The carburetor is the component of an automobile engine that mixes gasoline and air in the right proportion for internal combustion. Carburetors are generally found in older vehicles as this technology has been replaced by computerized electronic fuel injection, which is more fuel-efficient and has lower emission. Carburetor engines generally contain only one carburetor though some larger engines may use multiple carburetors. Automotive carburetors come in two kinds, downdraft and side-draft. Down draft carburetors are used in the US because of the V-engines while side-draft carburetors are used in the Europe.

A carburetor is just a tube with an adjustable plate called the “throttle”, placed across it. This throttle controls the amount of air that flows through the tube. The carburetor tube narrows down at a place called the venture, where a vacuum is created. There is a hole in this narrowing called the jet that allows the fuel to be drawn in because of the vacuum. There are several parts in a carburetor that allow for smooth functioning. They are the pilot, pilot airscrew, throttle valve, jet needle, needle jet, air jet, and main jet. Other important parts are the choke, accelerator pump, float chamber and barrels that help to create the ideal mixture of gas and air in the engine.

Carburetor parts are generally available as carburetor kits or repair kits rather than individually. Some parts are sold only in exchange for old parts. The main parts in a carburetor are integral chokes, heat riser tubes, divorced or remote chokes, choke pull-offs and dashpots, carburetor tags, and brass floats. Most manufacturers provide carburetor parts for almost all models of carburetors and carburetor parts usually come with a warranty. The Internet is a good source for suppliers of carburetor parts and there are several websites that offer comprehensive information about carburetor parts.