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93-503: Prior to 1966, Subaru was known for producing kei cars in Japan; for their first four-passenger model, the firm developed an air-cooled boxer engine for a prototype of the Subaru 1500 in 1960, but Fuji Heavy Industries was unable to continue development due to a shortage of funding. A new prototype front-wheel-drive car was built with a 923 cc (56 in) water-cooled boxer engine, which became

186-420: A cold start . In order to ensure an adequate supply at all times, carburetors include a reservoir of fuel, called a "float chamber" or "float bowl". Fuel is delivered to the float chamber by a fuel pump . A floating inlet valve regulates the fuel entering the float chamber, assuring a constant level. Unlike in a fuel injected engine, the fuel system in a carbureted engine is not pressurized. For engines where

279-445: A displacement of just 150 cc (or just 100 cc for two-stroke engines ) in 1949, dimensions and engine size limitations were gradually expanded in 1950, 1951, and 1955, to make kei cars more attractive to buyers, and production more viable to manufacturers. In 1955, the displacement limit was increased to 360 cc for both two-stroke and four-stroke engines , resulting in several new kei car models beginning production in

372-467: A venturi (aka "barrel"). Fuel is introduced into the air stream through small tubes (the main jets ) at the narrowest part of the venturi, where the air is at its highest speed. Downstream of the venturi is a throttle (usually in the form of a butterfly valve ) which is used to control the amount of air entering the carburetor. In a car, this throttle is connected to the vehicle's throttle pedal, which varies engine speed. At lesser throttle openings,

465-458: A continued market existed for the kei car. As sales improved, these engines only lasted for a model year or so until manufacturers had the time to develop maximum-sized engines. Only Daihatsu had a 550 cc engine ready and thus avoided developing transitional engines that did not immediately take full advantage of the new regulations. Kei car sales remained stagnant, however; while combined passenger and commercial kei car sales reached 700,000 for

558-450: A displacement increase of 110 cc (6.7 cu in), or twenty percent, while the maximum length was increased by 100 mm (3.9 in). These changes occurred during the 1990s Japanese economic bubble , and all manufacturers quickly developed new models to suit. Within five months, all major kei models had switched from 550 cc to 660 cc engines. For the first time, a power limit of 64 PS (47 kW; 63 hp)

651-429: A flexible diaphragm on one side of the fuel chamber, connected to a needle valve which regulates the fuel entering the chamber. As the flowrate of the air in the chamber (controlled by the throttling valve/butterfly valve) decreases, the diaphragm moves inward (downward), which closes the needle valve to admit less fuel. As the flowrate of the air in the chamber increases, the diaphragm moves outward (upward) which opens

744-488: A governmental backlash. This power limit matched the highest output reached by any kei manufacturer at the time and was a gentlemen's agreement amongst the manufacturers in an effort to avoid a kei-class horsepower war. The only kei car to have exceeded this limit is the Caterham 7 160, a lightweight British sports car that was not expected to qualify as a kei car, though it is small enough (in dimensions and displacement) to fit

837-556: A kei car in Japan, a kei version of the Smart Fortwo (called the Smart K ) was sold in Japan by Yanase from 2001 to 2004. The Smart K used revised rear fenders and reduced tire dimensions and track width to conform to kei regulations. The model was not a success, and sold the fewest examples of a kei car when it was marketed. The Suzuki Wagon R was the best-selling kei car in Japan between calendar years 1996 and 2011, except in 2003, when

930-440: A low-pressure area in the idle passage/port thus causing fuel to flow through the idle jet. The idle jet is set at some constant value by the carburetor manufacturer, thus flowing a specified amount of fuel. Many carburetors use an off-idle circuit, which includes an additional fuel jet which is briefly used as the throttle starts to open. This jet is located in a low-pressure area behind the throttle. The additional fuel it provides

1023-613: A lower overall ownership cost. In most rural areas they are also exempt from the general Japanese shako shōmeisho ( 車庫証明書 ) parking-space ownership requirement to legally buy a motor vehicle at all, as street parking is generally restricted in Japan. Japan's carmakers also make microvans and kei trucks within this legal category. The kei category was created by the Japanese government in 1949, to stimulate both car ownership and growth of Japan's car industry. The regulations were revised multiple times until 1998, but since October 1998,

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1116-464: A patent for a "gas or vapor engine", which ran on turpentine mixed with air. The design did not reach production. In 1875 German engineer Siegfried Marcus produced a car powered by the first petrol engine (which also debuted the first magneto ignition system). Karl Benz introduced his single-cylinder four-stroke powered Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1885. All three of these engines used surface carburetors, which operated by moving air across

