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Fuel Injection versus Carburator. Which one you think is better?

Carbs are "simple" ..most of us old guys like them because of that,and we grew up with them...

I personally like them,but there is no doubt EFI will beat them under certain conditions like off road hill climbing and decents,and the engine will deliver better fuel economy and power due to the more precise fuel control..

Fuel Injection is more complicated,has many electrical sensors,a computer,and different fuel pump pressures,injectors--thus many don't like it,because they cant understand the principles it works with..

If you want a carb today,you'll either have to buy an engine made before 1986,or see if anyone makes an intake to mount one on a newer engine that had EFI...going back to a carb is considered a step backwards by many,however,many others prefer simplicity ,especially on an off road vehicle..
 
If carburetors are better, which cars are we driving off of the lot with carbs? That's all that needs to be said. People can try and argue however they like, the entire population has voted with their wallet, EFI is the clear winner.

Just so we don't go down "the EPA made them do it" rabbit hole, GM injected Corvettes in the 60's (albeit mechanical), GM injected some Cadillac's in the 70's, and they injected Corvette's and Buick GN's in the early-mid 80's, long before it was necessary to pass emissions. Remember, GM didn't pull their head completely out until 1990, when they finally stopped selling carbed cars, and 1987 was when they finally started to inject a large portion of their vehicles.
 
As diesel4me stated, carbs are simple and they work. But they don't work as well as EFI in most applications. I have a 1972 Pontiac Ventura II with a carb and in the winter, you're not getting it to start without starting fluid once it gets below 10*. My 88 Suburban however fires right up on the coldest days and we sometimes see -25*. The only downside to EFI is when you develop a problem. Some problems, (like my constant code 32), will drive you nuts and make you want to go back to a carb if you can't figure it out. But, if everything is working properly, EFI gives you better mileage, better drivability and is maintenance free.
 
Carburetor is never better, just more simple in some respects.

I went from carb to FI, and don't regret it. I enjoy the easy starting, smooth running, and no nonsense like pumping gas pedals, waiting for warm-up, or tinkering with mixture settings.

Another good thing is that FI typically works at optimum performance all the time, whereas carbs can be tempermental depending on engine temperature, weather, altitude, or the phase of the moon. FI also gives you diagnostic codes to pinpoint any problems, whereas with a carb there are any number of things that could be an issue.

If simplicity is your goal or you're a luddite, go with a carb. If you want better performance, go with FI.
 
I like carbs because I am familiar with them...but there is no argument EFI makes engines start & run better and get more mpg,provided everything is in good working order...it's when you get some "code" that wont go away ,or you get refused an inspection sticker repeatedly because it needs sensors or wiring issues resolved,many get aggravated and want to go back to the "good old days"..

Nothing sounds better than a single (or dual) quad carb wide open though,especially with the air cleaner off,or open element.....EFI sounds rather bland in comparison !..Two-HOOOOOOOOOOP...:)
 
I also was told that if I wanted better performance that I should ditch the TBI and go to Carb plus good fuel economy.

Person I know that said this has and Edlebrock Carb in his 1976 Impala with a 350. He said I can get almost 20 mpg with a carburator. I'm thinking he's lying.

diesel4me said:
I like carbs because I am familiar with them...but there is no argument EFI makes engines start & run better and get more mpg,provided everything is in good working order...it's when you get some "code" that wont go away ,or you get refused an inspection sticker repeatedly because it needs sensors or wiring issues resolved,many get aggravated and want to go back to the "good old days"..

Nothing sounds better than a single (or dual) quad carb wide open though,especially with the air cleaner off,or open element.....EFI sounds rather bland in comparison !..Two-HOOOOOOOOOOP...:)
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dyeager535 said:
If carburetors are better, which cars are we driving off of the lot with carbs? That's all that needs to be said. People can try and argue however they like, the entire population has voted with their wallet, EFI is the clear winner.

Just so we don't go down "the EPA made them do it" rabbit hole, GM injected Corvettes in the 60's (albeit mechanical), GM injected some Cadillac's in the 70's, and they injected Corvette's and Buick GN's in the early-mid 80's, long before it was necessary to pass emissions. Remember, GM didn't pull their head completely out until 1990, when they finally stopped selling carbed cars, and 1987 was when they finally started to inject a large portion of their vehicles.
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So fuel Injection been here long before the 80s
 
I'd think 20 mpg is not possible in a '76 Impala..might be possible with the right combo of gearing,engine size,and carb sized for mpg rather than all out performance,in the '77 or later ones,which were lightened up a lot....an Impala in '76 was a barge,probably weighs close to 4500 lbs if not more...

I've owned a '80 El-Camino with a 267 V8 and a 2 bbl Rochester carb,TH350 trans,and 2:56 rear axle ratio,that would give 20 mpg on highway cruises if the wind was not against you,and you avoided fast take offs and passing other vehicles..

You certainly can make a small block carbed V8 fuel efficient ,but the weight and areodynamics,and gearing have to be right in order to do so...carbs major downfalls are they run poorly after a cold start,need choke to run for several minutes after,which wastes fuel,dilutes the oil,can foul spark plugs...then they cant handle off camber or hill climbing very good...but the average goober can also fix one if it starts flooding or needs a rebuild ..
 
blackandgold51 said:
I also was told that if I wanted better performance that I should ditch the TBI and go to Carb plus good fuel economy.

Person I know that said this has and Edlebrock Carb in his 1976 Impala with a 350. He said I can get almost 20 mpg with a carburator. I'm thinking he's lying.
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This sounds like Facebook tech expert talk here LOL
 
Carbs are nice and simple but Efi is the best option for anything offroad. The only time people really want a carb over efi is for drag racing an NA car or street truck....its about the atomization of fuel but for offroad efi will always be king.
 
