Cold weather can make starting flex-fuel cars difficult; see tips from NGK

Japanese multinational explains how the different systems work
cold start and what precautions should be taken by drivers

Sao Paulo, May 2022 – With the drop in thermometers, many drivers are already starting to worry about the operation of their vehicles, since flex-fuel engines fueled with ethanol may have difficulties starting in the absence of proper care with the cold start systems. In order to help drivers, NGK, a Japanese multinational specialist in spark plugs, lists some guidelines for the proper functioning of the different devices that aim to facilitate starting in flex-fuel cars when the ambient temperature is below 15°C. Check it out below:

Starting auxiliary tank: present in the Brazilian fleet since the 1980s, with the introduction of ethanol vehicles, the auxiliary starting tank has a reservoir for gasoline, which is injected into the engine with the function of improving the car's starting. According to Hiromori Mori, Technical Assistance consultant at NGK, the gasoline injected into the engine vaporizes more easily, helping the engine to start when it is cold.

“On cold days, the driver must fill the tank with gasoline, preferably with additives, which prevents the formation of residues. It must also prevent the device from being empty, which could damage the electric pump that feeds the system, in addition to making it difficult to start”, guides Mori. It is still essential to check the absence of leaks in the system and the state of the fuel, which must be changed after a long period, since aged gasoline, in addition to favoring the formation of residue, has its burning difficult.

preheating system: solution that aims to heat the ethanol at the time of start-up, the preheating system is adopted in more modern flex-fuel engines, which do not require the use of the auxiliary tank. According to the NGK specialist, the driver must wait for the dashboard injection lights to go out to ensure that the system is ready for departure. “Each system has a pre-set warm-up time that may vary from vehicle to vehicle. Starting the engine with the fuel still cold will make starting difficult”, explains Mori.

Direct injection engine: in the case of this technology, the fuel is injected at high pressure into the engine, which eliminates the need for the preheating system or auxiliary tank to start the vehicle on ethanol at low temperatures. Hiromori explains that the high pressure of the injection system already favors the vaporization and atomization of ethanol. “In this way, the formation of liquid fuel is greatly reduced, which also facilitates starting the engine”, he points out.

Essential vehicle care

Due to the low temperatures, drivers must take some essential care with the vehicle – the first, according to Mori, is to examine the ignition system, especially the spark plugs, responsible for generating the spark (spark) that will burn the fuel. “Candles with an outdated useful life or excessive wear reduce the vehicle's performance and make it difficult to start”, highlights the NGK Technical Assistance consultant.

In addition, it is essential to check the condition of components such as the battery, the charging system - alternator, the starter, the injection system, and the cold start system. “It is important that the driver asks his trusted mechanic for a complete evaluation of the starting system, regardless of the fuel used, to avoid future inconveniences”, concludes Mori.