1209-453: A quarter of its overall sales. In April 2014, the Japanese government significantly reduced advantages for kei car owners, imposing a higher sales tax, a higher gasoline tax, and a higher kei car tax, the last of which was raised by 50 percent—greatly reducing tax benefits compared to regular-sized cars. Daihatsu, Honda, Suzuki and Nissan-Mitsubishi (through the NMKV joint venture) are currently

1302-428: A quarter of the exported kei vehicles. Due to the difficult economic environment, low-priced cars sold well at the turn of the decade; 1981 marked another successful year as Japanese kei car sales reached their highest since 1970 (at 1,229,809 units for cars and trucks). This was also thanks to a new phenomenon: To help boost their sales, Suzuki developed a new car which could be sold as a commercial vehicle although it

1395-401: A regular car. A 24-month insurance contract typically costs ¥18,980 at the time of registration versus ¥22,470 for a larger car. An automobile weight tax also is levied: The amount is ¥13,200 and ¥8,800 for a three- and two-year period, respectively, as compared to the ¥18,900 and ¥12,600 charged for larger-sized passenger cars. The savings are thus more than 30% in both cases. This weight tax

1488-406: A single carburetor shared between all of the cylinders, though some high-performance engines historically had multiple carburetors. The carburetor works on Bernoulli's principle : the static pressure of the intake air reduces at higher speeds, drawing more fuel into the airstream. In most cases (except for the accelerator pump ), the driver pressing the throttle pedal does not directly increase

1581-535: A single electric motor with a maximum output of 47 kW (63 hp; 64 PS). The eK X EV is a battery-electric version of the Mitsubishi eK X, and the Sakura is an update to Nissan's Dayz line. The two are eligible for EV purchase incentives in Japan, and as of June 2022, are also the cheapest new BEVs from a major Japanese manufacturer. The vehicle excise tax levy is 2% of the purchase price, compared to 3% for

1674-537: A single intake manifold, and the late version for the 1983 Safari Rally, featured two downdraft Weber Carburetors, each one mounted directly over each head. The Heads and Valvetrain on the EA81S engines are different from the regular counterparts, featuring different positions for the intake and exhaust valves on the Heads, feature known usually as Reverse Valves. The EA-81T is not an official engine designation from Subaru. The "T"

1767-704: A version of the German-made Smart Fortwo was briefly imported and officially classified as a kei car. In addition, the British Caterham 7 160 and the Polish Polski Fiat 126p (Maluch) also received such classification. Japanese government regulations limit the outer physical size, and ( combustion ) engine displacement and power output of kei cars, see detailed table below. Kei cars have also been subject to other restrictions, chiefly lower speed limits than bigger vehicles; older Kei-cars also had

1860-536: A warning chime that sounded when being driven too fast. Kei cars are issued special license plates , with black numbers on a yellow background for private use, and yellow numbers on a black background for commercial use, earning them the name "yellow-plate cars" in English-speaking circles. Modern Kei cars are often available with turbocharged engines, automatic and continuously variable transmissions, and choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive . After

1953-709: Is found on the 1988-1991 Subaru Alcyone VX (XT-6 in the United States). Created as a refined luxury engine with improved power over the EA82T, Subaru introduced the ER series engine in 1988 exclusively to be featured in the Subaru Alcyone VX. Like the EA series engines, the ER series engine featured 2-valve cylinder heads with hydraulic lash adjusters and the block shared the same bore and stroke. While recognised as bearing many similarities to

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2046-415: Is held shut by engine vacuum, is often used to do so. As the airflow through the carburetor increases the reduced manifold vacuum pulls the power valve open, allowing more fuel into the main metering circuit. In a two-stroke engine , the carburetor power valve operates in the opposite manner: in most circumstances the valve allows extra fuel into the engine, then at a certain engine RPM it closes to reduce

2139-400: Is limited mainly by the fuel's viscosity so that the fuel flow tends to be proportional to the pressure difference. So jets sized for full power tend to starve the engine at lower speed and part throttle. Most commonly this has been corrected by using multiple jets. In SU and other (e.g. Zenith-Stromberg ) variable jet carburetors, it was corrected by varying the jet size. The orientation of

