Can you tell the difference?

[MightyFine69]

This is a not really a question pertaining specifically to our year truck, but is an interesting one none the less.

Can you tell the difference in the exhaust note of a fuel injected engine vs. a carburated engine? Given similar exhaust systems.

Do they typically sound different? This is something I have been wondering about for a while. Just wanted to see what everyone else on here thought about it.

[texanidiot25]

Depending on the style of fuel injection, possibly a little smother sounding (given that it's possible to get better air/fuel distribution to the cylinders), but other than that, I don't see how it would.

You are meaning if you kept the same motor and swapped the carb for EFI?

[MightyFine69]

Yeah, maybe. I was just wondering about this the other day, if there was any difference in the tone or something. I don't know why this question came to me, but I thought it might be interesting to hear what other people think about it.

[Wideopenracing15]

I hear a bit. But like texan said it could just be that it's possible to get better air/fuel distribution to the cylinders. To me, fuel injection doesnt sound as raw as a carb set up? Im not sure if anyone else understands what im talking about.

[clinebarger]

fuel injected engines idle at a lower rpm. Gen III engines have a differant firing order and do not sound like the old engines. And converters mellow the tone.

[Wideopenracing15]

I knew that. Im talking about the same motor with fuel injection swap.

[unclewatts]

Originally Posted by Wideopenracing15

I hear a bit. But like texan said it could just be that it's possible to get better air/fuel distribution to the cylinders. To me, fuel injection doesnt sound as raw as a carb set up? Im not sure if anyone else understands what im talking about.

I think you answered your own question and yes, I know what you mean. Because FI controls the fuel to each cylinder better than a carb, It's going to sound smoother and more midrangy. Just MHO.

[clinebarger]

I didnt see anything about a fuel injection "swap". i was guessing he was hearing late model trucks with loud exhaust having a differant sound

[texanidiot25]

Late model chevy motors have a different firing order, that's why they sound so different, even when cam'd out.

[vectorit]

I guess if you had an ear for it, you could possibly tell an EFI between a carb motor at idle. (Not me)

But, for me the tell tale give away is the throtle response.

To me, I experience a ever so slight "slower" response when a throtle is stabbed in a carb'd engine. Where as an EFI engine at the same RPM when stabbed, has a much more aggressive fuel delivery.

I'm mainly talking about my experience with my Harley's, than I am about a V8 but I think it's pretty much the same.

[mclairmo]

I've never had the opportunity to hear the exact same vehicle with acarb and then EFI. Has anyone? I think that's the only way to tell since newer EFI cars have many other components and different tuning that could change the exhaust note, like a catalytic converter, different mufflers, etc.

[pumpkin]

No difference. My son converted his 406 in the 72 3/4 ton from carb to fuel injection. It sounded exactly the same.