A throttle is a device that is connected to the car’s accelerator pedal. Its work is to regulate the amount of air and fuel flowing into the engine, which in turn controls the amount of power.
When you press down on the accelerator, the throttle opens up more, letting in more air and fuel to the engine and giving it more power. Simply put, the throttle opens up to allow more air-fuel mixture into the engine when the driver presses the accelerator.
Types of throttles
There are two main types of throttles used in automotive internal combustion engines:
- Electronic throttles (Drive-By-Wire)
- Mechanical throttles (Drive-By-Cable)
Mechanical throttles
The mechanical throttle is a simple design that was used for many years on older vehicles. It uses a cable to control the amount of fuel and air getting into the engine. The throttle body contains a throttle plate that connects to the accelerator via a cable. The throttle opens and closes according to the driver’s input from the accelerator pedal.
Although the mechanical throttles are less precise and less responsive than the electronic throttles, they are less complex and easier to maintain. They are also cheaper than their modern counterparts.
Electronic throttles
Electronic throttles are modern and more advanced. They are slowly replacing the mechanical throttles in new vehicles. This is because they offer several advantages over mechanical throttles, including improved response time, increased fuel efficiency and the ability to precisely regulate the amount of air entering the engine.
Electronic throttles rely on the Engine Control Unit (ECU) and sensors located at the accelerator pedal and the throttle body. The sensors communicate with the ECU to control the amount of air and fuel getting into the engine. The ECU signals the throttle body, depending on the driver’s action on the accelerator pedal. Although electronic throttles are more advanced than mechanical throttles, they are more complex.
