Multi Point Injection- a gasoline engine of a new type with a pre-installed multi-point fuel injection system. Each cylinder has a built-in injector, as a result of which the combustible mixture is evenly and proportionally distributed around the perimeter. The engineers of the company are considered to be the inventors of the technology. They are the first to develop an alternative to the carburetor type. Let's take a closer look at how the MPI engine works and how efficient it is.
How does Multi Point Injection correspond to the present
A number of automakers in Europe and Asia believe that this type has no future, since the rapid development of technology will quickly leave behind the "novelty". This is partly true. Only Volkswagen and its structural divisions, including Škoda, are actively developing and supporting MPI. Business card: engines with volumes of 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 liters.
The main feature of the power unit is the absence of any turbocharged supercharger. The design is simple and intuitive:
- a gasoline pump that delivers a fuel mixture to the intake manifold under high pressure. The working indicator is three atmospheres;
- through the inlet valve of the injector, the fuel enters the inside of the cylinder, where ignition occurs, the exhaust gases are removed.
Multi Point Injection is equipped with a water cooling circuit for the combustible mixture. It sounds strange, it's hard to imagine, but the system works successfully. The presence of a non-standard design is explained by the fact that there is an elevated temperature above the cylinder head, and the fuel is supplied under low pressure. The consequences are negative, the risk of boiling, the formation of a gas-air lock. Without a third-party cooler, the operation of the power unit is impossible.
MPI advantages
- simplicity of design. Obviously, such engines are simpler than power units equipped with TSIs with turbochargers, but not a carburetor type. The owners carry out a number of repairs on their own, without resorting to the help of service station specialists. Clear savings on monthly maintenance;
- loyalty of the system to the quality of fuel. With regard to the CIS countries, where the fuel is not always “good”, this option is acceptable. The power unit runs quite comfortably on AI-92 gasoline;
- the average service life before overhaul is 300,000 km. These figures are given by the manufacturer. In practice, the resource is less than 50,000 km. Few take into account the factor of timely replacement of engine oil, cleaning elements, refueling with high-quality fuel;
- minimal risks associated with overheating;
- the possibility of mechanical adjustment of the ignition timing;
- the design provides for the presence of rubber mounts above the engine. This allows you to damp vibrations, vibrations during operation.
Disadvantages of MPI
- increased fuel consumption. The factor is quite controversial, it can be interpreted in different ways. In comparison, it is increased by 7%. Many potential buyers are frightened off, repulsed by this;
- low torque, and as a result, an average power factor. The fuel mixture is mixed directly in the intake ports, not in the cylinders. This is atypical for most constructs and causes confusion among TSI constructors.
Cars with pre-installed MPI are not considered high-spirited, fast, or active. Rather, the average level for connoisseurs of a leisurely drive, family vacations.
Sales statistics for the CIS and the Russian Federation, including, show that for owners, the power indicator is still a priority, rather than practicality.
Typical symptoms of MPI failure
- decrease in power during driving;
- increased fuel consumption;
- an indicator on the presence of a “Check Engine” malfunction signals on the central dashboard;
- Exhaust in blue, white or black comes out of the tailpipe. At the same time, this indicates a faulty injector and fuel equipment;
- unstable idling;
- difficult cold start;
- increased working sound, vibration.
Common causes of breakdowns
- violation, ignoring the timing of the technical inspection;
- third-party technical (mechanical) damage, accidents, collisions, impacts;
- installation of non-original parts, components, consumables;
- refueling with low-quality fuel with a high content of chemical impurities;
- violation of the rules for using a machine, power unit;
- inconsistency of temperature conditions, oil viscosity indices;
- systematic loads in excess of the norm.
Difference between TSI and MPI
(double supercharging with stratified injection) - this is how the abbreviation TSI stands. This interpretation was provided by Volkswagen engineers at the initial stage. After, it was renamed Turbo Stratified Injection. Now the abbreviation is used by many concerns, only with the addition of a few letters to distinguish it.