2232-405: Is often used to prevent icing. This system consists of a secondary air intake which passes around the exhaust, in order to heat the air before it enters the carburetor. Typically, the system is operated by the pilot manually switching the intake air to travel via the heated intake path as required. The carburetor heat system reduces the power output (due to the lower density of heated air) and causes

2325-461: Is paid after the vehicle has passed its safety inspection . The required road tax is based on the engine's displacement. Carburetor A carburetor (also spelled carburettor or carburetter ) is a device used by a gasoline internal combustion engine to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine. The primary method of adding fuel to the intake air is through the Venturi tube in

2418-641: Is spelled "carburetor" in American English and "carburettor" in British English . Colloquial abbreviations include carb in the UK and North America or Carby in Australia. Air from the atmosphere enters the carburetor (usually via an air cleaner ), has fuel added within the carburetor, passes into the inlet manifold , then through the inlet valve(s) , and finally into the combustion chamber . Most engines use

2511-495: Is used informally to refer to the factory turbocharged version of EA-81 engines that are equipped with a turbocharger and multi port fuel injection . Boost pressure was 7 psi . The Subaru EA-82 engine was originally intended to be a 2.0L engine as its prototypes were, but Subaru destroked it to 1.8L for production. The EA82 was produced from 1984 to 1994. It came either with carburetor , single point fuel injection , or multi port fuel injection and hydraulic lifters. Most of

2604-399: Is used to compensate for the reduced vacuum that occurs when the throttle is opened, thus smoothing the transition from the idle circuit to the main metering circuit. In a four-stroke engine it is often desirable to provide extra fuel to the engine at high loads (to increase the power output and reduce engine knocking ). A 'power valve', which is a spring-loaded valve in the carburetor that

2697-524: The Carter Carburetor WCFB and the identical Rochester 4GC, introduced in various General Motors models for 1952. Oldsmobile referred the new carburetor as the "Quadri-Jet" (original spelling) while Buick called it the "Airpower". In the United States, carburetors were the common method of fuel delivery for most US-made gasoline (petrol) engines until the late 1980s, when fuel injection became

2790-756: The Daihatsu Move outsold the Wagon R. Starting in 2011, Toyota entered the kei car market for the first time. The resulting Toyota Pixis Space, a rebadged Daihatsu Move Conte , was expected to increase competition in that market. Nissan and Mitsubishi began to jointly produce the Mitsubishi eK (also sold as the Nissan Dayz and formerly the Nissan Otti). Honda's kei car lineup—the N-one , N-Box , and N-WGN —accounts for around

2883-782: The EA-63 block, known as the "Narrow Case EA71" then Subaru completely redesigned it to make the newer version known as "Fat Case EA71" which also led to a stroked version known as the EA81. The availability in USA for the EA71 ended in 1990 on the hatchback models. It came with a carburetor and the last editions for JDM featured throttle-body injection, found on the "Maia" editions of the third generation Subaru Leone. The engine came either with solid lifters or hydraulic lifters. This engine used twin Hitachi carburetors. There

Subaru EA engine - Misplaced Pages Continue

2976-608: The Honda Z GS of January 1970. Power outputs also kept climbing, reaching a peak with the 40 PS (29 kW; 39 hp) Daihatsu Fellow Max SS of July 1970. Sales increased steadily, reaching a peak of 750,000 in 1970. Until 31 December 1974, kei cars used smaller license plates than regular cars, at 230 mm × 125 mm (9.1 in × 4.9 in). From 1975, they received medium-sized standard plates, which are 330 mm × 165 mm (13.0 in × 6.5 in). To set them apart from regular passenger cars,

3069-848: The Subaru Leone , the Subaru Brat (Brumby), the Subaru Loyale , the Subaru Omega (coupé), the Subaru Vortex , the Subaru RX , and the Subaru XT (Alcyone). Works Group A/B The Subaru EA-52 engine was produced from 1966 until 1970. The Subaru EA-53 was used in the 1967 Subaru 1000 Sports Sedan, sold in Japan. It used twin carburetors. This engine was used in the September 1968 Japan Alpine Rally which

3162-466: The 'A' market-segment of motor vehicles. Although some Kei models are successfully exported or licensed, the great majority are designed and built for the Japanese domestic market only, as they are entirely optimized to offer the most appealing vehicles within the very specific to Japan Kei-car rules, in addition to mainly being built with the steering on the right. Contrary to popular belief, according to

