Multiport Fuel Injection (MFI) System
Input/Output Signal Chart:
Basic Multiport Fuel Injection System
The amount of fuel injected from the fuel injector is determined by the ECM. The ECM controls the length of time the valve remains open (injection pulse duration). The amount of fuel injected is a program value in the ECM memory. The program value is preset by engine operating conditions. These conditions are determined by input signals (for engine speed and intake air) from both the crankshaft position sensor and the mass air flow sensor.
Various Fuel Injection Increase/Decrease Compensation
In addition, the amount of fuel injected is compensated to improve engine performance under various operating conditions as listed below.
- During warm-up
- When starting the engine
- During acceleration
- Hot-engine operation
- When selector lever is changed from "N" to "D"
- High-load, high-speed operation
- During deceleration
- During high engine speed operation
Mixture Ratio Feedback Control (Closed loop control)
The mixture ratio feedback system provides the best air-fuel mixture ratio for driveability and emission control. The three way catalyst (Manifold) can then better reduce CO, HC and NOx emissions. This system uses a heated oxygen sensor 1 (front) in the exhaust manifold to monitor if the engine operation is rich or lean. The ECM adjusts the injection pulse width according to the sensor voltage signal. This maintains the mixture ratio within the range of stoichiometric (ideal air-fuel mixture).
This stage is referred to as the closed loop control condition.
Heated oxygen sensor 2 (rear) is located downstream of the three way catalyst (Manifold). Even if the switching characteristics of the heated oxygen sensor 1 (front) shift, the air-fuel ratio is controlled to stoichiometric by the signal from the heated oxygen sensor 2 (rear).
Open Loop Control
The open loop system condition refers to when the ECM detects any of the following conditions. Feedback control stops in order to maintain stabilized fuel combustion.
- Deceleration and acceleration
- High-load, high-speed operation
- Malfunction of heated oxygen sensor 1 (front) or its circuit
- Insufficient activation of heated oxygen sensor 1 (front) at low engine coolant temperature
- High engine coolant temperature
- During warm-up
- After shifting from "N" to "D"
- When starting the engine
Mixture Ratio Self-learning Control
The mixture ratio feedback control system monitors the mixture ratio signal transmitted from the heated oxygen sensor 1 (front). This feedback signal is then sent to the ECM. The ECM controls the basic mixture ratio as close to the theoretical mixture ratio as possible. However, the basic mixture ratio is not necessarily controlled as originally designed. Both manufacturing differences (i.e., mass air flow sensor hot wire) and characteristic changes during operation (i.e., injector clogging) directly affect mixture ratio.
Accordingly, the difference between the basic and theoretical mixture ratios is monitored in this system. This is then computed in terms of "injection pulse duration" to automatically compensate for the difference between the two ratios.
"Fuel trim" refers to the feedback compensation value compared against the basic injection duration. Fuel trim includes short term fuel trim and long term fuel trim.
"Short term fuel trim" is the short-term fuel compensation used to maintain the mixture ratio at its theoretical value. The signal from the heated oxygen sensor 1 (front) indicates whether the mixture ratio is RICH or LEAN compared to the theoretical value. The signal then triggers a reduction in fuel volume if the mixture ratio is rich, and an increase in fuel volume if it is lean.
"Long term fuel trim" is overall fuel compensation carried out long-term to compensate for continual deviation of the short term fuel trim from the central value. Such deviation will occur due to individual engine differences, wear over time and changes in the usage environment.
Fuel Injection Timing:
Fuel Injection Timing
Two types of Systems are used.
Sequential Multiport Fuel Injection System
Fuel is injected into each cylinder during each engine cycle according to the firing order. This system is used when the engine is running.
Simultaneous Multiport Fuel Injection System
Fuel is injected simultaneously into all six cylinders twice each engine cycle. In other words, pulse signals of the same width are simultaneously transmitted from the ECM.
The six injectors will then receive the signals two times for each engine cycle.
This system is used when the engine is being started and/or if the fail-safe system (CPU) is operating.
Fuel Shut-off
Fuel to each cylinder is cut off during deceleration or operation of the engine at excessively high speeds.