Why do the spark plugs on the injector flood and how to deal with it?

It is characteristic that the spark plugs are filled with gasoline less often in the warm season, and more often at sub-zero temperatures. So let’s try to figure out in order: why the spark plugs in the injector are flooded, what to do to start the engine at the exact moment when they are flooded, and how to prevent them from being flooded with gasoline in the injector.

Reasons why the spark plugs in the injector flood

Calcination of spark plugs filled with gasoline

In principle, the reason why the injector spark plugs flood is simple. And the tones lie in the peculiarities of the “electronic brain” of your car.

At subzero temperatures, mixing the fuel-air mixture requires some effort: more oxygen in cold air requires more gasoline. Accordingly, the ECU gives a command to the injector nozzles to increase the fuel supply, which they do in good faith.

And the following happens in the engine, especially if your car no longer has a new battery. The injectors supply fuel to the combustion chamber, the starter tries to create the necessary compression in the cylinders, while at the same time trying to provide a spark to generate a flash. Do not forget about the quality of fuel, which does not have ideal parameters.

As a result, with ideal compression, the injector spark plugs can start even with a minimum impulse, but ideal compression is only found in a new car. Actually, this is why, as a rule, the injector spark plugs of a new car do not fill.

The spark is weak, compression in the cold does not correspond to the parameters, and the injectors continue to supply fuel to the combustion chamber. Which, in turn, floods the candles and they simply stop showing signs of fiery life.

This is the answer to the question - why are they filled in on the injector?

What to do if the spark plugs on the injector are filled with gasoline

There are two options for resolving the issue. As a rule, the “smart” operating book says: if the injector spark plugs are filled with gasoline, you need to unscrew them and dry them. With the spark plugs removed, crank the starter for 10-15 seconds. Put it back in and start the engine. These are actions according to the manufacturer.

A proven popular driving method. If your spark plugs are filled with gasoline, before unscrewing and drying them, try to start the engine in the following way: purge mode.

For the injector: the gas pedal is pressed all the way to the floor. Use the starter to crank the engine for 10-12 seconds, release the gas pedal. The engine should start. The fact is that in this way, by cutting off the fuel supply, you blow air through the spark plugs.

The engine did not start. Then try to dry them. Spark plugs for an injector are, in principle, no different from a carburetor engine. Therefore, we again use the “old-fashioned” method: we unscrew them, clean them from carbon deposits with a metal brush, or a toothbrush, and dry them either with a hairdryer, or on a gas stove or in the oven. We check the gap and screw the spark plugs for the injector into place. The engine should start.

For used cars, the recommendation of experts is to clean the spark plugs more often, or even better, replace them.

If the story of filling the spark plugs with gasoline repeats itself every morning, you need to carry out diagnostics: spark plug quality, injector cleanliness, spark output from the ignition coil, Hall sensor.

Conditions under which the spark plugs will not fill with gasoline

Naturally, these are ideal conditions, but you can control many of them so that you don’t have to meet the morning in a minibus while going about your business.

So, the main conditions are:

• a well-charged battery and a working starter,
• high-quality oil with appropriate parameters for the cold season,
• spark plugs and high voltage wires are of high quality and in good condition,
• the injector nozzles were promptly cleaned and adjusted. Preferably not with the help of various additives to the tank, but with the use of equipment for cleaning injectors,
• high quality gasoline

People's advice: if you want the engine to start normally in cold weather and the spark plugs not to be filled with gasoline, the engine needs to be “twisted” periodically, once a month. Distance 50-100 km. at a car speed of 100-120 km/h and on good fuel.

Or once every two days, while driving, give the engine a load of up to 4500-5000 rpm for 10 seconds so that self-cleaning of carbon deposits and deposits in the chamber occurs.

Fills candles with gasoline: reasons

The injector fills the spark plugs with gasoline due to the characteristics of the engine control unit. It is usually clear why the spark plugs on a VAZ 2110 or any other similar car flood during frosts. Going forward, we can say that the main reason why spark plugs are filled with gasoline is negligence and a discharged battery.

In order for the engine to start in cold weather, the engine control unit needs to supply more gasoline to the combustion chambers, because there is more oxygen in cold air, so more gasoline is needed. As a result, more fuel mixture is obtained, and the car usually drives more quickly if everything works well.

The engine's electronic control unit gives a signal to the injector nozzles to increase the fuel supply. They usually cope with this normally, if they work properly.

But if your battery is far from new, and in the cold the battery discharges faster, then a situation may occur in the engine when the injectors drive gasoline into the combustion chamber, and the starter creates the necessary compression in the cylinders, at this moment a high-quality discharge must appear for it to occur. flash. Also, a lot depends on the quality of the fuel, and high-quality fuel does not exist in nature in Russia.

As a result, it turns out that if the engine has ideal compression, and this only happens in a new car, then the injector spark plugs will be able to start the engine with the minimum permissible impulse. And if the car is not new and the battery has also become weak in the cold, then eventually the spark plugs will give a weak spark, and the injectors will supply fuel to the combustion chamber at full capacity, so the spark plugs will begin to flood, and they will finally stop giving a spark. This is why the injector floods the spark plugs because the battery is discharged. Therefore, if you have flooded the spark plugs in your VAZ 2114, then you know why this happened, and now we’ll find out what to do about it.

Symptoms and mechanism of flooding

When it comes to flooded spark plugs, it does not matter what we are dealing with: a carburetor or an injector. Both engine types are not protected from flooding. Its consequences are unpleasant because they do not allow the engine to start. At the same time, it may smell like gasoline, the starter may crank, but most importantly, traces of a foreign substance can be easily detected on the spark plugs themselves: gasoline, oil or carbon deposits. To assess the condition of the spark plugs, they must be unscrewed.