3255-549: The 1 January 1990 regulations, there is no official power limit for Kei cars. The limit is dictated by a Gentleman's Agreement between Japanese auto manufacturers as the most powerful Kei car at the time was rated at 64 PS (47 kW; 63 hp). This agreement was reached to prevent a horsepower race, and to remain true to the modest spirit of the Kei class, to charge lower tax on small vehicles that are just enough to meet basic transportation needs. The kei legal class originated in

3348-510: The 1960s, consisting of over one-third of domestic new-car sales in fiscal year 2016, after dropping from a record 40 percent market share in 2013. To lower the market share of kei cars, Japan increased taxes on the category by 50% in 2014. In 2018, seven of the 10 top-selling models were nonetheless kei cars, including the top four, all boxy passenger vans : the Honda N-Box , Suzuki Spacia , Nissan Dayz , and Daihatsu Tanto . For exports,

3441-414: The 1970s. EEC legislation required all vehicles sold and produced in member countries to have a catalytic converter after December 1992. This legislation had been in the pipeline for some time, with many cars becoming available with catalytic converters or fuel injection from around 1990. A significant concern for aircraft engines is the formation of ice inside the carburetor. The temperature of air within

3534-445: The 1980s progressed, kei cars became increasingly refined, losing their utilitarian origins, as Japanese customers became ever better off. Features such as electric windows , turbochargers, four-wheel drive , and air conditioning became available on kei-car models. Conversely, van versions of kei hatchbacks were now marketed to non-business customers to take advantage of even lower taxation and more lenient emissions rules; this move in

3627-661: The 1980s, Kei cars had matured so much in power, speed, and passive (crash) safety, that they were no longer bound to lower maximum speeds than other cars. Japan's carmakers since agreed on a self-imposed maximum 140 km/h (87 mph) speed, mostly because of their narrow width. Kei cars are often considered the Japanese equivalent of the European Union 's A-segment "city cars". However, contrary to Japan's special Kei cars' legal status and limitations, there are no EU- or pan-European legal restrictions, exceptions or benefits for what European auto journalism or market analysts call

3720-695: The Japanese Transport Ministry. It was the world's first mass-produced electric car, and the first electric car to sell more than 10,000 units. Rebadged and slightly updated variants of the i-MiEV were also sold in Europe as the Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-Zero . In 2011, Mitsubishi launched the MINICAB-MiEV; a battery electric version of the Minicab microvan, borrowing the drivetrain and key components from

3813-535: The MPFI EA-82 with modified cylinder heads, lower compression pistons, and boost pressure of 7 psi A revised intake known as the "Spider" manifold was available and is seen as an early version of the EJ style intake manifold. The ER series is a flat-6 engine with a displacement of 2.7L manufactured by Subaru , a division of Fuji Heavy Industries . The ER series has aluminium engine blocks and aluminium cylinder heads. It

Subaru EA engine - Misplaced Pages Continue

3906-626: The Subaru EA82 engine, there are numerous differences in design between the two engines and a large portion of parts are unique to the ER27. The oil and water pumps are unique to the ER27, sharing similar bolt patterns and design to the EA82, but being of a higher flow in both cases. The intake manifold uses a two piece design with a lower section bolting to the heads containing the coolant bridge, injectors and various vacuum lines. The upper intake manifold then bolts to

3999-413: The air speed through the venturi is insufficient to maintain the fuel flow, therefore the fuel is instead supplied by the carburetor's idle and off-idle circuits . At greater throttle openings, the speed of air passing through the venturi increases, which lowers the pressure of the air and draws more fuel into the airstream. At the same time, the reduced manifold vacuum results in less fuel flow through

4092-450: The barrels consist of "primary" barrel(s) used for lower load situations and secondary barrel(s) activating when required to provide additional air/fuel at higher loads. The primary and secondary venturi are often sized differently and incorporate different features to suit the situations in which they are used. Many four-barrel carburetors use two primary and two secondary barrels. A four-barrel design of two primary and two secondary barrels

4185-506: The basis for the Subaru 1000 and the EA-52 boxer engine. The car began sales to the public starting in 1966. The EA series engines have aluminum heads with aluminum blocks. Each cylinder has two valves, one for exhaust and one for intake. They came in either an OHV pushrod or SOHC configuration. Subaru produced the EA series from 1966 to 1994, and were found in the Subaru FF-1 Star ,

4278-448: The car too slow. As commercial vehicles didn't have to meet the new stricter regulations, it continued to be available in the Van 1200 Standard until the end of production of the first generation Leone in 1979. The Subaru EA-65 engine was produced from 1975 to 1985 The Subaru EA-71 engine was produced in two different designs; from 1976 to 1994, originally the first design was a redesign of

