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Date:         Sat, 13 Aug 2005 17:39:25 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Backfire vs Afterfire
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

The thread on backfiring brought this to mind.

When I went through A&P Mechanic school we had it hammered into us that what was commonly called a "backfire" wasn't really a backfire. The blast out the exhaust that occurs when the engine isn't running right was properly called, we were told, an "Afterfire". "Backfires" it was said, are fuel burning related activities that blow gases back out through the intake system. Faulty valve timing and ignition timing being the primary culprits triggering firing backwards through the intake system.

The engine mechanic instructors were quite adamant that we get the differences stuck in our heads and use the terminology correctly. Woe be unto the student that called it incorrectly on a mis-firing engine. We were taught that the importance of the distinction bore on the the idea of where to begin a diagnosis as to what problem an engine may have. Blowing out the intake pipes indicated one direction to go. Going out the back meant another direction to go in the diagnosis.

Just thought I would pass that bit of detritus along.

Regards,

John Rodgers 88 GL Driver


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