The filling mechanism is quite simple. The fuel supplied to operate the engine does not ignite. The spark plugs get wet, and this prevents the engine from starting normally.

Studying plaque on candles

They say that when candles are “flooded,” black soot forms. Let us clarify: it should not consist of inclusions. All metal, in turn, will be covered with an oily coating. Dry carbon looks different...

Oily layer and dry soot

The photo shows two cases. “Our version” is on the right.

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And soot can also be brown. And it always, in 100% of cases, is formed due to flooding with gasoline.

Dark brown soot

An oily coating, as in photo 1, is, nevertheless, the result of oil ingress. But an oiled candle does not work correctly - it will also be “flooded”.

With regular “flooding,” carbon deposits form, which we see in photo 1 on the right and in photo 2. The rest does not apply to our case.

How to know when it's time to change spark plugs

As noted above, a lot depends on the quality of the product. Not every motorist uses the manufacturer’s recommendations for choosing spark plugs, but in vain. As a rule, they clearly state which spark plug is needed for a given car brand. The initial replacement is made during the first maintenance of the car, that is, after 10,000 kilometers.

The use of high-quality fuel allows not only to extend the life of the car in general, but also directly to the spark plugs. If we take below average quality fuel as an example, then spark plugs need to be changed every 25,000-30,000 kilometers. You can determine when it’s time to take out the spark plug key by the following signs:

• strange noise in the engine;

What to do to prevent candles from flooding

We have looked at the reasons why the spark plugs on the injector are flooded. Now we need to figure out what to do in order to forget about the fact that gasoline floods the candles in cold weather. To do this, a number of preventative measures should be taken before frosts begin.

First of all, you need to monitor the battery charge level. In winter, it is better to equip your car with more powerful batteries. To prevent fuel from flooding the injector, the battery must be maximally charged. Therefore, if necessary, it must be recharged at night.

With the onset of cold weather, special attention should be paid to the quality of gasoline and oil. You shouldn’t skimp on this and it’s better to purchase only a high-quality product that suits the season.

Naturally, you need to monitor the serviceability of the spark plugs.

Clean them regularly and change them on time if they are faulty. The piston group also requires attention. It is responsible for creating compression, so when it wears out, the necessary pressure to ignite the air-gasoline mixture will not be achieved and fuel floods the spark plugs on the injector.

If it is frosty outside, then when starting the engine it is recommended to first load the battery. Then turn it off for a few minutes. Crank the starter and start the engine. If the launch is unsuccessful, then you need to wait about 10-15 minutes so as not to flood the injector, and repeat the launch. It is necessary to check the serviceability of the car before the onset of cold weather. If all components work properly, then there will be no problems starting the engine.

To summarize, the following conditions can be identified for optimal injector operation:

• the starter must be in working condition;
• the battery is fully charged;
• the lubricating fluid must correspond to the season;
• all high voltage wires and spark plugs must be in good condition;
• nozzles must be adjusted and kept clean;
• use only high-quality fuel.

To self-clean the engine, experienced car enthusiasts recommend going out on the highway every month and driving the car at a speed of 120 km/h.

Self-cleaning of the engine occurs due to strong pressure. You can clean the engine by running it in the morning at five thousand rpm for 10 minutes. The effect is similar to driving along a highway.

Monitor the condition of your car, then you will avoid unpleasant situations and save your nerves.

Let's sum it up

Taking into account the above, it becomes clear that for normal starting and operation of the engine it is necessary to create certain conditions. It is also important to remember that increased requirements are put forward in winter. In an effort to achieve a stable start, novice car enthusiasts often ask which spark plugs do not fill. You can immediately answer that in the event of a malfunction, any spark plugs will flood, even new ones. This happens regardless of the brand, the condition of the candles themselves, design features, brand, etc.

Please note that to prevent gasoline from flooding the spark plugs, you must:

• monitor the battery charge, recharge the battery using a charger;
• the starter must be in good working order; jamming, slipping, etc. is not allowed;
• The engine must be filled with oil that corresponds to the current operating conditions (viscosity suitable for winter, as well as other parameters);
• The power supply system must be absolutely in good working order, the injector nozzles must be cleaned in a timely manner. For cleaning, it is advisable to resort to more effective methods of cleaning injectors with ultrasound or to wash the injector on a special washing stand, and not limit yourself to just preventive additions of various cleaners to the fuel tank;
• It is advisable to refuel only at proven gas stations that have certificates confirming the quality of the fuel;
• regularly check the condition of spark plugs and high-voltage wires;

In order to prevent carbon formation in a working engine, experts recommend periodically spinning the power unit to high speeds (about 4500-5000 rpm), after which you need to drive at least 30-50 km in this mode. This is especially true for cars that are constantly used in urban environments. Factors such as: prolonged operation at idle, short trips in low gears, low revs and driving at low speeds, underheating of the engine (the unit does not have time to fully reach operating temperature) lead to increased accumulation of carbon deposits and engine coking. Increasing the speed and load above the average level allows for partial cleaning of soot and deposits in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine in a natural way.

Other reasons

In addition to the already mentioned main reason for flooding candles, there may be others:

1. When starting, the crankshaft turns slowly (we are repairing the crankshaft).
2. The malfunction lies in the valve stem seals, which allow oil to pass through (we change the valve stem seals).
3. The injector is clogged, but continues to supply gasoline and fills the spark plugs with it (we clean the injector).
4. Water appears in gasoline (this happens most often in winter, we choose the right brand of gasoline - “winter” or “summer”).

The latter case is also quite common, especially at sub-zero air temperatures. This is due to the fact that gasoline, which has low volatility, has a poor combination with cold air, so the fuel mixture becomes heterogeneous and begins to flood the spark plug elements.

