What You Need to Know About Direct Injection Vs. Port Injection

Direct injection involves spraying fuel directly into the engine’s cylinders while port injection sprays fuel into the intake runner.
Written by Katherine Duffy
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
background
If you drive a fuel-consuming car, your engine typically uses a direct injection or port injection system. Direct injection shoots fuel directly into a cylinder's combustion chamber, while port injection shoots it into the intake runner. 
Every fuel-consuming car bought in the US uses a fuel injection system that allows diesel or gasoline to enter your engine’s cylinders to burn the fuel and keep your car running. 
While fuel injection systems are an important and necessary component of your car’s engine, different fuel injection systems affect your fuel efficiency, engine performance, and even maintenance costs. 
If you’re wondering how direct and port fuel injection systems work and which one is better, you’re in luck!
Jerry
, the trustworthy super app that helps you save on
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, is here to answer all of your questions. Read on to learn the difference between direct injection and port injection, the pros and cons of each, and how to save big on car insurance. 
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What is direct injection?

A direct injection fuel system sprays gasoline or diesel directly into the engine cylinder, where it’s mixed with oxygen and burned for fuel. Direct injection systems tend to be more fuel-efficient, as it uses one less step to get fuel to the engine’s cylinders. 

What cars use direct injection? 

While diesel vehicles have always used direct injection fuel systems, European car companies have seized upon this system’s fuel economy and efficiency to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. Japanese and American automakers have also more recently reaped the benefits of direct injection fuel systems. 
Here are a few automakers who use direct injection fuel systems:
  • Ford
  • General Motors (GM)
  • Audi 
  • BMW
  • Hyundai 
  • Kia
  • Mazda
  • Mitsubishi
  • Mercedes-Benz 
  • Nissan
  • Lexus
  • Saab
  • Subaru
  • Volkswagen
MORE:  What does the check engine light mean?

What is port injection?

Unlike direct injection, port injection fuel systems pre-mix gasoline and oxygen outside of the engine cylinders in an area of the engine called the intake manifold. Then, the mixture is pulled into the cylinders and combusted for fuel. This system is less fuel-efficient than direct injection, but it’s still more efficient than a carburetor. 

What cars use port injection? 

Port injection was the standard fuel injection system for gasoline cars in the US until the turn of the century. While it’s difficult to find new cars that use port injection only, here are a few popular carmakers that still incorporate port injection into their fuel systems: 
  • Toyota
  • Lexus
  • Ford 
  • Audi 

Direct vs. port injection: which is better? 

While it may seem like direct injection fuel systems are better because of their fuel efficiency and modern popularity, each has distinct benefits and drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of direct and port injection systems: Direct injection
Pros
Cons
Better fuel efficiency
More expensive
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Port injection
Pros
Cons
Stabler air/fuel mixture at lower speeds
Less fuel-efficient
Reduces carbon buildup from unburned fuel
Less power for the same engine size using direct injection
Less expensive
Worse for the environment

How to find affordable car insurance

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FAQs

Direct injection fuel systems spray fuel directly into the engine cylinders, where the fuel is mixed with oxygen and burned. Port injection fuel systems pre-mix the fuel and oxygen in the engine’s intake manifold before the mixture is sucked into the cylinders and burned.
Some carmakers use dual injection for the best of both worlds. A car may use both during normal driving speeds and direct injection at higher speeds—making for an effective system that reaps the unique benefits of both systems and avoids carbon buildup on your intake valves.
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