In-the-moment performance aside, ever tear down an engine that's been carbed versus injected?

Unless something was fundamentally broken, a high-mileage EFI engine is clean and retains good compression. Those engines now go at least 200,000 miles pretty easily.

A carbed engine will have carbon build-up and worn cylinder walls, and will likely be done around the old 100k standard.

Why? You can tune a carb for a relatively very narrow band of conditions - the rest of the time when it's off-tune the effects of running lean or rich are wearing that engine out. EFI has feedback and adjusts fuel delivery according to actual conditions. It's that simple.
 
Top Fuel uses injection. NASCAR uses injection. Any claims to carbs being more powerful are just stupid. Apples to apples (Maximum output in HP at WOT throttle, no other parameters), they are probably the same, when they can even be compared. I suspect if you start talking direct injection, which is fairly new in passenger vehicles, carbs won't be able to compete at all. A system flowing all air is always going to flow more than the same thing flowing air and fuel. That ignores the effects of fuel in suspension, turbulence, etc., all of which are better the closer to the cylinder you introduce the fuel to the airstream.

Fuel injection has likely been around since the teens or 20's in one form or another. I'd be surprised if it wasn't used almost exclusively on WWII aircraft.

Technology has relatively recently given us the ability to apply the electronics necessary to engines., vs the previous attempts at mechanical injection, which were very lacking in terms of adapting to the ambient conditions (elevation, temperature, etc).
 
wetoolowdingbangow said:
Carbs are nice and simple but Efi is the best option for anything offroad. The only time people really want a carb over efi is for drag racing an NA car or street truck....its about the atomization of fuel but for offroad efi will always be king.
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That was I was wondering. Carbuarator is good for drag racing and street trucks But then again, why carb over efi for drag racing?
 
diesel4me said:
I'd think 20 mpg is not possible in a '76 Impala..might be possible with the right combo of gearing,engine size,and carb sized for mpg rather than all out performance,in the '77 or later ones,which were lightened up a lot....an Impala in '76 was a barge,probably weighs close to 4500 lbs if not more...

I've owned a '80 El-Camino with a 267 V8 and a 2 bbl Rochester carb,TH350 trans,and 2:56 rear axle ratio,that would give 20 mpg on highway cruises if the wind was not against you,and you avoided fast take offs and passing other vehicles..

You certainly can make a small block carbed V8 fuel efficient ,but the weight and areodynamics,and gearing have to be right in order to do so...carbs major downfalls are they run poorly after a cold start,need choke to run for several minutes after,which wastes fuel,dilutes the oil,can foul spark plugs...then they cant handle off camber or hill climbing very good...but the average goober can also fix one if it starts flooding or needs a rebuild ..
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This is one of the reasons why I would stay with the TBI in my 90' Suburban V1500. I don't want to get out adjusting And such along choking an engine just to start. I want to turn the key and go.

I was also told that due to me not wanting adjusting a carburator that with a Edlebrock I won't have to . is that true?
 
blackandgold51 said:
That was I was wondering. Carbuarator is good for drag racing and street trucks But then again, why carb over efi for drag racing?
Click to expand...

No, they aren't. They still are more prone to cause drivability issues than EFI, and in terms of racing popularity, I suspect much of that is old school thinking plus the cost to convert. But go price out a new ~1000CFM carb and you won't think EFI is expensive.

I'm sure there are a lot more EFI vehicles drag racing today than there were in the past.

Carbs can't adjust the same to things like temp and elevation...a carb will never be as capable across the board as a good injection system.
 
blackandgold51 said:
This is one of the reasons why I would stay with the TBI in my 90' Suburban V1500. I don't want to get out adjusting And such along choking an engine just to start. I want to turn the key and go.

I was also told that due to me not wanting adjusting a carburator that with a Edlebrock I won't have to . is that true?
Click to expand...
I've run plenty of edelbrocks, some I've had to adjust and some I haven't. I also drag race and would much rather run fuel injection over a carb any day. I have a K5 blazer that I had an edelbrock carb on. I had it running great getting good gas mileage and all, parked it for the winter and it wouldn't run for shit come spring. I can let my vehicles with fuel injection sit for long periods of time and they fire right up. I had my buggy out two weeks ago with a 454 and TBI it ran for 7 hours straight without ever turning it off and used a 1/4 tank of gas.
 
doubletrouble said:
I've run plenty of edelbrocks, some I've had to adjust and some I haven't. I also drag race and would much rather run fuel injection over a carb any day. I have a K5 blazer that I had an edelbrock carb on. I had it running great getting good gas mileage and all, parked it for the winter and it wouldn't run for shit come spring. I can let my vehicles with fuel injection sit for long periods of time and they fire right up. I had my buggy out two weeks ago with a 454 and TBI it ran for 7 hours straight without ever turning it off and used a 1/4 tank of gas.
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Maybe I should take out my 350 tbi and put in a 454 tbi with vortex heads, longtube headers, performance intake manifolds with a cold air intake along with dual air ramair inlets :thinking: in my 90 Suburban V1500 ........

Along with am MSD spark plug wires and coil.

Maybe that might help with mileage and performance, or at least mileage.

And hopefully the rebuilt 700r4 can hanle the torque of a 454
 
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I guess i needed to elaborate. Lots of old school guys use carbs still for drag racing. Its what they know.

Ive looked into doing mods with TBI. Youre really better off going the LS route.
 
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