Pro Tips

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The following tips from professionals will help, if not completely, then at least in most cases, to prevent difficulties with starting the engine due to spark plugs filled with gasoline.

how to keep a car in good technical condition

Keeping all car components in perfect condition will help reduce the risk of unpleasant situations.

Among the main requirements, the most important ones should be highlighted:

• high-quality battery charging
• starter serviceability
• high quality oil and compliance with its parameters
• temperature outside, outside the car
• use quality spark plugs
• Maintaining high voltage wiring in perfect condition
• carry out timely cleaning and adjustment of the nozzle, and the best option should be considered
• cleaning using special equipment; It is recommended to resort to cleaning by adding special impurities to the tank only in exceptional cases, pouring only high-quality gasoline into the tank

Among the “folk” recipes we can recommend:

• After a day or two, while driving, for 10 seconds, increase the engine load to 4.5 - 5 thousand revolutions, this guarantees self-cleaning of the spark plugs from soot and cleans the chamber of existing deposits.
• In order for the engine to start reliably in cold weather and the spark plugs not to be flooded with gasoline, once a month you will need to “crank the engine”, the distance is from 50 to 100 km, at a speed of at least 100 km per hour. Use only high quality fuel.

These simple steps will help you independently monitor the condition of the car, and you will be able to save on the services of car service specialists.

how to start the engine if the spark plugs are flooded

The issue of starting the engine can be solved in different ways.

The operating instructions recommend the following procedure:

• candles are unscrewed and dried
• While the spark plugs are removed, crank the starter for 15 seconds
• dried candles are inserted back
• start the engine

You can use the second, “folk” method, the effectiveness of which has been proven in practice. Before unscrewing and drying the spark plugs, you can use the purge mode.

Starting injection engines is carried out as follows:

• the gas pedal is pressed all the way to the floor
• Using the starter, the engine cranks for ten seconds, after which the gas pedal can be released

After such actions, starting the engine should proceed without problems; blowing air through the spark plugs with the fuel supply shut off usually gives a good result.

If the engine does not start after a couple of attempts, you should not drain the battery and turn the starter in vain. You will need to remove the spark plugs, clean them with a brush (you can take a regular toothbrush or a metal brush) from carbon deposits, dry them over a lit stove burner, in the oven, using a hairdryer.

While the dried spark plugs are not installed, crank the engine for 5 seconds and press the accelerator pedal all the way. This action will facilitate the complete removal of excess combustible mixture from the combustion chamber.

After checking the gap, the spark plugs will need to be screwed into place. The engine should start normally.

Experts recommend systematically cleaning spark plugs and periodically replacing them, especially when using used cars.

The systematic occurrence of a situation with spark plugs flooded with gasoline is a signal that diagnostics are required:

• injector cleanliness
• functioning of the Hall sensor
• process of spark release from the ignition coil
• the spark plugs themselves - on the quality of the supplied spark

If the candles are already filled, what to do next?

If there is a suspicion that at least one of the cylinders has a spark plug filled with gasoline, proceed as follows:

1. Stop the starter, disconnect the electrical wiring, dismantle the spark plug;
2. Cover the spark plug well to prevent dust from getting into it. Using a starter, rotate the shaft 10-15 revolutions;
3. The candle is dried and replaced.

Here are recommendations developed by car manufacturers. Along with this, there are “people’s councils”:

1. Before performing “step 1” discussed above, the spark plugs can be dried in the engine itself. When the starter is running, the gas pedal is pressed to the floor and air is sucked in through the ramp;
2. To remove carbon deposits, you can use a brush designed for cleaning metal. A regular toothbrush will also work;
3. If the compression in the cylinder is insufficient, changing or cleaning the spark plugs will be useless. Only a major overhaul will help here.

The recommendation that you need to press the gas to the maximum is only suitable for injection, but not for carburetor engines. However, the work of the latter was not considered here. Good luck.

When replacing or reinstalling spark plugs, it is advisable not to overtighten their fastenings. At the same time, an incompletely screwed spark plug will cause damage to all engine systems.

How to do it?

The tools you can use are a regular toothbrush (or a metal brush) and a hair dryer (for more effective drying).

If you have the opportunity to take the candles home, you can “calcinate” them in the oven or directly on the burners. But this method is only temporary.

If the candles have already expired, then it is better to simply change them.

It happens that almost every day the spark plugs on the injector are filled. In such a situation, it is necessary to carry out a full check of the elements - for the presence of spark output, cleanliness of the injectors, quality of the spark, and so on.

Features of starting a car in cold periods

In cold weather, before starting, you must first load the battery, then disconnect it for a while. After waiting a few minutes, you can try turning the starter to start the engine. If you fail to start the car on the first try, then in order not to fill the injector, you must wait a few more minutes. If all preventive measures were carried out in full before the frost, then there should be no problems with filling fuel.

We can list several conditions that are considered optimal for normal operation of the injector:

• presence of a working starter;
• maximum battery charge. The battery is powerful and in good condition;
• seasonal lubricant is used;
• spark plugs and high voltage electrical circuits must be in perfect condition;
• clean, adjusted nozzles are installed;
• The gas tank is filled with high-quality fuel.

There is an opinion among experienced drivers that driving a car along a highway at a speed of 120 km/h promotes self-cleaning of automobile systems, including the fuel system. You can also run the engine at 5000 rpm for about 10 minutes in the morning. The effect is similar to racing on a track.

It is believed that when high pressure is created in the systems, self-cleaning occurs. These measures can only be carried out if the car is in good condition and a significant increase in pressure in the systems will not harm it.

What steps do you need to take to get started?