4371-467: The car won in the 1000cc engine class. The Subaru EA-61 engine was produced from 1969 to 1972. The Japanese-spec Subaru FF-1 Sport Sedan and the FF-1 Super Touring sedan used twin carburetors, with the engine designation EA-61S. It was sold in the United States only for the 1971 model year. It was also briefly available in the first Leone, only in 1100 Van specification. The Subaru EA-62 engine

4464-420: The carburetor can be reduced by up to 40 °C (72 °F), due to a combination of the reduced air pressure in the venturi and the latent heat of the evaporating fuel. The conditions during the descent to landing are particularly conducive to icing, since the engine is run at idle for a prolonged period with the throttle closed. Icing can also occur in cruise conditions at altitude. A carburetor heat system

4557-481: The carburetor is a key design consideration. Older engines used updraft carburetors, where the air enters from below the carburetor and exits through the top. From the late 1930s, downdraft carburetors become more commonly used (especially in the United States), along with side draft carburetors (especially in Europe). The main metering circuit consists of a pipe which reduces to a narrows before widening again, forming

4650-466: The choke based on the temperature of the engine's coolant liquid, an electrical resistance heater to do so, or air drawn through a tube connected to an engine exhaust source. A choke left closed after the engine has warmed up increases the engine's fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions, and causes the engine to run rough and lack power due to an over-rich fuel mixture. However, excessive fuel can flood an engine and prevent it from starting. To remove

4743-408: The compression-based combustion of diesel requires the greater precision and pressure of fuel-injection. The name "carburetor" is derived from the verb carburet , which means "to combine with carbon", or, in particular, "to enrich a gas by combining it with carbon or hydrocarbons ". Thus a carburetor mixes intake air with hydrocarbon-based fuel, such as petrol or AutoGas (LPG). The name

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4836-485: The engine in steady-state conditions, the inertia of fuel (being higher than that of air) causes a temporary shortfall as the throttle is opened. Therefore, an accelerator pump is often used to briefly provide extra fuel as the throttle is opened. When the driver presses the throttle pedal, a small piston or diaphragm pump injects extra fuel directly into the carburetor throat. The accelerator pump can also be used to "prime" an engine with extra fuel prior to attempting

4929-455: The era following the end of World War II , when most Japanese citizens could not afford a full-sized car, though many had enough money to buy a light motorcycle . To stimulate growth of the car industry, as well as offer alternative commuting means, and small delivery vehicles for shops and businesses, the kei-car category, reduced tax-burden, and accompanying legal maximums for "essential transportation" vehicles were created. At first limited to

5022-418: The excess fuel, many carburetors with automatic chokes allow it to be held open (by manually, depressing the accelerator pedal to the floor and briefly holding it there while cranking the starter) to allow extra air into the engine until the excess fuel is cleared out. Another method used by carburetors to improve the operation of a cold engine is a fast idle cam , which is connected to the choke and prevents

5115-657: The first time since 1974, the small cars still lost market share in a quickly growing market. As the kei cars became larger and more powerful, another benefit appeared as exports increased considerably. In particular, export sales of kei trucks increased, while kei passenger car exports increased at a lower rate. In 1976, the number of exported kei cars and trucks combined was 74,633 (up 171% year-on-year), despite exports of passenger kei cars decreasing. In 1980, another record year occurred as exports grew by 80.3% (to 94,301 units), of which 77.6% were microtrucks. Nearly 17% of exports went to Europe, dwarfed by Chile , which took nearly

5208-433: The float chamber is located close to the engine, heat from the engine (including for several hours after the engine is shut off) can cause the fuel to heat up to the point of vaporization. This causes air bubbles in the fuel (similar to the air bubbles that necessitate brake bleeding ), which prevents the flow of fuel and is known as 'vapor lock'. To avoid pressurizing the float chamber, vent tubes allow air to enter and exit

5301-407: The float chamber. These tubes usually extend into the carburetor throat, placed to prevent fuel from sloshing out of them into the carburetor. If an engine must be operated when the carburetor is not in an upright orientation (for example in a chainsaw or airplane), a float chamber and gravity activated float valve would not be suitable. Instead, a diaphragm chamber is typically used. This consists of

5394-414: The flow of air at the entrance to the carburetor. This increases the vacuum in the main metering circuit, causing more fuel to be supplied to the engine via the main jets. Prior to the late 1950s the choke was manually operated by the driver, often using a lever or knob on the dashboard . Since then, automatic chokes became more commonplace. These either use a bimetallic thermostat to automatically regulate

