The function of the fuel supply system in the spark-ignition engine is simple: to supply the correct volume of fuel at the correct pressure appropriate to the method of engine fuelling used. In the case of a carburettor, for instance, this might mean a fuel pressure of no more than 1.5-2 psi (10-15 kPa) pumping the fuel into the carburettor float chamber, from which the fuel will be sucked into the intake air stream. A simple, engine mounted, cam-actuated mechanical lift pump using an...

Thanks to the constant push from legislators towards greater fuel economy and lower emissions, turbo-supercharging is back in vogue with mainstream vehicle manufacturers. The result is that forced-induction engines such as the Ford EcoBoost range are seeing a growing use in production-engined competition vehicles, providing (relatively) low-cost power in a compact package; thanks to the fact most of these new-generation motors follow an I4 configuration. The use of turbo-supercharging...