The question arises, what to do if the car is not old, all systems are in order, but in the cold it refuses to start? When turning the spark plugs out, it turns out that they are wet. As already mentioned, in the cold season, the cause of this phenomenon may be weak compression, low-quality fuel or a weak battery.

Let's look again at the manufacturer's instructions. The book on car operation defines the following algorithm of actions:

1. Turn out the spark plugs.
2. Wipe them thoroughly and dry them.
3. Run the starter for a few seconds.
4. Put everything in place.

Often, car owners clean the injector using various fuel additives. This is not recommended at all, firstly, the quality of the fuel mixture is lost, which negatively affects the operation of the entire piston group, and secondly, the injector should be cleaned using special equipment.

Experienced drivers carry several sets of spare spark plugs with them . The quality of the spark produced depends on the technical characteristics of this ignition component. There is no point in saving on candles, their cost is not that high, and low-quality candles can cause a lot of problems.

Prevention of unwanted pregnancy

Another important issue that needs to be addressed is the prevention of pregnancy after unprotected sex. There are two methods of emergency contraception - taking hormonal drugs and installing an intrauterine device.

There are two methods of emergency contraception - taking hormonal drugs and installing an intrauterine device.

Drugs to prevent pregnancy

• Antigestogens
  are substances that block progesterone receptors (progesterone is a pregnancy hormone) and, as a result, ovulation is delayed. This does not give the egg a chance to attach to the uterus.
• Progestins
  are more “heavy” drugs that negatively affect the ovaries and often cause hormonal disorders after administration. They are effective only in the first 48 hours after sexual intercourse. Their use is possible no more than 2 times a year, and is prohibited for young girls under 18 years of age due to an unknown menstrual cycle.

Preparations for postcoital contraception, like other hormonal pills, have a number of side effects, these can be:

• nausea and vomiting, diarrhea;
• menstrual irregularities;
• discomfort and soreness of the mammary glands;
• disruption of the fibrinolysis system with an increased risk of thrombosis;
• headache, malaise.

Intrauterine device

This is a method that is based on changing the microflora of the uterus due to copper ions or hormones that the spiral contains. Unlike pills, the IUD will help prevent unplanned pregnancy within 6-7 days after intercourse. Even if the egg is fertilized, the uterine environment will not allow it to implant. Installation of the spiral is carried out only by a professional gynecologist and includes a number of nuances:

• An intrauterine device is rarely installed in young girls who have not previously given birth. In the future, this may affect their reproductive function.
• The IUD is placed only when a woman wants to use this method of contraception in the future. Intrauterine devices can be installed for a period of 3 or 5 years. The most reliable are considered to be coils with a built-in hormonal capsule, which, by releasing hormonal substances, not only prevents the attachment of the egg, but also inhibits ovulation. Such IUDs are reliable contraception in 99% of cases.
• If a woman has previously had pelvic inflammation, she will have to take antibiotics after installing the IUD for at least 5-7 days.

Why are the candles wet?

Sometimes a removed spark plug may be wet. This may be caused by gasoline, oil or coolant (antifreeze). Each of these liquids has its own determination methods.

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Gasoline can be easily identified by its high volatility. By unscrewing the spark plug, the gasoline quickly dries out. Most often, filling with gasoline occurs when starting a cold engine. This can also happen due to incorrect ignition adjustment.

Oil on the spark plug electrodes may appear due to significant wear of the oil seals in the valves. Less commonly, the cause may be wear of the engine cylinder-piston group or breakage of the oil rings on the piston. Any of these faults requires immediate repair.

The amount of oil on the spark plugs can indicate how serious the problem is. When diagnosing, it is best to use a set of new spark plugs recommended by the car manufacturer, since droplets of oil are clearly visible on a clean insulator. The first stage is the appearance of small dark spots from burnt oil. This will not affect the performance of the spark plug in any way, but will indicate that there are still problems with the engine. The next stage of oil entering the combustion chamber will be the moistening of the lower threaded part of the spark plug. This condition of the spark plug will cause popping noises in the muffler at idle. They disappear as the engine speed increases.

Next is coating the end of the threaded part of the spark plug with oil. In this case, a spark may not appear. The result is frequent claps in the muffler.

The last stage is the complete wetting of the candle from below. In this situation, a spark does not form at all. Therefore, a cylinder with such a spark plug does not work. You can find out about this by regular claps in the muffler, which do not stop with increasing speed. The engine starts to stall.

If oil enters the combustion chamber with completely working fuel supply and ignition systems, then its combustion occurs on the electrodes of the spark plug. As a result, the oil does not have time to wet the candle. That's not to say it's good, but it's not too bad either. In this case, droplets of burned oil turn into ash. It accumulates on the electrodes, increasing their thickness. When the engine is running, the ash warms up well. This promotes further combustion of the incoming oil. It is easy to clean, but it is better to do this at the same time as replacing the valve seals. If you remove the ash from the candle, the oil may stop burning. Because of this, the spark may stop jumping, the spark plug will flood, and the cylinder will stop working.

Sometimes “traditional craftsmen” use the following methods to combat flooding of candles: install candles with a shorter skirt or with a higher heat rating, increase the spark voltage by putting on high-voltage tips, leaving a small gap. All these methods are short-lived, ineffective, and are dangerous for the condition of the car.

The reasons for the ingress of coolant may be the following: a poorly pressed cylinder head, a crack in it or in the liner body, a leaky carburetor heating system. As for the last reason, it is typical only for Japanese cars.

In practice, it is difficult to determine whether antifreeze enters the combustion chamber, since when the engine warms up, some holes may close as a result of metal expansion. Diagnostics must be carried out on a cold engine. To do this, you need to start the car for about 10 seconds. During this time, the candles will not have time to heat up and the cracks will not disappear. When the spark plug is removed, the coolant looks like dew drops.