5487-484: The following years. These included the 1955 Suzuki Suzulight and the 1958 Subaru 360 (considered the first truly mass-produced kei cars), which were finally able to fill people's need for basic transportation without being too severely compromised. In 1955, the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) also set forth goals to develop a " national car " that was larger than kei cars produced at

5580-426: The fuel entering the engine. Instead, the airflow through the carburetor increases, which in turn increases the amount of fuel drawn into the intake mixture. The main disadvantage of basing a carburetor's operation on Bernoulli's Principle is that being a fluid dynamic device, the pressure reduction in a venturi tends to be proportional to the square of the intake airspeed. The fuel jets are much smaller and fuel flow

5673-465: The fuel entering the engine. This is done in order to extend the engine's maximum RPM, since many two-stroke engines can temporarily achieve higher RPM with a leaner air-fuel ratio. This is not to be confused with the unrelated exhaust power valve arrangements used on two-stroke engines. A metering rod or step-up rod system is sometimes used as an alternative to a power valve in a four-stroke engine in order to supply extra fuel at high loads. One end of

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5766-633: The i-MiEV. As of March 2015, over 50,000 units across all variants (including the two minicab versions sold in Japan) have been sold worldwide since 2009. Production of the i-MiEV was discontinued in 2021. In May 2022, NMKV launched the Nissan-badged Sakura and the Mitsubishi-badged eK X EV in the Japanese domestic market . These models have a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with an estimated WLTC range of 180 km (110 mi). Both use

5859-424: The idle and off-idle circuits. During cold weather fuel vaporizes less readily and tends to condense on the walls of the intake manifold, starving the cylinders of fuel and making cold starts difficult. Additional fuel is required (for a given amount of air) to start and run the engine until it warms up, provided by a choke valve . While the engine is warming up the choke valve is partially closed, restricting

5952-409: The intake air filter to be bypassed, therefore the system is only used when there is a risk of icing. If the engine is operating at idle RPM, another method to prevent icing is to periodically open the throttle, which increases the air temperature within the carburetor. Carburetor icing also occurs on other applications and various methods have been employed to solve this problem. On inline engines

6045-411: The intake air travelling through the carburetor is pressurized (such as where the carburetor is downstream of a supercharger ) the entire carburetor must be contained in an airtight pressurized box to operate. However, this is not necessary where the carburetor is upstream of the supercharger. Problems of fuel boiling and vapor lock can occur in carbureted engines, especially in hotter climates. Since

6138-490: The intake and exhaust manifolds are on the same side of the head. Heat from the exhaust is used to warm the intake manifold and in turn the carburetor. On V configurations, exhaust gases were directed from one head through the intake cross over to the other head. One method for regulating the exhaust flow on the cross over for intake warming was a weighted eccentric butterfly valve called a heat riser that remained closed at idle and opened at higher exhaust flow. Some vehicles used

6231-438: The law consistently specifies a maximum vehicle length, width and height under 3.4 m (11.2 ft), 1.48 m (4.9 ft) and 2.0 m (6.6 ft), respectively, and engine displacement under 660 cc (40.3 cu in). A " gentleman's agreement " for a maximum power of 64 PS (63 hp; 47 kW) was reached between Japanese automakers and lawmakers. Kei cars have been very successful in Japan since

6324-512: The lower section and is unlike the EA82 or EJ22 "spider" manifold designs in that there is no central plenum chamber. The valve timing system is belt-drive using two individual timing belts, curiously one belt uses a spring tensioner (like the EA82) whilst the other uses a hydraulic tensioner (like the EJ22 ). Both JDM and USDM versions of the ER27 used multi-point electronic fuel injection. The ER27 designation

6417-500: The main metering circuit, though various other components are also used to provide extra fuel or air in specific circumstances. Since the 1990s, carburetors have been largely replaced by fuel injection for cars and trucks, but carburetors are still used by some small engines (e.g. lawnmowers, generators, and concrete mixers) and motorcycles. In addition, they are still widely used on piston engine driven aircraft. Diesel engines have always used fuel injection instead of carburetors, as

6510-588: The market was spearheaded by Suzuki with their 1979 Alto , and competitors soon followed suit, with the Subaru Family Rex and the Daihatsu Mira appearing within a year's time. In the 1980s, the speed limit for kei cars was 80 km/h (50 mph). Government rules also mandated a warning chime to alert the driver if this speed was exceeded. The kei car regulations were revised in March 1990, allowing engines

