power, smoothness, and fuel economy until the car just does not feel right anymore. What Fuel Injectors Are Supposed to Do Injectors are designed to deliver the right amount of fuel in a fine, even mist at exactly the right moment. That spray pattern is what helps the engine burn fuel cleanly and efficiently. Modern systems are very sensitive, so even a slight restriction or uneven spray can throw off the mixture in that cylinder. Over time, tiny deposits from fuel, heat, and carbon can build up on the injector tips. Instead of a crisp cone of mist, the injector may dribble, spray unevenly, or not deliver enough fuel. When that happens, the computer is constantly trying to compensate ... read more