When buying new spark plugs, you should be wary of counterfeits, as they can cause the entire engine to fail. They can be identified by a crooked or uneven inscription, poor-quality processing of the hexagon of the candle, or poorly executed packaging.

How to fix the problem?

Having bought a used car, the driver needs to know what to do when he fills the spark plugs. Despite the fact that the problem can occur with a new car, most often the spark plugs are flooded due to wear of certain parts. Wet spark plugs are one of the most common problems faced by both novice and experienced drivers. After this, the car stops starting.

Usually, experienced car enthusiasts simply replace the filled parts with dry ones. Knowledgeable drivers always have spark plugs in stock. To remove flooded appliances you will need a special wrench and an additional set of spark plugs. If you don’t have any tools at hand, you can just wait and not rotate the crankshaft. To allow excess fuel to evaporate, press the clutch and gas simultaneously. This is enough for a great launch.

Unfortunately, the presented method does not always work. Low-quality fuel, lubricant residues on the electrodes - all this provokes the appearance of deposits. Getting rid of them is not so easy. Ventilation won't help. Cleaning is necessary, which can only be done after removing the candles. Deposits are different. The problem depends on the color.

The spark plugs are filled with gasoline, what should I do?

There are several options to correct the situation: the simplest is to unscrew the spark plugs from the engine and dry them. After removing the spark plugs, you need to turn the key in the ignition switch so that the starter spins for about 15 seconds, after which you can put the dried spark plugs back in and turn on the engine. This is what the car manufacturer recommends and writes in the operating instructions.

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But there is another proven method - if the spark plugs are filled with gasoline, then before unscrewing the spark plugs and starting to dry them, you should try to start the engine using the purge mode.

To turn on this mode, in a fuel-injected car you need to press the gas pedal to the floor and turn the key in the same way so that the starter spins for about 12 seconds, after which you need to take your foot off the gas pedal, and the starter should continue to spin. The engine should start at this moment, after releasing the gas pedal.

It turns out that when you turn off the fuel supply, the spark plugs are blown out with air. If after such manipulation the engine still does not start, then you need to dry the spark plugs. Injection spark plugs are no different from carburetor spark plugs, so you can safely do the same as they have been doing for centuries - they unscrewed the spark plugs, cleaned them of carbon deposits with a metal brush, and therefore dried them with a hairdryer or gas stove. After drying, you can check the gaps and screw the spark plugs back in. After this, the engine should definitely start.

To prevent this situation from occurring frequently, you need to periodically clean the spark plugs or change them on time. If you fill the spark plugs on an injection engine with gasoline every time when they are cold, this means that you need to do diagnostics - check whether the spark plugs, ignition coils, high-voltage wires, injectors and Hall sensor are normal. If all these components are normal, then the question of whether the injector can fill the spark plugs will disappear by itself.

Solution of the problem

Now I will tell you how to solve the problem when candles flood in cold weather. The service instructions for a VAZ car describe the procedure for filling spark plugs when they are cold. Recommended:

• remove the spark plugs;
• crank the starter without them for 10-15 minutes;
• dry the unscrewed elements;
• put back in its original place.

I will tell you about the “folk” method of “reanimation” - by blowing. Before unscrewing them to dry, you should try to start the engine as follows:

• First, press the gas pedal all the way;
• then crank the starter for about 10 seconds;
• release the pedal.

Since no fuel is supplied, the spark plugs are blown out with air. If the described actions do not help, they should be dried. To do this, they need to be unscrewed, cleaned of carbon deposits and dried with a hairdryer over a fire or over a gas stove. You should not heat them, as their service life will be shortened. After drying, you need to check the gap and return the heating elements to their normal place. Now you can start the engine. Spark plugs for injectors and carburetors are not much different, so the methods for cleaning them are universal. If the spark plugs are lit in cold weather even in warm weather, then it is necessary to diagnose them and determine the quality of spark formation. If they are faulty, they should be replaced. It is also necessary to check the cleanliness of the fuel injectors and the proper operation of the Hall sensor.

We are looking for reasons why the spark plugs on the injector are flooded

Both lean and too rich mixtures cause the engine to stall. But the ECU cannot be wrong... The injectors, in turn, may be clogged - everything is clear here. And in cold weather, the valve may not close well due to ice formed.

Gasoline stain on the water

Conclusion: It is advisable to use fuel with zero water content. A carburetor filled with water may simply freeze, and each of the four (six, eight) injectors will flood the spark plugs at startup.

Main list

The main reasons why the engine floods the spark plugs include the following:

• In winter - the presence of water in gasoline;
• The evaporation coefficient must correspond to the air temperature (season). There is “summer” and “winter” gasoline. By the way, the indicated coefficient has nothing to do with the octane number;
• Clogged injectors are the reason for preparing a lean mixture;
• Slow cranking at start-up is also a common cause;
• Faulty valve stem seals contribute to the presence of oil in the combustible mixture.

When adding ferrocene additives, the second reason is aggravated. And they fight the fourth reason by moving to using the “right” oils. The material should not freeze in cold weather.

Oil 10W40 at -30 C

Recommended SAE ratios: 0W, 5W, but not 10W.

How they do it in practice

You can start a fuel-injected internal combustion engine in winter with both winter and summer fuel. It’s just that in the second case the mixture will have to be made leaner. The question is how to achieve this... For example, you can flash a “winter” program. Or do this:

1. Before starting the engine, the temperature sensor is temporarily disabled. Instead, a sensor heated in the hands is put on the plug;
2. We are trying to turn on the starter... The ECU “thinks” that the engine is warmed up and prepares a leaner mixture than it should.