Differences between the two types:
- TSI has a standard inflation system. The motor can have two superchargers at the same time: a turbocharged compressor and a mechanical type;
- there are no blowers in MPI, they are not provided by the design. When it comes to MPI, they mean atmospheric-type power units;
- TSI puts forward a number of requirements for engine oil, viscosity index, replacement frequency;
- in TSI, fuel is injected directly into the cylinder cavity. For this, a special-shaped head, pistons, fuel injectors are made;
- in MPI, the fuel enters initially into the intake manifold, and then into the cylinder at the moment the valves open. For such a design, the presence of a gasoline pump is not at all necessary, since the nominal pressure is sufficient to supply fuel.
In the event of breakdowns, MPI repair will cost several times cheaper than TSI. This factor is powerful, for many potential owners it is fundamental.
MPI engines are gradually becoming a thing of the past, so it is less and less common to meet a car enthusiast who understands what it is about when they call this abbreviation. Those who have changed a lot of cars or are interested in cars in general know about it.
Having replaced carburetor engines, becoming the next step in the development of the automotive industry, this type of engine is now giving way to advanced developments. Today, many people think in advance which engine should be on a personal car: TSI, FSI or MPI. Although many experts still consider the latter to be the most practical, reliable and trouble-free in the family of injection engines.
FSI is considered a more modern development, the next step after MPI. The BSE engine appeared in 2005 and is famous for being well tolerated by the poor quality of domestic fuel.
Did you know? The abbreviation MPI comes from the term Multi Point Injection, which means multipoint fuel injection. The motor was actively used at the Volkswagen concern. It was gradually introduced at the Skoda subsidiary. The motors were also installed there for the last time - on the Yeti and Octavia models.
It should also be explained what MPI and TSI are. If the first term means an internal combustion engine, in which each cylinder has its own injector, then TSI has different interpretations.
So, initially, the abbreviation meant double supercharging and stratified injection: Twincharged Stratified Injection. But recently, the abbreviation TFSI has become increasingly used, in which the additional letter F stands for Fuel - fuel.
You can often find another abbreviated name of the engine - MPI DOHC, which means it is easy to understand if you know that the term DOHC refers to engines in which there are 2 camshafts and 4 valves in the cylinder head.
Principle of operation
The MPI fuel injection system delivers fuel simultaneously from multiple points. Each cylinder has its own injector, and fuel is supplied through a dedicated exhaust channel. But what distinguishes the MPI engine from the TSI, which is also equipped with a multi-point fuel supply, is lack of pressurization.
The fuel mixture is fed into the cylinders not with the help of turbochargers, but with the help of a gas pump. It pumps gasoline into a special intake manifold under a pressure of three atmospheres, where it mixes with air and is also sucked into the cylinder through the intake valve under pressure.
Schematically, the engine looks like this:- The fuel pump pumps fuel from the tank to the injector.
- From the electronic injection control unit, a signal is sent to the injector, which passes fuel into a special channel.
- The mixture is sent to the combustion chamber.
The hydraulic control system consists of a clutch with a grease fitting and a system that limits trims. It includes rubber mounts that can independently adjust to the operating mode of the engine, reducing noise and vibration during operation. The engine has 8 valves: 2 for each of the cylinders, as well as a camshaft.
Did you know? The most common engines are MPI 1.4 with 80 horsepower and 1.6 with 105 horsepower. But automakers are still gradually abandoning them. The only ones who still use engines of this type are Dodge and Skoda.
Dignity
The engine has several advantages, the main one of which is - simplicity of the system. This makes it easy to repair and maintain. For repairs, it is not always necessary to completely disassemble the entire structure. It can run on 92 gasoline.
In addition, its overall construction is very robust. In most cases, you can drive up to 300 thousand km without repairing the engine. Of course, if you maintain it properly: change the oil and filters on time.
disadvantages
However, it was the design features of the MPI engine that provoked its shortcomings. The intake system has very limited capabilities, since the fuel is combined with air not in the cylinders, but in the channels. Therefore, the motor has a weak torque and low power. In addition, 8 valves are considered insufficient for today's vehicles.
In general, this type of engine is only good for a low-speed family car. Apparently, therefore, car manufacturers have been increasingly abandoning it lately.
Important! Today, only a few companies use this type of motor in their vehicles. In addition, its repair is quite expensive. This must be taken into account when choosing a car.
Although there are attempts to upgrade this engine. For example, in 2014, Skoda installed an improved engine of this type on the Yeti, designed specifically for the Russian segment. He received a power of 110 horsepower.
