Swirl pots

Author
Discussion

SLiller

Original Poster:

59 posts

259 months

Friday 21st February 2003
quotequote all
Does anyone know what the function of a swirl pot is
on an injection system?.
Iam trying to fit an injection system to a non injected car and I understand I need a swirl pot.
Does it just keep a reserve of fuel, is it pressurised
and can it be internal to the tank?.
Any ideas?.

GreenV8S

30,242 posts

285 months

Friday 21st February 2003
quotequote all

Does anyone know what the function of a swirl pot is
on an injection system?.
Iam trying to fit an injection system to a non injected car and I understand I need a swirl pot.
Does it just keep a reserve of fuel, is it pressurised
and can it be internal to the tank?.
Any ideas?.


As I understand it, it is just a sump that ensures the pump never sucks air. In a carb system, the float chamber in the carb provides a reservoir than prevents the engine leaning out even if the fuel supply stops momentarily (on corners or whatever). On injection cars, there's no reservoir within the injection system and if the supply hickups even for an instant the engine would run lean, also the high pressure pumps required for an injection system don't like running on air. Some engines actually use a separate header tank filled by a low pressure lifter pump from the main tank, to absolutely guarantee the main high pressure pump never runs dry.

bobpearson

19 posts

255 months

Monday 24th February 2003
quotequote all
Just to add to the reply already made, the swirl pot isn't pressurised and it can be inside the tank. If it is a road car you can avoid the need by simply keeping the fuel level high. However if it is a competition car then the fuel weight is unwanted. We have this problem all the time with the BARC Renault formula.