Note that the DTOZh sensor will be attached to the thermostat.

Connector DTOZH ECU, VAZ-2114 car

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If the number of sensors exceeds 1, disconnect the one to which two wires go. It is always connected to the ECU.

Fuel with low volatility does not combine well with cold air - the mixture turns out to be heterogeneous. But if the concentration is lowered, the problem is solved.

Remote start and auto warm-up

How nice it is to get into a warm car in winter! It's no surprise that remote start is the most requested service feature for car alarms. But you need to use it wisely. Remote start is fine as long as the car starts normally. Problems begin when the engine fails to start: the alarm may try to turn the starter over and over again, filling the spark plugs with gasoline and draining the battery. Therefore, in severe frost, experienced drivers prefer to start the car themselves - it’s more reliable.

Another relevant winter alarm function is autostart, which occurs without a command from the driver. Typically, automatic engine starting is programmed by time (for example, every 4 hours) or by a certain temperature, upon reaching which the engine should start and warm up. The main thing is not to overdo it: when the car is idled for a long time in winter, condensation accumulates in the muffler, which turns into ice after the engine stops. If the exhaust pipe inside becomes a solid icicle, you will no longer be able to start the car - you will have to warm it up in a warm box.

To reduce the time and frequency of night warm-ups, use a car blanket that will prevent the engine from quickly losing heat.

Why are the candles flooded?

Let's first look at the reasons why the spark plugs on the injector are flooded. To do this, consider the operation of a car starter.

Thanks to the operation of its pistons and valves, a mixture of gasoline and air is supplied to the combustion chamber, which is ignited by a spark generated by the spark plugs. After ignition, the starter turns off. Thanks to ignition, the engine cylinders start working. To successfully start the engine, you need a working starter, a powerful battery and a favorable ambient temperature.

At low temperatures, gasoline does not mix well with air. It is known that frosty air contains more oxygen. An increase in oxygen content requires the supply of more gasoline. The vehicle's electronic control unit sends a signal to the fuel injectors, which increases the fuel supply. Thanks to the starter, compression is created in the cylinders and at the same time a spark is formed to ignite the fuel mixture. But since the compression does not meet the standards and the spark is weak, the incoming gasoline will flood the spark plugs, preventing the mixture from igniting. This is the reason why candles are poured in cold weather.

The formation of a spark is influenced by the following factors:

• Gasoline quality. It should not contain many impurities and dirt, as this will affect the operation of the injectors.
• Engine wear. If the engine pistons are worn out, they do not create the necessary pressure and fuel may flood the injector.
• Quality of candles.
• Quality of injector and carburetor.
• Battery power: You should monitor its charging.

If the compression is ideal, the engine will start even with minimal impulse and fuel fluid will never fill the injector. But only a new car can boast of such compression. If a car, for example, such as a VAZ, is more than three years old, gasoline fills the spark plugs on the injector more often.

There is a spark, the starter turns normally, but the spark plugs are flooded

Quite often you can encounter a situation where there is a spark, the spark plugs are flooded, and the starter spins the crankshaft well. In such a case, the spark plugs may require a separate check, since the presence of a spark on them does not mean that the same spark will always be created under pressure. In other words, if there was a spark on the unscrewed spark plug, then after installation on the engine it may disappear. The reason is increased pressure in the combustion chamber, which is created during the operation of the internal combustion engine. To find out, you need to carry out diagnostics on a special stand for checking spark plugs, which simulates the operation of these elements taking into account high pressure (similar to the operation of spark plugs in the combustion chamber).

Why is this happening

The operation of injection engines, where the mixture is formed in the volume of the fuel rail, is always controlled by a special controller. The control unit in question is also called “ECU”:

The injection engine will not start without an ECU

The program installed in the unit’s memory constantly determines how many milliseconds each of the injectors should open. The longer the nozzle is open, the richer the mixture is formed. And in winter, at low temperatures, the controller strives to enrich the mixture to the maximum. And then the following happens:

• The concentration of gasoline in the mixture turns out to be maximum, but the temperature of the fuel and air remains lower than typical for the summer period;
• Compression in the cylinder, due to worn parts, may be insufficient;
• If there is carbon deposits on the spark plug contacts, sparking does not occur as the developers expected.

In total, these three factors lead to the following result: the fuel does not burn, but gets onto the spark plug contacts. As a result, sparking stops, and then, when you try to start the engine, gasoline is pumped into the cylinder. Then at a certain moment the fuel detonates.

When the spark plugs are filled with fuel, you can observe the same symptoms on any car. Starting does not occur during starter operation, but the driver will hear popping noises characteristic of such cases (the result of detonation).

Causes of the problem and a set of solutions

If the spark plugs are actually filled with gasoline when starting the engine, then you need to check how well the spark is being formed in the engine. You may have to unscrew each of the spark plugs sequentially, after first removing the high-voltage connectors. The ignition must be turned off. It is advisable to disconnect one of the battery terminals too.

What to check:

• There should be no carbon deposits on the spark plug contacts;
• The distance between the contacts must correspond to the “passport value”.

The bad news is that the cause of unstable spark formation can be poor quality wiring or any malfunction in the ignition control system. Sometimes finding the causes takes longer than eliminating the defect. In such cases, it is difficult to do without the help of professionals. Don't overestimate your strength.

By the way, you can try to reason logically. The controller regulates the concentration of the mixture based on air temperature values. And these values ​​are determined according to the readings of a single sensor - DTOZH.

Any temperature sensor is a thermistor

We are, of course, talking about the coolant temperature sensor.

The readings from the antifreeze temperature sensor may actually be underestimated. Then don't be surprised if the mixture is too rich in fuel. The recommendation to fix the problem seems trivial. The sensor needs to be replaced.