American developers are also engaged in modernization, but nevertheless, in the confrontation between power and reliability, manufacturers and motorists more often choose the former.
When it comes to Czech motors, almost everyone considers them unique and the best in the world in their class. Endurance, economy, certain manufacturability and classic design do their job. The only problem is that some units have not earned such a good reputation among car buyers. In particular, the 1.6 MPI engines found in the Octavia have not always been so interesting. Please note that the corporation has used at least 3 different powertrains with one marking in its history. Until 2004, the 1.6 MPI unit was installed on the first generation Octavia Tour, it was identical to the Volkswagen engines, which we will talk about later. In 2005 the Czechs carried out a small reconstruction of this unit. It was on the Octavia A5 of the first years of production that this engine was installed, and the reviews are rather contradictory.
Today, other units with the same 1.6 MPI marking are installed on the A7 generation, as well as on the A5 restyling. In particular, Russian cars are equipped with a power plant manufactured at a Russian plant. And his technologies have gone far from their predecessors. So it's not worth dumping all the ideas about the aspirated in a heap. Different cars have different power units with a volume of 1.6, and this should be taken into account when buying a car. Among all the versions, there is no excessively bad engine that would not have passed even 200,000 km. But after significant runs, many units start having problems. The original German technology has long since changed. And even on VW cars, MPI engines are no longer what they used to be. So it's worth thinking about the latest reviews and independent tests before giving money for a potentially reliable and classic aspirated. Let's look at this situation from a historical perspective.
First 1.6 MPI engines on Volkswagen vehicles
The first copies of 1.6 on German cars were practically not delivered to Russia. But many cars came to our country at the end of the 90s according to well-known schemes. Some of them were imported illegally, but many of them still successfully travel on the roads of the Russian Federation. If you had a chance to get in touch with the first 110 hp 1.6 MPI engine, then you felt all the delights of real German technology. The features of this motor were as follows:
- installed the engine on a Golf IV, Passat B5, its power was low, but there were enough features for successful operation in a city and a highway, there were no restrictions;
- a simple automatic machine was supplied with the motor, but more often they bought mechanics, which were produced taking into account military endurance, these boxes never broke at all;
- the motor itself is made of special alloys, it is quite heavy, it can be repaired and serves until overhaul at least 300,000 km, this is one of the last European millionaires;
- many technologies of this engine are used to this day, 20 years after the first installation on a German car, but the materials have long since changed everything;
- the unit is very economical with all its advantages, it consumes up to 10 liters of gasoline in the city and up to 6.5 on the highway on a large Passat, which gives clear benefits to the machine.
The only problem with this unit is its age. The youngest car that you can find with this engine and with an excellent gearbox is the 2004 Passat B5 Plus. After the release of the Passat B6, VW corporation transferred the aspirated technology to the Czechs and began to install completely different power units on their cars. So finding a good low mileage engine from the first 1.6 MPI will be incredibly difficult.
Skoda and improvements are the main factors of the popular 1.6 MPI
The Czechs did not dare to produce a naturally aspirated engine in exactly the same way as the Germans. The reasons for this decision are unknown, but the company in 2005 significantly "modified" the engine. Everything outwardly remained unchanged. Atmospheric technology, consumption even less than the previous version, the same size, the same characteristics. But in general, the design of the power unit has been changed in several important points:
- alloys for production were greatly changed in order to lighten and reduce the cost of the power plant, this led to the fact that a damp motor hit the market without proper verification;
- to reduce costs, the piston system was modified, the very essence of the engine design was slightly changed, so the load on its main parts increased slightly;
- the inside of the engine has been greatly simplified, in particular, the amount of metal has been reduced, the walls between the cylinders do not allow the power unit to be overhauled;
- Czech engineers simplified many technologies that should not have been simplified, and the engine immediately began to bring certain troubles to its owners in operation;
- the ECU program was completely changed due to economy and other important advantages of operation, but the durability of the motor immediately decreased several times.
Modern technologies are not always better than classical ones. This is proved by the Octavia A5, on which this power unit is installed. Cars break easily, very often they let their owners down after 8-10 years of operation and 200,000 km of run. So when buying a used Octavia, opt for more expensive engines like 2.0 FSI or diesel engines. But you should not buy a used car with an aspirated 1.6, it can bring problems.
