We grew up as carburetor guys like most of our readers. And back in the day the thought of putting EFI on an engine meant something scary to us. But in the last 10 years we’ve been playing with stand alone and OE Electronic Fuel Injection and Engine Management systems and have realized that they are basically the same as a distributor and carb, you are just punching keys instead of changing jets or timing. In fact, many of the terms used for EFI tuning, like accel enrichment, can be translated to carb speak really easily. Accel enrichment means “pump shot” for you carb guys. Adjusting the accel enrichment can help solve lean or fat bog or pop situations on launch, among other things.
With the ever growing line of great fuel injection systems and kits from companies like MSD, Holley, and FAST, there is a never ending supply of products that will run your particular engine, regardless of power level.
But what about the guy who doesn’t want to punch keys to tune his engine? The amazing new Self Tuning EFI has come to your rescue! MSD, Holley, and FAST all have self tuning systems that range from mild to wild and can run just about anything. In fact, recent testing confirms that these bad boys can even keep up with boost!
So…with all the self tuning options out there, and all the new technology and support, does EFI still scare you? If it doesn’t, is that because the self tuning features make you more comfortable?
If you are still scared, what is it about EFI that scares you?
I’m sold and not scared, but;
– EFI still stands for Expensive fuel injection.
– Far more parts on the engine that can fail and leave you stranded.
– Simple roadside fixes are becoming rare.
Still, there’s no way these ‘crudely controlled gasoline drippers’ can out mileage or constantly re-tune itself for various situations like EFI can.
No, it doesn’t, BUT the price still isn’t right, EXP. holley hp kit(you use your own intake) no pump or injectors was 1700.oo now it’s 1900 and change. it went up.
now if you want the whole thing intake and all you are still at 3500-4000 .
now if you had to buy all the parts for a carbed set up. intake/carb/pump you are still way under a grand with new parts.
It’s been 20 years since project heavy metal was efi’d and the stuff is no cheaper now than it was then. hell the efi (only) tbi set ups are 2000.00 give or take. lotta cabage for a vehicle that might see 2500 mile a year to 5000 tops. I’d love a holley hp efi but at 1900+labor to install bungs,drill rail+pump+injectors, it’s still very costly. to change over when a carb can get almost the same mpg for pennies on the dollar of efi.
Scared? No. Frustrated that I can’t afford to tune it right now. The cost of a laptop, software, etc. Also two of my vehcles are OBDI making it even worse.
It’s all about the Benjamins. I am not scared of EFI…. I just can’t afford it.
Am I scared of it? No
Can I afford it? Maybe
Do I want to pay the outrageous price for it? NO
I agree with the others. Too costly. Not fixable on the side of the road.
I’m like the others. Too much money and can’t fix it on the roadside. I have a 37 Pontiac with a 60 over 396 (408) and am getting almost 17 mpg with an Edelbrock 600.
Carbs scare me more than EFI. I am just a hack so I really have not done any tuning on either.
I am not scared of it
But like everyone else
Too much money….
I put a LT1 in a S10 years ago(10)
but was luckt enough to get a already fuel injected one
so I didn’t have to upgrade the wiring or the fuel system(orig 4.3 Vortec)
I love EFI. I’ve never been a huge fan of carbs (except Weber-type ones). The initial expense is offset IMHO by the near trouble-free long term nature with today’s alcohol and additive laden mess that passes for gasoline. Though I read that carb manufacturers are finally breaking into the ’90’s with more resistant materials.
Well over 60,000 miles on my EFI and it has never left me stranded. Not once. Had a few wiring issues (self wired) that hiccuped the air intake sensor and the TPS sensor, neither of which left me stranded on the side of the road, I just unplugged the sensor and went on my way and fixed the loose wire at my leasure. I was hundreds of miles from home each time. I can find more EFI parts at NAPA for my EFI’d Buick than I can for a Q-jet. I can get bosch style injectors at any parts store (or junkyard) right now. I scoff at the break down on the side of the road arguement though, especially with cell phones and parts stores. Now if I were crossing the Sahara desert I “might” be inclined to change my mind, in the event I “broke down” but I figure you’d have a better chance of vapor locking the carb than an EFI failure.
It’s still an apples and oranges comparison for cost. Of course it’s more expensive than a carb, but a carb doesn’t give you spark control, rev limiting, data logging, on the fly changes, launch control, nitrous control, boost control, and on and on and on. If you aren’t going to use all those features, then of course the carb is the better buy every time.
I agree with the roadside repair issue. Driving an FE Ford with a Demon Carb only the MSD and maybe the duraspark pick up (if swapped from an instock 5.0 distributer) are roadside repairable. I carry a 14x16x12″ crate with spares if I travel more than 100 miles from home. Its got as much in it as I used to carry to the track,less the shoe polish.
The cost of converting to EFI is 100% what stops me as I believe the roadside repair issue would be easier with MegaSquirt. Just swapping to all GM parts would about garranty near 100% repairability away from home.
But I’m still checking into a Motel and waiting for replacement rockers,shafts,pushrods,fuel pump,alternator etc….. so roadside repairable may not be the biggest issue…..
I have had an EZ-EFI installed on my ZZ502 for the past three years. It has been trouble free and highway mileage increased from 12 to 16 MPG, and engine vacuum at idle was increased from 11 to 15 inches. There has also been considerable improvement in engine throttle response, and a huge reduction in the smell of unburned hydrocarbons, especially at idle. I installed it in less than one day, and with the drop base air cleaner I have, it is almost impossible to detect the swap from carb to EFI. The engine runs perfectly hot or cold, and this system is very worthy of your consideration.
I would love to use it but can’t fork out over 2500 for the ES EFI kit. That’s why I still have a carburetor.