In an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system, what does open loop operation do?

In an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system, open loop operation refers to a mode where the engine's fuel delivery is controlled based on pre-programmed calibration settings rather than real-time feedback from sensors like the oxygen (O2) sensor. This means that the system uses a set of predetermined parameters related to engine conditions such as temperature, speed, and load to determine how much fuel to inject, without adjusting for changes in exhaust composition.

In this mode, the system is not making dynamic adjustments based on feedback. This can be effective during specific engine operating conditions, such as cold starts, where the baseline calibration may be adequate for the performance required. However, open loop operation is typically limited to certain scenarios, as it does not provide the adaptability of closed loop operation, where sensor feedback allows for better fuel management and engine efficiency.

The other choices touch on different aspects of engine operation but do not accurately describe the function of open loop operation in EFI systems. For example, limp home mode refers to a protective feature activated when a critical failure is detected, rather than the calibration settings in open loop. Similarly, relying on O2 sensor feedback characterizes closed loop operation, which actively adjusts fuel delivery based on real-time readings. The comparison to carburetors is