New 1.6 MPI engine - Russian production
An engine manufactured in the Russian Federation is being installed on Skoda and Volkswagen assembled in Russia. At its own plant, the Volkswagen-Group corporation launched the production of aspirated engines with a volume of 1.6 liters. This is a completely different engine, the EA211 series of this motor, previously such technologies were not used at all in German cars. It is still difficult to say something specific about this engine, but the first reviews of the owners allow us to give the following conclusions:
- motor for its 110 hp very dynamic, engineers have squeezed out of it almost everything that can be squeezed out of a simple atmospheric engine of this volume in our conditions;
- the production is of sufficient quality, since there are practically no breakdowns and warranty claims, the engine behaves perfectly, at least on new cars without mileage and bad experience;
- fuel consumption has been reduced, some important characteristics have been improved, but the motor has not become more reliable, and this is evident from the design in comparison with its predecessor EA111;
- the impossibility of performing a major overhaul of the unit has not gone anywhere, the owners can operate the unit until a replacement with a new motor is required;
- there is no doubt that almost all the illnesses of the 111 engine remained in place, but Russian production made the technology somewhat cheaper and made the new engine more accessible.
It is not recommended to repair and overhaul the unit. This is one of the important operating conditions that should be observed when buying a car with this installation under the hood. But the car travels its 250-300 thousand kilometers, and this is really good in comparison with competitors. The fuel consumption is good, the dynamics are quite good, and the reliability and durability have not yet been tested on a large number of copies. So it's too early to draw final conclusions.
What will happen in the future with MPI engines?
Most likely, engines with atmospheric technology are living out their last years. Soon they will begin to be replaced by downsized and less attractive turbocharged units with more complex characteristics. The reason for this is rather strange environmental laws. Euro-6 already cuts off many classic units due to high emissions into the atmosphere. The EA211 engine is designed for Euro-5 standards, it will reach Euro-6, but it will not be able to withstand the next standard in a couple of years. There are several important factors about these motors:
- too large a volume for low power becomes unprofitable for the buyer and manufacturer, there are much more compact units with a large number of horses;
- the engine has 110 horsepower, but with a volume of 0.9 liters, the exhaust will be almost 2 times lower, and this is an important argument for most modern manufacturers in Europe and the USA;
- scandals with the environmental standards of diesel engines (dieselgate in America) are just the beginning, soon the authorities of the leading countries will take on other units with increased emissions;
- atmospheric technologies are simple and serve for a long time without breakdowns, it is unprofitable for manufacturers who earn good money on spare parts for technological installations;
- turbocharged units are a necessity in the modern world of technology, it is these motors that will soon flood the entire market and will not give the buyer much choice.
Simple technologies are a thing of the past. Today, on a modern unit in the garage, you can only change the candles, and for this you have to read the forum and look for tips from specialists. The first 1.6 MPI motor could be serviced at home independently, but today the manufacturer is trying to suppress these possibilities. Business and money began to rule the world, and this cannot but affect the quality of the technologies produced.
We offer you to watch a test drive of a car on which exactly this type of power unit is installed in the following video:
Summing up
It is impossible to say that the atmospheric installation on Skoda cars is absolutely bad. This is a pretty good unit compared to most of the competition. But you should not extol him too high above your rivals. The 1.6 MPI motor still has certain drawbacks that Russian production did not fix. Volkswagen Corporation is moving away from using these engines, offering them only on domestic Russian models. In Europe, aspirated engines have long been bypassed in the cabin, choosing more economical and driving turbocharged units of different stripes.
For Russia, turbocharged units are still difficult to call optimal. We need unpretentious and hardy motors that work great in a variety of conditions and behave great in changing climates. Of course, consumption is also becoming an important factor, but for now we give preference to reliability. However, reliability is also becoming a relative factor, and it is difficult to predict the lifespan of a particular car. It is safe to say that the era of atmospheric propulsion systems is leaving, the time of more advanced technologies is beginning. What do you think of Czech and German 1.6 MPI installations?
Every abbreviation in the automotive industry means something. So, the concepts of FSI and TFSI also matter. But what is the difference between almost the same abbreviations. Let's analyze what is in the names and what is the difference between them.
