Is the Engine in Your Vehicle Backfiring? Find Three Common Causes in Salem

3. Old Engine Technology

As we said earlier, it's rare for a more modern engine to backfire. But if you're driving a vintage set of wheels, there's a much higher chance that the engine may backfire. Modern engines are controlled by computers, while older engines rely largely on mechanical components that require more regular tune-ups to keep them performing as they should.

Older engines are equipped with spark plug wires, for example. If these are misplaced or mixed up, they can cause the engine to backfire. Another potential culprit that can only be found in older engines? The carburetor. Anyone who's dealt with them know that a carburetor can be difficult to tune properly, and sometimes a backfire can result from a poor fuel and air mixture.

2. Bad Engine Timing

This is much rarer on engines made within the last thirty years or so, but it can still happen from time to time. The timing needs to be incredibly precise for everything to combust the way it should. If it's off by even a small amount, the spark won't burn all of the fuel and air mixture; this mixture can then escape in the exhaust and combust there to cause a backfire. Or, an ill-timed spark could ignite the mixture while valves are open and cause a backfire.

1. Improper Fuel Ratio

A poor fuel ratio is by far the most common reason for a backfire in a modern vehicle. This can happen one of two ways. If the mixture contains too much fuel and not enough air, some of the fuel may remain uncombusted by the spark. This may not be caused by poor timing in the engine, but it leads to the same effect: combustion in the exhaust. A bad mass airflow sensor, leaking fuel injectors, or a clogged engine air filter are common culprits of a mixture that's too rich.

A mixture that's too lean in fuel can also cause a backfire. With too much air in the mixture, the spark won't ignite the fuel all at the same time, and vapor will move to the exhaust. A bad fuel pump, clogged fuel injectors, or a vacuum leak might cause this problem.