Note that in modern engines, to calculate the mixture concentration, not one temperature sensor is used, but several. An air heating sensor installed in the intake manifold can also be used. But the presence of engine oil in the manifold is not uncommon. And imagine what will happen if liquid gets on the body of such a sensor.

The controller program is designed so that the main source of information about air temperature is the DTOZH sensor. In modern engines, where many temperature control elements are used, this statement is also true.

Fuel supply and sparking process

When negative temperatures set in, the fuel mixture becomes insufficiently saturated with air; this occurs as a result of an increase in oxygen in the air during frost. Increased oxygen concentration requires increased fuel supply. If the electronic control is in order, then the corresponding command is sent to the injectors and the fuel supply is normalized in accordance with the temperature regime.

When starting, the starter creates compression in the cylinders while simultaneously producing a spark at the spark plug. As a result, the fuel mixture ignites and the engine performs a power stroke.

If the compression is weak and sparking is insufficient, the fuel mixture does not have time to ignite and simply gets on the spark plugs, then starting the car becomes problematic.

Factors influencing normal sparking:

• quality of the fuel mixture. The presence of dirt and large amounts of impurities negatively affects the functioning of the injectors. They simply become clogged with dirty fuel;
• engine condition. Wear of the pistons does not make it possible to create the necessary pressure in the combustion chamber, so fuel, not finding an outlet, begins to flood the injector;
• non-standard or low-quality candles;
• condition of the carburetor and injector;
• battery charge state. A dead battery cannot crank the starter.

Why is good compression and rapid compression of the mixture important?

The process of combustion of the air-fuel mixture in cylinders

In order for a flash of the air-fuel mixture to occur, it must be compressed, and this must be done quickly enough - then the mixture will heat up and will be heated steam, only instead of water, it will contain gasoline as moisture. Such a mixture does not settle as a conductive film between the electrodes of the spark plug, and the spark discharge will not “go to ground”, but will ignite the mixture, which is also heated by compression.

Good compression in the cylinder ensures rapid compression and heating of the air-fuel mixture.

In the case when the compression stroke occurs slowly, the pressure in the cylinder will not become sufficient - the compressed mixture of gases will be released through the gaps between the parts. In addition, the thermal energy acquired by the mixture will be completely inappropriately used to warm up the metal parts, and gasoline in liquid form will be “delivered” to the electrodes of the spark plug and will safely flood it. A person who has at least once inflated bicycle wheels with a pump without a plastic coating on the cylinder can imagine this very clearly. If you pump intensively, the pump body will become very hot, and the proportion of its heating due to piston friction will be only a small part. This is easy to verify if you run the pump “idle” - without screwing the hose to the spool - the pump body will hardly warm up even after fifty cycles. So, why dynamic compression of the mixture is needed, and how it, in combination with good compression, favors the flash of fuel, we found out. But do not forget that in cold weather:

• battery energy decreases;
• The engine oil thickens, making it difficult for the starter to crank the crankshaft. The starter begins to consume more energy, which is also needed for a powerful spark.

All this happens without proper dynamics. It turns out to be a “vicious circle” - and the candles are filled with gasoline. All of the above can give a clear answer to the question: “can the spark plugs on the injector be filled in in cold weather?” Of course it can.

Checking compression in the cylinder with a compression gauge

There can be several reasons for low compression in the cylinders. When measuring compression, a compression meter is used.

But it happens that the candles are filled with oil. This is a separate case - engine repair is required. For initial diagnostics of the engine (not its control systems, namely the timing and timing gear mechanisms), you can use a compression meter. You measure the compression - the norm for a gasoline engine is 12 kg/cm2. If its value is significantly less than 10 kg/cm2, pour 30 - 50 grams of oil into the spark plug holes. If the compression has risen, repair the piston-cylinder pair, and this is already a “capital”. If the compression does not rise after filling the oil, there is a violation of the tightness of the combustion chambers - the valves do not fit tightly to the seats, they burn out, etc. If the values ​​are the same, most likely the oil seals on the valve guides or the oil control piston rings are worn out. The rings, however, can “get stuck” in the piston grooves.

The main reason why spark plugs cannot ignite the air-fuel mixture in cold weather is a weak battery . In a battery discharged by more than 40-60%, there will not be enough current to start the starter and to supply enough voltage to the spark plugs until a spark is formed. As a result, fuel is properly supplied to the cylinders, but does not ignite due to a too weak spark - and the spark plugs are flooded.

Another reason why spark plugs flood in winter is a malfunction of the ignition system itself. Either the spark plugs have exhausted their service life - and then, due to incorrect gaps, defects in the housing and electrodes, they are not able to produce a normal spark, or the high-voltage wires and their contacts are damaged. It is also worth paying attention to other elements of the system, in particular the condition of the ignition coils.

Also, the cause of the failure may be in a complex of sensors and ECU : in cold weather, the electronic control unit receives information from sensors (mass air flow sensor, lambda probe, etc.) that the injectors should supply more gasoline to enrich the mixture. And if some sensor is lying, and the control unit enriches the mixture, the injectors overfill fuel - and the spark plugs drown in excess gasoline, unable to ignite it.

Fuel of low quality or with an admixture of water due to condensation on the walls of an empty tank also prevents the mixture from igniting, while the spark on the spark plugs may be normal. Therefore, in winter it is recommended to keep the fuel tank full and switch to gasoline with a higher octane number: AI-95 instead of AI-92, for example.

In real life, it is typical when the candles flood due to a combination of all factors.

Let’s imagine a not-new engine with some wear on the CPG (compression is still normal, but no longer ideal), a battery that has become weak in the cold, thickened oil in the crankcase, tired spark plugs, a half-empty tank of gasoline. And frost in the morning.