Characteristic
The FSI power unit is a German-made engine from the Volkswagen concern. This engine has gained popular popularity due to its high technical characteristics, as well as simplicity of construction, repair and maintenance.
The abbreviation FSI stands for Fuel Stratified Injection, which means layer-by-layer fuel injection. Unlike the widespread TSI, the FSI is not turbocharged. In human terms, this is a normal naturally aspirated engine, which was used quite often by Skoda.
FSi engine
The abbreviation TFSI stands for Turbo Fuel Stratified Injection, which means turbocharged stratified fuel injection. Unlike the widespread FSI, the TFSI is turbocharged. In human terms, this is a conventional naturally aspirated engine with a turbine, which was often used by Audi on the A4, A6, Q5 models.
TFSi engine
Like the FSI, the TFSI has an increased environmental standard and economy. Thanks to the Fuel Stratified Injection system and thanks to the peculiarities of the intake manifold, fuel injection and "tamed" turbulence, the engine can run on both ultra-lean and homogeneous mixtures.
Pros and cons of using
The positive side of the Fuel Stratified Injection engine is the presence of bypass fuel injection. Fuel is supplied from one circuit under low pressure, and from the other - under high pressure. Consider the principle of operation of each fuel supply circuit.
A low pressure circuit in the list of components has:
- fuel tank;
- gasoline pump;
- fuel filter;
- bypass valve;
- fuel pressure control;
The design of the high pressure circuit assumes the presence of:
- high pressure fuel pump;
- high pressure lines;
- distribution pipelines;
- high pressure sensor;
- safety valve;
- injection nozzles;
A distinctive feature is the presence of an absorber and a purge valve.
FSi engine Audi A8
Unlike conventional gasoline powertrains, where fuel enters the intake manifold before entering the combustion chamber, on the FSI, the fuel enters the cylinders directly. The injectors themselves have 6 holes, which provides an improved injection system and increased efficiency.
Since air enters the cylinders separately, through the flap, an optimal air-fuel ratio is formed, which allows gasoline to burn evenly, without subjecting the pistons to unnecessary wear.
Another positive quality of using such an aspirated gas is fuel economy and a high environmental standard. The Fuel Stratified Injection system allows the driver to save up to 2.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
Applicability table for TFSi, FSi and TSi
But, where there are many positive aspects, there are also a significant number of disadvantages. The first disadvantage is that the aspirated air is very sensitive to the quality of the fuel. You cannot save on this engine, because on bad gasoline, it simply will refuse to work normally and will malfunction.
Another big drawback can be considered the fact that in cold weather, the power unit washes simply not to start. Taking into account common problems and FSI engines, problems in this line can arise with cold starts. The culprit is considered to be all the same layer-by-layer injection and the desire of engineers to reduce the toxicity of the exhaust during warm-up.
Oil consumption is one of the disadvantages. According to most owners of this power unit, an increase in lubricant consumption is often noticeable. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to produce to adhere to the tolerances VW 504 00/507 00. In other words, change the engine oil 2 times a year - during the periods of transition to summer and winter operating modes.
Output
The difference in the names, or rather the presence of the letter "T" means that the engine is turbocharged. Otherwise, there is no difference. FSI and TFSI engines have a significant number of positive and negative sides.
As you can see, the use of an aspirated gas is good in terms of economy and environmental friendliness. The motor is too sensitive to low temperatures and poor fuel. It was for the shortcomings that its use was discontinued and switched to TSI and MPI systems.
Surely everyone knows what a motor is in a car. but our today's article is devoted to a specific unit, about which we will try to tell from "A" and "I"
The end of the last century and the beginning of a new one became a period of heightened interest in MPI gasoline engines. The interpretation of this abbreviation sounds like Multi Point Injection. The extraordinary fuel injection scheme has served as a good demand for cars with such engines. This scheme was created according to the multi-point principle.
Individual injectors in each cylinder ensure the most uniform distribution of fuel in the cylinders. This design development, namely the launch of multipoint injection engines, was taken over by Volkswagen. Due to which later MPI engines appeared.
The emergence of such power plants constituted an alternative to carburetor engines. To better understand the MPI engine, you need to carefully analyze its competitive features.
