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What Is Electronic Fuel Injection?
Electronic fuel injection is precisely what the name implies, the ability of the car to electronically inject the precise amount of fuel needed to operate at peak efficiency. The ECM (electronic control module is a tiny computer that receives signals from sensors placed all over the engine and uses that information to calculate exactly the right amount of fuel a car needs to operate.
Electronic fuel injection has a higher pressure point than a regular carburetor. The PSI (pounds per square inch) for the EFI unit is 50-60PSI, versus 5 - 7PSI for older, carburated units. This means that while the electronic fuel injectors spray the right amount of fuel into the engine in a sharper, more intense burst than the gentle mix of a fuel port in a carburetor. (The difference is like placing your thumb over a garden hose, rather than just trying to clean the driveway with a simple trickle. There are times when more pressure helps get a job done)
How Does A Carburetor Work?
A carburetor is a much less sophisticated form of fuel injection. Basically, fuel comes from a pump into a holding bowl in the carburetor. As more demand is required of the engine (you put your foot on the gas), air gets sucked into the carb, and the fuel and air mixture gets sent to the engine cylinders via a small hole called a jet. The intake valve in each chamber opens, the fuel-air mix rushes in just as the piston rotates up, compressing the gaseous mix, and the spark plug fires to create combustion.
Carburetors are inefficient fuel delivery systems. There are no sensors, computers, or ways to make adjustments. A carburetor delivers the same amount of fuel and hopes it is enough to turn the engine or keep it running. (It's like throwing a dart at the same place every time and hoping you hit it).
A carburetor will only run efficiently if the conditions when it was first tuned (adjusted manually) exist. This is why a classic car has trouble running on a cold day or after sitting for a while - you are asking the carburetor to perform a function it was not set to do. The truth is that if you live in an area where the weather never changes, and you are driving all the time, then a finely-tuned carburetor is all you need. (But who lives in a place where the weather never changes?)
What is So Special About the Holley Sniper EFI?
The Holley Sniper is aptly named because it delivers precisely the right amount of fuel into a classic car’s engine based on the conditions of that moment. Here is why we love the Sniper EFI system so much.
The Holley EFI is Self-Tuning
The unit is self-tuning (meaning that you don’t have to adjust or “tune” it after the installation as you would a carburetor). (Many classic car owners will tell you that “tuning’ a carb can be a pain in you know what to get it set just right). The Holley EFI is a self-contained unit that you bolt on and turn the key on. There are no manual adjustments, tuning, cleaning of clogged jets, or anything else wonky. The unit has a built-in ECU built into the throttle body that self-learns the car’s driving habits and what fuel mix is needed. As the owner continues to drive, the Holley’s computer makes necessary adjustments whenever additional demand is placed on the engine.
The Holley Sniper EFI is Easy to Install
The Sniper takes the spot of the basic carburetor by bolting down in the same fashion as a regular carb. It installs in short order. It is a bolt-on unit with a handheld calibration device that requires some basic information to be imputed manually. This information allows the EFI unit to have a baseline for the initial startup. The unit can easily be installed in minutes.
The Holley Sniper is Reasonably Priced
Compared to other competitors' EFI systems, the Holley Sniper is a bargain. For around $1000, any classic car owner can install the Holley and drive away. The money an owner saves with this installation can then be used for other areas that might need addressing (new paint job, interior, dash, etc.).
Check out Today’s Price on Amazon here.
The Holley Sniper EFI Will Save Fuel
The installation of electronic fuel injection can make a world of difference in t fuel economy. Since an EFI unit can adjust automatically, the computer optimizes the fuel for each driving condition. Most owners who install EFI units see a 10-15% increase in their mpg after installing, and in a world of $5 a gallon gasoline, every bit of savings is a nice perk to get.
The Holley Sniper EFI will Generate More Power.
Owners of a Sniper can generate a sizable amount of additional horsepower, which makes the units so significant on the racing circuit. Early adopters of the EFI system were found on the stock car and drag race circuits, where speed matters, and anything that can help boost horsepower to an engine is a welcome sight.
Most classic owners will be impressed by the boost in horsepower gained from the EFI installation. Still, it should be noted that the EFI unit will only support the horsepower that the engine was designed for. Even though Holley boasts 1,250 horsepower on a 4-barrel, most vintage cars don’t need nearly that much, and what’s more, all but the biggest engines are built to handle that much power.
Are there any Negative Reviews about the Holley Sniper?
The reviews on Amazon are not the best because there have been a few owners who have struggled with the company. Primarily the problem seems to be with faulty ECUs and a lack of willingness to accept a return on the manufacturer's part. These owners complained about the lack of customer service and the trouble finding anyone to talk to about their issues. If Holley is going to keep dominating the market for EFI, it is going to have to become more responsive to the thousands of classic car owners who are using its products.
Why is there a Hand-held Calibration Screen?
While installing the Sniper unit is easy enough, a small calibration unit needs to be programmed before starting the ignition for the first time. The EFI can establish a baseline with the information plugged into the console. The unit self-learns and makes adjustments as the car is driven. Most owners have little trouble with the EFI unit once the car is driven a few times with the new EFI system.
Who Makes the Holley Sniper?
The Holley company began in 1896 when a couple of brothers were tinkering in their garage with a motorized tricycle nicknamed the “Runabout.” Later, as the demand for motor vehicles began to take off, the brothers decided to create a company called the Holley Motor Company. They produced one model, sold about 600 units, and in 1903, signed a contract with Henry Ford to build carburetors for his assembly-lined Ford Model T. The company moved to Detroit, where Ford had set up shop and started cranking out carburetors as fast as possible. Eventually, the company would relocate to Bowling Green, Ky., in 1952 and open up plants in Paris, Tenn., Sallisaw, OK., and Water Valley, Ms.
The 1980s saw the development of EFI units for racing and street applications, and the company has not looked back since, continuing to develop and refine its electronic fuel injection systems. Although the company has seen changes in ownership, in 2021, it became a publicly traded entity on the NYSE.
Today, the company has a successful following and boats a 25% sales increase in 2021 versus the year before. In an economy of high inflation and supply and demand issues, this kind of increase is saying something. Their website is very user-friendly, and I loved the library of how-to videos on every kind of subject you might imagine.
