When consumers visit the gas station, the most common thought on their minds is the price they’re paying per gallon. Few people think about the process by which gasoline travels from the tank into the engine. We’re going to address that process below.

If you’re familiar with the workings of your vehicle’s engine, you already know that fuel and air mix in each cylinder’s combustion chamber. Within, the mixture is compressed as the valves close and a piston rises. A spark plug sits on top of the chamber and generates the spark needed to ignite the compressed mixture. That causes a small, contained explosion within the combustion chamber. The energy and the expansion of vapors pushes the piston downward, which aids in the propulsion of your car.

But, how does the gasoline make it into the combustion chamber in the first place? In this article, we’ll quickly go through the entire fuel system. I’ll describe each of the main components involved, so you’ll have a better grasp regarding how the gas you pump into your car’s tank ultimately propels you down the road.

The Gas That Flows Through The System

Despite what a lot of consumers think, no two fuels are exactly the same. To be sure, all of them have the same compounds. Moreover, they have similar additives and detergents (for preventing olefin deposits on your fuel injectors). But, each poses a slightly different level of volatility, which can loosely be defined as the ease of vaporization.

If fuel vaporizes (i.e. burns) easily, your engine can operate more efficiently. However, if it burns too easily, the mixture within the combustion chamber will be too lean. Similarly, if the gas does not burn easily enough, the mixture might be too rich. Given the high operating temperature of your engine, the level of volatility of your gas is important.

The Storage Facility

Your gas tank is where the fuel remains until it is needed by your engine. In most vehicles today, the tank is located toward the rear. Part of the reason is due to space limitations in the front. Most modern tanks are equipped with baffles that prevent splashing. If you’re able to hear splashing, that usually means that they’re broken. Read the rest of this entry »