Modernity of Multi Point Injection engines
There is no future for MPI engines, as it looked a few years ago, many even believed that the production of engines of this type had been suspended. The radical development of automotive developments and technologies very quickly forces us to forget about yesterday's quality benchmarks.
In fact, this is what happens with MPI engines, many in the industry argue that efficiency and environmental friendliness are outdated.
But these conclusions are mostly true only for the European markets, and as for the Russian ones, here it all looks in part. Since the real potential of these units has not yet been fully revealed by domestic motorists.
Manufacturers relying on foresight do not let this technology die and are constantly introducing it on cars intended for Russian roads. For example, Skoda Yeti or Volkswagen Polo. The most memorable were the representatives of the MPI system with engines, the volume of which was 1.4 or 1.6 liters.
Design features of the MPI engine
The complete absence of a turbocharger is another significant feature of this system, along with the multipoint injection system. In the design of these engines, there is a conventional gas pump, which, under a pressure of 3 atmospheres, supplies fuel to the intake manifold for subsequent mixture formation and supply of a ready-made composition through the intake valve.
This scheme of work is very similar to the scheme of operation of carburetor engines. The only difference is that there is a separate nozzle for each cylinder.
Another unusual feature of the engine's Multi Point Injection system is the presence of a water cooling circuit for the fuel mixture. This is due to the fact that in the area of the cylinder head there is a very high temperature, and the pressure of the incoming fuel is very low, because of this there is a high probability of a gas-air lock and, consequently, boiling.
Inherent advantages of MPI
Before switching to a car with MPI, many motorists who are more or less familiar with this system will think very well about obtaining a set of advantages due to which multipoint injection installations have earned a vocation in the world.
Simplicity of the device
This does not mean that such systems are simpler compared to carburetor models. If we compare the TSI model, which has a high-pressure fuel pump and turbochargers in its design, then naturally superiority is evident. And the cost of the car will be lower and reduced operating costs and the ability to carry out self-repair.
Undemanding fuel quality inquiries
It is not possible to guarantee the proper quality of fuel and oils everywhere and always, which is very typical for Russia. The use of low-octane gasolines below 92 does not affect the performance of MPI engines, since they are very unpretentious. The minimum mileage of cars without breakdowns, according to the developers, is 300,000 km, subject to timely replacement of oil and filter elements.
Minimum overheating probability
The ignition timing is adjustable. The presence of a system of engine mounts, which is designed to use rubber mounts. Of course, this is not directly related to the engine, but it still matters for the performance of the engine and the comfort of the driver.
Because the supports dampen vibrations and various noises that occur when driving. An interesting feature is that the supports are automatically adjusted for various engine operating modes.
Typical disadvantages of MPI
All the disadvantages of this engine are expressed precisely by its design features. The connection of fuel with air occurs in the channels, and not directly in the cylinders. Accordingly, there is a limitation of the capabilities of the intake system. This is expressed in a lack of power and a rather weak torque.
Proceeding from this, decent dynamics, sporty throttle response, hot drive are not obtained. In modern cars, the presence of eight valves, as a rule, is not enough, so all these characteristics increase. If you characterize this car with such a system, then it will quite pass for a family and quiet transport.
That is why such cars are no longer in demand and recede into the background into the past. Why is this happening, i.e. the world made an assessment of the qualities of this system and decided that this was not enough for him and the designer's developers began to design more modern motors in terms of power. But no, there are unexpected surprises in the automotive industry.
The developers of Skoda, having developed the Russian version of the Yeti SUV for family use, in 2014 deliberately abandoned the turbocharged engine with a volume of 1.2 in favor of the MPI engine with a volume of 1.6 and 110 hp.
According to the developers of the famous world concern, this engine has practically nothing in common in comparison with the old model with a capacity of 105 hp. It fits best with the TSI models, but it lacks direct injection and turbocharging.
Summarizing
All of the above indicators significantly affect the departure of engines from the world market with the MPI system. These days, many car enthusiasts prefer the more powerful modern cars, the pace of which is steadily increasing.
The need to equip machines with more powerful units significantly underestimates the coefficient of demand for Multi Point Injection engines. Compared to them, this motor is rather weak. But it is still too early to write off the MPI engine completely, since the developers of the Skoda Yeti are trying to use it to the fullest on Russian roads.