6603-562: The mid-1960s, when the kei speed limit was increased to 60 km/h (37.3 mph). The early vehicles were comparable to the European 'bubble-cars' of the era. The class then went through a period of ever increasing sophistication, with an automatic transmission appearing in the Honda N360 in August 1968, and front disc brakes becoming available on a number of sporting kei cars, beginning with

6696-480: The needle valve to admit more fuel, allowing the engine to generate more power. A balanced state is reached which creates a steady fuel reservoir level, that remains constant in any orientation. Other components that have been used on carburetors include: The basic design for a carburetor consists of a single venturi (main metering circuit), though designs with two or four venturi (two-barrel and four-barrel carburetors respectively) are also quite commonplace. Typically

6789-399: The new requirements. All manufacturers of kei cars were clamoring for increased engine displacement and vehicle size limits, claiming that the emissions standards could not be met with a functional 360-cc engine. In the end, the Japanese legislature relented, increasing the overall length and width restrictions by 200 mm (7.9 in) and 100 mm (3.9 in), respectively. Engine size

6882-424: The only mass-production manufacturers of kei cars. Mazda sells rebadged Suzuki models, Toyota and Subaru sell badge-engineered Daihatsu models, and Nissan-Mitsubishi sources their commercial kei models from Suzuki. The electric version of the Mitsubishi i , the Mitsubishi i-MiEV was the first electric kei car. This was launched for fleet purchasers in 2009 in the Japanese domestic market . It became available to

6975-439: The plates were now yellow and black rather than white and green. Throughout the 1970s, the government kept whittling away at the benefits offered to kei vehicles, which combined with ever stricter emissions standards to lower sales drastically through the first half of the decade. Previously exempt, mandatory annual inspections for kei cars were added in 1973 and put an additional damper on sales. Honda and Mazda withdrew from

7068-475: The preferred method. One of the last motorsport users of carburetors was NASCAR, which switched to electronic fuel injection after the 2011 Sprint Cup series . NASCAR still uses the four-barrel carburetor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series . In Europe, carburetors were largely replaced by fuel injection in the late 1980s, although fuel injection had been increasingly used in luxury cars and sports cars since

7161-474: The regulations. Its engine is rated at 80 hp (60 kW; 81 PS)—since that is how the car is homologated in the United Kingdom, Japanese authorities told the importer that its power should remain unchanged. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association also self-imposes a speed limit of 140 km/h (87 mph) for kei cars. In a rare example of an overseas mass-produced model being sold as

7254-489: The rods is tapered, which sits in the main metering jets and acts as a valve for fuel flow in the jets. At high engine loads, the rods are lifted away from the jets (either mechanically or using manifold vacuum), increasing the volume of fuel can flow through the jet. These systems have been used by the Rochester Quadra jet and in the 1950s Carter carburetors. While the main metering circuit can adequately supply fuel to

7347-422: The shrinking passenger kei car market in 1974 and 1976, respectively, although they both maintained a limited offering of commercial vehicles. Sales had been steadily declining, reaching a low of 150,000 passenger cars in 1975, 80% less than 1970 sales. Emissions laws were another problem for the kei car industry in the mid-1970s. From 1973 to 1978, emissions standards were to be tightened in four steps. Meeting

7440-435: The stricter standards, which were to be introduced in 1975, would be problematic for manufacturers of kei cars. This was particularly hard for Daihatsu and Suzuki , which focused on two-stroke engines, and especially Suzuki, a relatively small company whose entire lineup consisted of two-stroke kei cars. Daihatsu, though, had both the engineering backing and powerful connections of their owner, Toyota , to aid them in meeting

7533-652: The technical advancements introduced to the EA82 were utilized in the next generation Subaru EJ engine , specifically, the SOHC valvetrain, and multi-point fuel injection. The EA-82T engine was introduced in 1984 for the Third generation of Subaru Leone in the GL-10 and RX Turbo trim models plus the XT (Vortex), and later on the Subaru Leone RX Coupe models. It is a turbocharged version of

7626-399: The throttle from closing fully while the choke is in operation. The resulting increase in idle speed provides a more stable idle for a cold engine (by better atomizing the cold fuel) and helps the engine warm up quicker. The system within a carburetor that meters fuel when the engine is running at low RPM. The idle circuit is generally activated by vacuum under the throttle plate, which causes

