A backfire is caused by a combustion or explosion that occurs when unburnt fuel in the exhaust system is ignited, even if there is no flame in the exhaust pipe itself. Sometimes a flame can be seen when a car backfires, but mostly you will only hear a loud popping noise, followed by loss of power and forward motion.
Where did the term backfire come from?
The term derives from parallel experiences with early unreliable firearms or ammunition in which the explosive force was directed out at the breech instead of the muzzle. That is the origin of the use of "backfire" to indicate producing an unintended, unexpected, and undesired result.
What can cause a backfire?
We'll tell you five things that most commonly could lead to a backfire.
- Lean Air/Fuel Mixture.
- Rich Air/Fuel Mixture. ...
- Bent Or Damaged Valve. ...
- Incorrect Spark Firing Order. ...
- Bad Ignition Timing. Inside each cylinder of a modern combustion engine, you'll find at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve. ...
