EFI vs Carburetor

[aspg4]

Any advantage of EFI vs Carburetor on zero turn mowers...

 

[Peter 315]

carbs are on the way out you can even get a snowblower with EFI now ..

 

[RandyT]

Better fuel usage, more responsive throttle. Down side is if something goes wrong will need dealer support to diagnose for the most part.

 

[dlctcg]

carbs are on the way out you can even get a snowblower with EFI now ..

I think you are correct.... even though I prefer carbs on smaller equipment.... I can still clean & tweak a carb to make something run well without my dealer involvement....

 

[RandyT]

carbs are on the way out you can even get a snowblower with EFI now ..

Not actually EFI but there are chainsaws with electronic carbs that also require it to be connected to a computer for diagnostics and to flash replacement parts into memory.

 

[mike48130]

I have EFI on my Deere X485 and it starts and runs awesome all the time. I will say, the downside is the cost of parts. I have not had to replace any parts for the EFI "knock knock", but looked at prices. Ouch.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Any advantage of EFI vs Carburetor on zero turn mowers...

EFI doesn't get effected with crude build up like carbs do. They start quickly even after prolonged storage with fuel in the system. I think they also get better fuel economy.

 

[Tomtint]

Not a zero turn, but a just bought a 2020 KTM motorcycle (dirt bike ) ...it is EFI....I was certainly hesitant. ..it's also oil injected... another new feature. ..so far it's been great. It has 2 separate and different maps in the computer for different riding situations..can't do that with a carb.

 

[Katahdin]

My carb on my Toro z420 was trouble free for 13 years, then it started leaking fuel into the cylinder after shutdown, it's being replaced this spring.

I would expect EFI to be more reliable with current fuels and more fuel efficient.

 

[super55]

EFi I have seen on most small engines is very similar to the old throttle body EFI on cars/trucks in the 90's. Essentially you have an electric lower pressure electric fuel pump and some type of injector spraying it into the throat of what essentially is a carburetor.

Typically this give better throttle response and eliminate lag or dead spots on that some carbs will give but with a mower you are typically running at a constant throttle position. For a mower I would see EFI as a benefit of they generally have quick start ups and not having to worry about floats sticking.

Is EFI worth it on a mower. I'm not sure the costs is worth it. You are running at constant speed. Fuel efficiency I would think would be marginal between the two. If it was older carbs I would say go with the carb over EFI but most mowers now are set up so you can't adjust the fuel/air mixture on idle or main anymore on the carbs.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

With todays gas, I'd go for EFI every time!

SR

 

[ericm979]

Not a zero turn, but a just bought a 2020 KTM motorcycle (dirt bike ) ...it is EFI....I was certainly hesitant. ..it's also oil injected... another new feature. ..so far it's been great. It has 2 separate and different maps in the computer for different riding situations..can't do that with a carb.

I'm pretty sure those are ignition maps. Two stroke oil injection was common in the 60s through 80s. Just not for competition off road bikes. Back then many people took the oil injection off. I think the new oil injection is computer controlled where the old systems were mechanical with output affected by rpms and throttle. Usage varied a lot depending on riding style.

I'd totally go for EFI on lawn equipment. While I know how to tune and work on carbs, with EFI there's generally no need to. The Mtronic on a couple of my Stihl chainsaws works great. Even with carbs, manufacturers stop making parts after a while. I have a Husky backback blower that's 18 years old and most parts including the funky carbs they used are NLA. (next one will be a Stihl, they support stuff longer)

 

[RalphVa]

EFI is A LOT more efficient. It and computer control have taken car engines to within about 10% of even turbo diesels. Like Mike says, more expensive for repairs, but hopefully, like cars, the repairs will be needed less and less.

We need EFI to reduce the pollution from our gas equipment. Let's hope that it's enough to keep from having mini cat converters on them. Those things could get very problematic in being so hot and all. It'll probably happen though. They're probably coming, too.

Ralph

 

[RandyT]

EFI is A LOT more efficient. It and computer control have taken car engines to within about 10% of even turbo diesels. Like Mike says, more expensive for repairs, but hopefully, like cars, the repairs will be needed less and less.

We need EFI to reduce the pollution from our gas equipment. Let's hope that it's enough to keep from having mini cat converters on them. Those things could get very problematic in being so hot and all. It'll probably happen though. They're probably coming, too.

Ralph

Had catalytic mufflers on some chainsaws about 10 years now. Mufflers operate around 1100-1400 degrees. Non synthetic 2 stroke mix plays havoc on them.