7719-447: The time. This goal influenced Japanese automobile manufacturers to determine how best to focus their product development efforts for kei cars or the larger "national" cars. The small exterior dimensions and engine displacement reflected the driving environment in Japan, with speed limits in Japan realistically not exceeding 40 km/h (24.9 mph) in urban areas. Kei cars were not allowed to be driven any faster than 40 km/h until

7812-544: The top of a vessel containing the fuel. The first float-fed carburetor design, which used an atomizer nozzle , was introduced by German engineers Wilhelm Maybach and Gottlieb Daimler in their 1885 Grandfather Clock engine . The Butler Petrol Cycle car—built in England in 1888—also used a float-fed carburetor. The first carburetor for a stationary engine was patented in 1893 by Hungarian engineers János Csonka and Donát Bánki . The first four-barrel carburetors were

7905-616: The vehicles are generally too small and specialized to be profitable. Notable exceptions exist, for instance the Suzuki Alto and Daihatsu Cuore , which have been exported consistently from around 1980. The export version of the Suzuki Jimny has become very popular, both in and outside of Japan. Kei cars are both popular with the elderly, but also with youths and younger families because of their affordability and ease of use. Nearly all kei cars have been designed and manufactured in Japan, but

7998-481: The wider public as well as the global market in 2010. The i-MiEV uses a 47 kW (63 hp) permanent-magnet synchronous motor powered by a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It can charge overnight in 14 hours from home 100-volt mains, or in 30 minutes from quick-charging stations installed at fleet locations. Its range is 100 km (62 mi) as tested by the US EPA , and 160 km (99 mi) as tested by

8091-436: Was also applied in addition to the limit on engine size, in response to the ever-increasing power outputs available with turbocharging and multivalve technologies popularized in the late 1980s. Engine technology was also shared with sports bikes , which are designed more for rider enjoyment and less so for fuel economy, going against the idea of small people's cars and putting the kei cars' tax and structural advantages at risk of

8184-591: Was an unreleased EA-72 concept engine Subaru developed for use in the Japanese Market in 1989. It was essentially an EA-82 with an EA-71 crankshaft . This engine never came about as the Subaru EJ15 and EJ16 were already in development for this purpose. The Subaru EA-81 engine was produced from 1980 to 1994 and is a stroked version of the "Fat Case" EA-71 it came either with Solid Lifters or Hydraulic Lifters. This engine used twin Hitachi carburetors on

8277-527: Was commonly used in V8 engines to conserve fuel at low engine speeds while still affording an adequate supply at high. The use of multiple carburetors (e.g., a carburetor for each cylinder or pair of cylinders) also results in the intake air being drawn through multiple venturi. Some high-performance engines have used multiple two-barrel or four-barrel carburetors, for example six two-barrel carburetors on Ferrari V12s. In 1826, American engineer Samuel Morey received

8370-627: Was increased to 550 cc, taking effect from 1 January 1976. The new standards were announced on 26 August 1975, leaving very little time for manufacturers to revise their designs to take advantage of the new limits. Most manufacturers were somewhat surprised by the decision; having expected a 500 cc (30.5 cu in) limit, they had already developed new engines to fit such restrictions. These new engines were quickly introduced, usually mounted within widened bodies of existing models. These interim versions, with displacements ranging between 443 and 490 cc, were "feelers", developed to see if

8463-496: Was produced from 1971 to 1972. It is the only EA- engine with rear-facing exhaust ports. This engine used twin carburetors from Zenith-Stromberg. The Subaru EA-63 engine was produced from 1973 to 1979, although it stopped being used in US-market cars in 1976. The Subaru EA-64 engine was produced from 1973 to 1979. The engine disappeared from the sedan catalogs in September 1975, as the new emissions regulations would simply make

8556-457: Was really intended for private use, thus avoiding the 15.5% excise tax . Efficient, bare bones design meant that the resulting Suzuki Alto was considerably cheaper than any of its competitors, and it set the tone for kei cars for the entire 1980s. Until the excise tax was abolished in 1989, light commercials like the Alto and its competitors nearly completely supplanted the passenger car versions. As

8649-533: Was the first time Subaru incorporated the engine's displacement into the series name and all future engines have retained this nomenclature. Kei car Kei car is the smallest category of Japanese expressway -legal motor vehicles. The term kei is a shortening of kei-jidōsha , ( kanji : 軽自動車 ), which translates to English as "light automobile" ( pronounced [keːdʑidoːɕa] ). With restricted dimensions and engine specifications, owners enjoy lower tax and insurance rates which lead to

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