Sensors
Sensors play an important part in the fuel and air management of your engine. The MAP sensor is your friend, sensing variations in manifold pressure. It does this by employing a silicon or ceramic element that notices the pressure changes that relate to engine load, elevation, boost and any other pressure variables your ECU needs to know about to instruct your diesel to run at peak performance.
However, your MAP sensor can be lead astray by soot generated by your EGR system (if so equipped). The EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system takes exhaust gas from your diesel’s exhaust manifold and diverts it back into the engine’s intake to control emissions and reduce combustion chamber temperature. The gasses reintroduced back into the intake have almost no oxygen, so the charge is well below the 2,370 degree threshold of NOx emission creation. This results in cleaner exhaust gasses coming out the exhaust pipe.
On a gasoline engine EGR is relatively benign, but in your diesel, I’m sure you’re aware that the gasses also carry gritty, sooty carbon that can build up on surfaces of your intake, cylinder heads, combustion chamber and…the MAP sensor.
If your diesel vehicle is seeing a reduction in both performance and fuel mileage, you should pop off your MAP sensor and see if it’s covered with a nasty, gooey sheet of soot. If so, clean it off and reinstall it. Your payoff could be much snappier throttle response, better top end pulling power and small bump up in fuel mileage.
Make this a part of your regular maintenance routine, and your truck will have solid performance and fuel mileage you can rely on!
At Midwest Auto & Diesel Repair, your complete automotive care center in Wichita, KS we install only quality replacement parts. Give us a call and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road. We serve Wichita and the surrounding areas.
