As you know, your car’s engine should not sputter all the time. If you are having problems with your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s engine performance, call Advanced Automotive. We’d be happy to inspect your engine to find out why it sputters constantly. There are many problems that cause sputtering. We are going to list the common ones below.
Catalytic Converter Problems
Your catalytic converter lasts for 10 years, so if your older engine is sputtering it could be the converter. If this exhaust system part gets clogged, it will push the exhaust back into the combustion chamber. Consequently, your engine performance will be affected by inefficient combustion.
Clogged Air or Fuel Filter
The air or fuel filter can also cause engine sputtering if either becomes clogged. The air filter should be changed every 12,000 miles, and the fuel filter should be changed every 30,000 miles to make sure they do not become clogged. If they do, you may end up with a sputtering engine.
Clogged Fuel Injectors
The fuel injectors should be professionally cleaned every 30,000 miles to remove the carbon deposits on the nozzles. If your engine is getting an unsteady supply of fuel from clogged nozzles, it will sputter and struggle to run, especially at higher speeds.
Faulty MAF Sensor
The mass airflow sensor can get dirty and create a combustion problem. It reports the amount of fresh air that flows into the engine to the engine control module. If the module receives incorrect information, it may make adjustments in the combustion chamber that cause sputtering.
Faulty O2 Sensor
The same is true with the oxygen sensor. This part lasts about 90,000 miles. Once it goes bad, it can create engine sputtering, poor fuel economy, black exhaust smoke, and a check engine light warning among other problems.
Malfunctioning Fuel Pump
If your fuel pump is going bad, the engine may not be getting enough fuel just like it doesn’t with clogged injectors. Again, if the engine is fuel-starved, it will sputter and struggle to run. The fuel pump lasts, on average, about 100,000 miles.
Vacuum Leak
If you have an engine vacuum leak, excess air is feeling the engine and compromising the balance between the air and fuel in the combustion chamber. When this happens, your engine will sputter and your tachometer needle will move up and down sporadically.
Worn Spark Plugs
Finally, worn spark plugs can cause the engine to misfire, which feels like sputtering. Today’s spark plugs can last as long as 100,000 miles before they need to be changed. It’s important to change them when they need it, however, you will suffer from poor engine performance.
Advanced Automotive in Stanwood, WA, is here to help, so call us today. We can get to the bottom of your engine’s sputtering and fix the problem.