When the owner tries to start the engine, the ECU monitors the temperature outside and the temperature of the engine, the amount of oxygen in the air that enters the intake, etc. and “understands” that it is frosty outside, and the engine needs to be started so that it does not stall - and gives the injectors a command to increase the amount of gasoline supplied - so that the enriched mixture is enough for “warm-up idle speed”.

As a result, the injectors supply fuel mixed with water into the cylinders, the starter slowly cranks the crankshaft in thickened oil from a half-dead battery, and in a cold engine with increased clearances and less-than-ideal compression, the spark plugs try to ignite the fuel due to a weak spark. The result of this scenario will be flooded candles.

Dealing with the consequences

Let's figure out what to do if the candles are flooded. If the motorist is sure that this has happened, then it is worth drying them using one of the selected methods. Most operating instructions for cars with fuel injection systems recommend immediately unscrewing them from the socket with a spark plug wrench.

At the next stage, dry the engine by cranking the starter without spark plugs for about 10 seconds. After drying, we return the spark generators to their sockets and try to start in normal mode.

It is allowed to start the engine with the spark plugs filled with the option of purging the cylinders. In many situations, this option will make it possible to start the power plant without additional removal of parts. Purge of cylinders in injection engines will be carried out by fully pressing the accelerator pedal during startup and cranking the starter for 10 seconds. Next, release the pedal and try to start normally.

It is important to understand that by pressing the gas pedal during purging, the driver opens the throttle valve as much as possible, which stimulates maximum air penetration into the cylinders and ensures drying of wet surfaces.

Even after purging, the engine may not start in some cases. Then you will have to dry the candles by first unscrewing them and cleaning them from carbon deposits in advance. You will need a medium hard brush. To remove moisture, a hair dryer or oven is suitable, after which check the gap between the electrodes.

After such operations, it is worth purchasing a new set of spark plugs, since the service life of the old ones is significantly reduced after calcination. Replacement is usually carried out after 15–25 thousand kilometers, regardless of the external condition. With frequent filling, it is necessary to get rid of the cause that causes it, and not the consequences.

Video with example: how to solve the problem on the 1G-FE motor

There is probably no driver who has not encountered the problem of flooded spark plugs. In the evening the car runs fine, in the morning the engine does not want to start. This fact indicates the presence of certain problems in the car. After the engine has cooled down, the temperature, pressure and other parameters in the systems have changed, and the engine may well not start when it is “cold”.

How to act to avoid trouble

There are several recommendations that will help minimize the occurrence of such problems:

• firstly, you need to monitor the battery charge level and periodically recharge it (this is especially true in winter);
• secondly, check the serviceability of the starter and if any problems arise, do not be lazy to go for diagnostics;
• thirdly, fill the engine with only the best quality oil, which is suitable for use in winter;
• fourthly, change spark plugs in a timely manner and inspect high-voltage wires for the fact of their probable failure;
• fifthly, adjust and clean the injector nozzles. This is easy to do - add one of the special compounds that are sold in stores to the tank;
• sixth, use high quality automobile fuel. To do this, refuel at trusted gas stations.

Remember that in the cold season the engine does not like small trips at low speed.

Therefore, in order to avoid problems, it is necessary to drive 50-80 kilometers at a time at least once a month and accelerate the car to 90-110 kilometers per hour (if, of course, road conditions allow).

If this is not possible, then periodically, while driving, increase the engine speed to 4-5 thousand revolutions. This is an excellent method for removing excess deposits and carbon deposits.

Why do engine fingers knock when accelerating?

Accelerating a car is a stressful situation for the engine, especially when it comes to a sharp increase in speed. When pressing the pedal to the floor for a sharp increase in speed, for example, from 1000 to 5000, the driver may hear the fingers knocking in the engine, and this is normal. To quickly gain speed, more fuel is supplied to the engine with the same amount of air, which can lead to detonation.

However, the situation when, during a quiet car start and acceleration, the driver hears fingers tapping, is not considered normal. In such cases, it is necessary to identify the cause of the problem as soon as possible and eliminate it in order to avoid serious engine damage.

The following reasons can be cited why fingers knock during normal engine operation:

• Air flow sensor failure. If the air flow sensor does not work correctly, the electronic control unit will receive erroneous information and give the wrong signal;
• The ignition timing is incorrectly set. For this reason, the point of maximum fuel combustion approaches top dead center, which leads to increased cylinder pressure and dangerous detonation;
• Damage to the knock suppression sensor. It is imperative that if there is a knocking sound in the engine, you need to check the knock damping sensor. If you find a problem, replace it;
• Incorrect gasoline. Car manufacturers indicate what kind of gasoline should be poured into the engine. If you use fuel with a lower octane rating than the manufacturer recommends, compression problems will occur. They are also possible if low-quality gasoline was poured into the tank at a gas station.

It is worth noting that the knocking of engine fingers is not always a problem acquired during operation. There are situations where a car comes from the factory with sensors connected incorrectly, which leads to this problem. This situation is especially dangerous because the new engine can be seriously damaged. If you hear knocking noises in the engine, have the problem corrected immediately.

The piston pin is an integral element of the crank mechanism. This part represents the axis of movement of the connecting rod in the place where the connection with the piston is made. In other words, piston pins make it possible to create a movable, hinge-type connection in relation to the connection between the connecting rod head and the piston.

The loads that the piston experiences as a result of the combustion of the charge of the fuel-air mixture in the cylinders of the internal combustion engine are also transferred to the piston pins. At the same time, the finger is subjected to an inertial force, a bending force. In this article we will look at the reasons why fingers knock in the engine during acceleration, why fingers knock under load, etc.

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