It’s pretty common for sports cars and street trucks to backfire around town, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal. If drivers notice engine backfires then they need to visit a mechanic, because it could lead to expensive problems. 

What causes engine backfires? 

While an engine backfire may seem exciting for drivers because it could shoot flames out of the exhaust with a loud noise, it’s actually a sign of significant damage. 

Don’t ignore engine backfires, because they could damage your engine. Your engine might not be getting enough power. It can also damage injectors, vacuum ports, and throttle bodies. 

Bad engine timing could be a culprit because fuel and air need to mix at the exactly right time with a precise ratio. A spark ignited the mixture to power cars. 

If the timing of the spark is off, then unburnt fuel could flow through the exhaust and mix with oxygen, causing a combustion that leads to a loud bang and flames.

You could also have too much fuel in the engine without enough air. As a result, the spark in the chamber might not burn all of the fuel, allowing it to leak into the exhaust and backfire. 

This could be caused by a clogged air filter or faulty mass airflow sensor that chokes the engine. Also, faulty fuel injectors could be placing too much fuel in the engine. You’ll want to have this issue addressed to avoid wasting tons of fuel. 

What if there’s too much air in a cars engine? Then the spark in the chamber might not be able to burn all of the fuel, allowing leftover vapors to flow in the exhaust again! This is related to having a lean fuel mixture. 

Lean fuel mixtures could be caused by a vacuum leak that allows the engine to pull in too much air, clogged fuel injectors that don’t add the correct amount of gas to the cylinders, or a faulty fuel pump that’s no longer sending enough fuel from the tank to the engine. 

Engine backfires can also be related to a bent or damaged valve or an incorrect spark plug firing order.